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San Dimas – San Dimas High School Science teacher Brian Elliott is the recipient of an Earthwatch Institute Education Fellowship to participate in scientific field research monitoring arctic ecosystem responses to climate change. Mr. Elliott will be part of “Climate Change at the Arctic’s Edge,” a field camp located near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Ten volunteers working with Dr. G. Peter Harshaw of the University of Alberta will do field research, such as measuring biomass cover and richness, marking and recapturing small animals, measuring permafrost and collecting soil samples. “This project directly relates to my curriculum in my AP Environmental Science course and I am excited about what I will be able to take from the field experience and incorporate into my curriculum,” Mr. Elliott said. Mr. Elliott teaches Advanced Placement Environmental Science and Advanced Placement Physics at San Dimas. Mr. Elliott has a strong interest in the Arctic. Last summer, he and San Dimas math teacher Gary Charlton, hiked the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. “One of the real strengths of our District is the initiative so many of our teachers take to continue their own education in ways that positively impact the classroom experience for their students,” Said Superintendent Dr. Robert C. Otto. “Brian Elliott is a committed educator who finds opportunities to challenge himself and then bring those experiences into the classroom to benefit his students.” |
Mr. Elliott’s Earthwatch Institute Fellowship is made possible through the generosity of the Peter and Helen Bing Foundation. The fellowship covers all expenses except travel. Research fellows spend two weeks at the field camp, which is located near Hudson Bay at 58 degrees north latitude. Earthwatch Institute is an international non-profit organization that brings science to life for people concerned about the Earth’s future. Founded in 1971, Earthwatch supports scientific field research by offering volunteers the opportunity to join research teams around the world. This unique model is creating a systematic change in how the public views science and its role in environmental sustainability. For more information on Earthwatch, please visit their web site at www.earthwatch.org or call (800) 776-0188. Bonita Unified School District works in partnership with the community to create a safe, challenging and comprehensive learning environment that will shape character, nurture intellect and build skills for success in an ever-changing world. For more information, please call (909) 971-8200 or visit www.bonita.k12.ca.us. |