Environmental Health

Coral reefs are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems on Earth. Most people have seen images of brightly colored fishes and other reef-dwelling organisms, yet many do not understand why these systems are personally important. Programs and articles about coral reefs typically point out benefits that include protecting shorelines from erosion and storm damage, supplying foods that are important to many coastal communities, and providing recreational and economic opportunities.

Coastal resources are under constant threat from natural processes and human activities. News media regularly feature stories of damage to coral reefs, estuaries, fisheries and other resources caused by storms, ship groundings, oil spills, chemical releases, and many other events. Modern coastal resource management includes using science and technology to protect and restore coastal resources affected by such events. These efforts can include removing pollutants and invasive species, repairing damaged habitats, restoring natural ecosystem processes such as water flow, and re-introducing native organisms.

What is an “invasive species?” - A species in an ecosystem is considered to be invasive when it is not native (alien) to the ecosystem and causes economic and/or environmental harm, or poses a threat to human health. All types of living organisms (plants, animals, bacteria, etc.) can be invasive.

This project teaches students about unimportant ocean life that may turn out to be important in the field of medicine.  Students will make a poster to explain that we should protect animals that seem unimportant because they may provide new drugs for treating diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, and cancer.

Oil spills devastate wildlife and Earth's precious water resources. In this science project, students will test the absorptivity of different materials (sorbents) to discover which ones are best at removing oil from water.

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National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) has compiled their own set of Oil Spill resources. They include everything from websites and articles to visuals and lesson plans. Content spans grades K-12, so make sure to check for your appropriate grade level.

Students will understand the benefits and problems associated with fire and the role that fire plays in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Students will be able to understand hazardous chemicals and their effect on human health and the environment, explain the importance of cleaning up hazardous waste, identify facilities in their neighborhoods that deal with hazardous chemicals and recognize local and federal agencies responsible for environmental hazards in their communities.

By examining the case of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in 1986, students study the adverse effects of high doses of radiation on biological systems.

Romey Stuckart is an artist who creates large-scale paintings of the forest and her surroundings, skillfully balancing abstraction and representation. Her heavily textured paintings are filled with inspiration and intuition. Using Stuckart's painting The Cedar as a focal point, students will create paintings while learning about the role that forests play in our environment and our imagination. From the Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge program.