Essex Community College will initiate a 4-week, commuter, Young Scholars project in Environmental Science for 20 students in grade 8. This project allows young scholars to work with research scientists and science teachers in laboratories and at field stations to complete independent research projects in environmental science, thus motivating and encouraging them to pursue careers in environmental science. The focus of the program is to demonstrate to the students that environmental science is founded on interdisciplinary research based on chemistry, biology, mathematics, and electronics. Therefore, pertinent components of each of these disciplines that relate to environmental science is presented. The 4-week summer camp serves as an intensive training period during which time the students attend lectures and learn skills which they will use to design and carry out environmental research projects during the academic year. Students use biological monitoring techniques, classical ecological study methods, and chemical assays to study the ecological effects of particular primary pollutants on specified study areas. Each student then prepares a written summary of their work, in journal style, and presents the findings at a mock symposium to be held during a follow-up weekend retreat which takes place at the end of the academic year.
