ECOLOGY SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
Ecology
Summer
Research
Program
2016
FIELD BASED RESEARCH COURSE
ABOUT THE CLASS
The Ecology Summer Research Program
is a two-week summer course in which
students will design and perform an
original and independent research
investigation. Upon completion of the
course, students will have a complete
scientific report suitable for STEM
research competitions or the
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Extended essay.
Upon completion of the course, students
will have a final IB extended essay
project or equivalent report.
The field component of the course is the
where students will discover firsthand
the complexities and inspiration of
Northwest forests. Students will design
and perform an original and
independent research investigation
during a weeklong visit to the Olympic
National Park. While at the park,
students will stay at the Nature Bridge
educational facility. Working with
trained educators, students will learn
about the methodology of modern
ecology and the natural history of the
Pacific Northwest’s ecological
communities. Once back in the
classroom, the students will learn
research techniques and use statistical
analysis to evaluate research results.
Students will learn through a
combination of:
 Lecture/discussion
 Inquiry based laboratory work
 Critical thinking exercises
 Multimedia
 Demonstrations
 Student project and research
 Cooperative learning
 Interdisciplinary applications
 Communication
 Scientific inquiry
th
th
The course is open to all 11 and 12
grade students interested in outdoor
fieldwork and further studies of life
science. IB diploma candidacy is not a
requirement. IB Diploma Candidates will
have registration priority.
ECOLOGY SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
2
Possible Research
Topics Include:
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Motion cameras to detect wildlife
Plant phenology
Elwha River replant survey
Soil samples of old growth forest
Plant population studies
Benthic macroinvertebrate survey
Water quality of Lake Crescent
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Soil macroinvertebrates
Dissolved oxygen levels at nearby
Barnes Creek and in Lake Crescent
Soil horizons at different locations
throughout the Soil porosity
Stream hydraulic complexity
Soil and/or water pH
How amount of light affects types
of plants
Diversity comparison of old and new
growth forest
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CONTACT
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
HTTP://WWW.BIOLOGYFORLIFE.COM/EXTENDED-ESSAY.HTML OR
CONTACT:
Ms. Nelson
nelsonj@issaquah.wednet.edu
Ms. von Bargen
vonbargeng@issaquah.wednet.edu
Course Dates
The dates are being finalized for 2016
The following dates and times are subject to change
17-24 June, 2016
Olympic National Park
27-29 June, 2016:
9:00 – 3:00
Skyline High School