Month: May 2013

On Friday, May 24^th, Team Marine, Marine Biology, as well as SMC students helped sort many of the collected recyclables contributed this year. With set goals and deadlines to reach, students from Team Marine were able collect at least 10 bottles for a remainder of the time. As for the process, each of us distributed them into different categories i.e. (#1 Plastics, #2 Plastics, Glass) and used hand counters to help aid in us counting each item. In total, we collected exactly 7,238 glass, cans, and plastic bottles! This year has been the first to successfully complete this activity in such a short amount of time. We overall earned $361.90 in lifestraws making it out to approximately 66 lifestraws!

Seven Team Marine students presented on a panel at the AltBuild Expo in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium last Saturday, May 11, sharing the results of their scientific research and service-learning projects, including the Water Fountain Audit at Santa Monica High School, the gas-to-electric conversion project, and plastic-bag ban data. This panel provided students an opportunity to share the results of their projects with members of the broader community: an audience including high school students, teachers, community college students, and community and business leaders. Other presenters, including advisor Benjamin Kay and chemistry teacher Ms. Chacon, talked about the importance of service learning both to education and the environment, and in their own communities. Attendees at this year’s AltBuild exposition were exposed to a new perspective on sustainability – from the generation that will benefit from its implementation. We expect to return to present when we can soon.