Gulf Guardian Award Winners 2006
Youth/Education Category - 3rd Place
SEA ICE (Student Enrichment Activities in Coastal Ecology) is a project funded by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium involving teachers and students from 14 Mobile public high schools. At the beginning of the project (2004), 20 teachers, with course assignments in advanced biology (honors biology, Advanced Placement (AP) biology, and marine biology), were selected for participation. Each teacher engaged their students in classroom and field experiences at the Environmental Studies Center (ESC) that: 1) identify species common to the Gulf Coast, 2) highlight examples of efforts to promote species recovery, 3) identify populations currently classified as endangered, threatened, or of concern, and 4) promote positive behavioral changes needed to make these students life-long stewards of the environment. Over the course of two years (2004-2006), these teachers have been involved in professional development focusing on coastal ecology. In turn, each teacher has brought their students to the Environmental Studies Center to participate in field studies. By the project’s end approximately 1,000 students will have participated.