Grant Recipients
Science & Engineering

New remote-operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) will support the most popular and impactful learning experiences in the marine biology curriculum. ROVs have been used by students to explore underwater environments and have the potential to bring back objects or take water samples to study. This project-based course changes themes every year.

Outdated desktop computers will be replaced with 32 high-end laptops capable of running applications for the engineering and architecture programs. These laptops will be used in the wood shop/maker space and will allow students to program and test robotics and run laser printing software. A handful of drawing tablets will also be provided.

Students will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology using CRISPR and PCR testing. Test kits will allow students to edit the genes of non-pathogenic bacteria. Then
students will use PCR to observe the edits in the genome they created. Students in biomedical science and AP biology classes will benefit from these state-of-the-art labs.

The aquarium project is a major component of the marine biology class and is a student favorite. Students work in teams to choose an ecosystem of focus and work within a budget to populate it with various vertebrates and invertebrate species. Students maintain the aquarium throughout the year and use it as a model to learn about marine chemistry.

Non-graphing calculators help students investigate a variety of math concepts and check their work. Having them on hand in the classroom provides equity to those who do not possess their own. Learning to use the key features of the calculator helps bridge the gap in student learning and ensures everyone is taught in the same way.