Members of this year's "From Land to the Sea" Scientist-Educator Partnership team discuss their research topic.

This week, individuals from diverse backgrounds have joined to form a four-member team at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences Horn Point Laboratory to conduct scientific research and to translate the research into resources that will be used by teachers and students. Part of the COSEE Coastal Trends Scientist-Educator Partnership

program, the team consists of scientist Dr. Tom Fisher, his graduate student Lindsay Tempinson, Maryland teacher Claire Sargo, and Hampton University undergraduate Shadaesha Green. The team assembled at Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, MD last week (June 24 and 25) for an orientation program. During orientation, they created a concept map of their research topic which will serve as a starting point for the education resources that they will create during their summer experience.

Throughout the summer, Tom and Lindsay will include Shadaesha and Claire in their daily lab and fieldwork routines to help the student and teacher learn about the research process and Tom’s field of expertise: connecting land use and water quality in streams and estuaries. In addition, Shadaesha and Claire will use their expert understanding of diverse audiences and school-aged students to lead the team in creating a website and lesson plans based on Tom and Lindsay’s research.

We are excited to welcome this new Scientist-Educator team to COSEE! Over the next few weeks, members of the team will be posting to this blog about their thoughts and experiences, so check back often!