Article below published in the May 13, 2022 issue of Warrior Weekly.
BRHS Students Attend Science Symposium in Fairbanks
Article and photos by Ms. Beverly Chmielarczyk
Recently, 7th Grade BRHS students Jack Lincoln, Richard Lincoln, and Aleksandr Ferguson attended the GLOBE and Fresh Eyes on Ice Student Research Symposium in Fairbanks, Alaska. They were joined by students, community members, and elders from 19 different youth groups or schools from 14 communities across the state. The symposium provided an opportunity for our BRHS students to connect with others who are interested in everything science.
While at the symposium, students shared research projects they had worked on in their communities throughout the year. Each group presented their project to UAF scientists, adult experts, and student peer reviewers. They also had a chance to meet with UAF science students to peer review their projects.
Students also participated in GLOBE, Alaska Native, and other science, culture, and technology activities. Jack, Richard, and Aleksandr had fun making and flying mini-drones, sampling water quality with GLOBE Alaska scientists, learning about birch green-up with the Association of Interior Native Educators representatives, observing breakup at various locations of the Chena River, playing Ice Bingo, visiting the amazing UAF Museum of the North, and even dancing to the Raven Song with Sonny Luke’s Athapaskan drum group.
All of this was the culmination of a year participating in the Fresh Eyes on Ice Program at BRHS lead by myself and Physical Science teacher Hannah Lamb. FEOI is a University of Alaska Fairbanks program that reaches out to students throughout the state and trains them to collect data on and make observations of rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and sloughs in their communities. The mission of the FEOI program is to connect Arctic communities through a revitalized and modernized freshwater ice observation network. Besides encouraging students to consider STEM careers in the future, the program strives to insure safe travel on frozen waterways throughout Alaska by sharing the data young citizen scientists of different communities collect. Even NASA uses some of the data collected.
This year Jack, Richard, and Aleksandr investigated ice thicknesses, water depths, and snow density near four beaver lodges in and around Bethel. They discovered that beaver activity is blocking some culverts and contributing to flooding in Bethel neighborhoods. They hope to continue their monitoring next year to potentially help the city manage flood problems. They also hope to learn more about the life history of beavers and possibly monitor more beaver lodges in the Bethel area.
Congratulations Jack, Richard, and Aleksandr! All of your hard work and dedication to the Bethel Beaver Project sure showed when you presented at the symposium. I’m proud of all you did throughout the school year to learn about and share important science.
Please, visit the Fresh Eyes on Ice website (http://fresheyesonice.org) for more information on this valuable program.
Thank you to Mr. Matt Hall for attending the symposium with us as male chaperone.