Emma Carey, the Program Coordinator at the Seacoast Science Center, recently graduated from Miami University of Ohio with her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Biology through Project Dragonfly’s Global Field Program. Her studies over the past two and a half years took her abroad to Belize, Namibia, and Borneo to study conservation methods and new ways to inspire action in her own community.
Emma’s studies, based out of the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH, focused on inquiry-based learning, with projects including conservation research, community-based science, immersive lesson plans, a Virtual Tidepool to get visitors ready to explore, and workshops to share techniques with fellow educators. She found that immersing learners in nature, and engaging them in science can help to spark curiosity of the environment, and inspire conservation action.
“This program has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and has given me new confidence in my abilities to make a difference in my community,” said Emma. “I have done things I never could have dreamed of, including snorkeling at night along the reefs of Belize, a 12-hour waterhole count in Namibia, and planting trees in the rainforests of Borneo. However, some of the most impactful parts of the program have been back home here at the Center – watching campers design and complete their own science projects, turning lessons into eye-opening conversations with students, and presenting teaching strategies in front of fellow educators,” she revealed.
In looking to the future, Emma says, “I am excited to continue finding ways to share my own enthusiasm about our beautiful Earth, and inspire others to see its beauty, as well. Everyone can be a scientist – all it takes is the curiosity to ask questions and seek answers. Similarly, everyone has the power to make a difference and take action towards the conservation of our planet!”
