The laboratory components of the biology, marine biology, and oceanography courses are being revised to shift the emphasis away from traditional laboratories to one which requires the students to be active participants in an ongoing research project in local estuaries. Pilot studies for this approach were done at a summer institute for high school students. In order to involve students in this long-term research project, sophisticated analytical equipment is being incorporated into the project in order to analyze water samples and field biological data rapidly and accurately. This project will provide the students with hands-on research experiences in collection and analysis of data which will ultimately provide an ecological baseline of the waters in the region. The college will contribute an amount equal to the award.
