On Friday, January 13, junior EDSET students unveiled their environmental research projects, presenting them to their peers, teachers, and administrators in the school library.
For several weeks, the students had been researching environmental subjects ranging from sustainable transportation to green academies to investment in energy-efficiency.
Darren McNally, APES teacher, explained the process: “We’re building research skills, critical thinking skills, presentation skills, response to questions.”
One student, Kylie Woodward-Sollesnes, has been interning at All-in-One Fitness this year for the EDSET program. Her project, accordingly, centered on how to make gyms eco-friendly. Through interviews with the gym owner and supervisor, surveys with gym members, and data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, she examined the feasibility and efficiency of water conservation in locker rooms, bikes with electric generators, and rooftop gardens.
Another student, Alvin Wong, looked into the environmental benefits of being a vegetarian.
“I like the environment, and the only way to take APES was to join EDSET,” Wong said. As for whether he’ll pursue a career in the field of environmental science, Wong added, “I could consider doing these kinds of things.”
Senior EDSET students, who participated in the project last year, were there to see and grade the presentations.
Anna Urias, whose project last year focused on solar energy, commented on the experience: “It was kind of cool because it applied directly to my internship and I got to go out and fix it.”
