Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo - (Page 32)

middle ground for the middle grades Advice from Young Naturalists The Young Naturalist Awards recognize students in grades 7–12 who have undertaken explorations in biology, astronomy, or earth science, and then write up their findings in an essay. These students won Young Naturalist Awards in 2007. To read more about them and the winners in grades 9 and up, see www.amnh.org/ nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2007/winners.html Ashley Hunt, 13, Florida Algae in the Wekiva River: Is It Helping or Hurting Water Quality? Where did you get the inspiration for your expedition? I got the inspiration for my expedition when I read a headline in the Orlando Sentinel that read “Algae Threaten Wekiva.” It made me realize that the river I had known my whole life might not be as clean as I thought it was. Immediately I knew I would want to investigate this topic further. What advice would you give other young people about conducting investigations in the natural world? Find something that interests you or that you are familiar with. Then ask yourself questions. Is everything really the way it seems on the outside? Once you have an inspiration, you will have a desire to learn about the world around you. Noah McDonald, 13, Ohio The Toads of Delaware County Where did you get the inspiration for your expedition? I got the inspiration for my study from seeing toads hopping around on my patio. My older brother enters science fairs, and I decided that when I got to 7th grade, I would do my project on toads. What advice would you give other young people about conducting investigations in the natural world? The advice I would give is to always look at safety precautions related to the organism you are studying. And study something that you feel good about. Alexandra Day, 14, Maryland An Analysis of Water Quality on the Severn River Over Two Years Where did you get the inspiration for your expedition? The Chesapeake Bay and its watershed have always fascinated me. The bay has been a large part of my and my family’s life, and we are concerned about the environmental issues it faces. My interactions with the bay increased my concern for this unique estuary. I knew I wanted to explore water quality, so I did research on the health of the bay and became interested in erosion. What advice would you give other young people about conducting investigations in the natural world? Young people should explore a topic that they are interested in and passionate about. Find a topic that catches your attention or sparks your curiosity, and learn more about it. I also recommend exploring different ways to collect and interpret data, because you may find that one method works better for you than another. Lastly and most important, remember to be respectful of the natural environment you are exploring. Ryan Wham, 13, Texas An Analysis of the Effect of Roofing Albedo on Ambient Temperature Where did you get the inspiration for your expedition? A few years ago, I visited Canada with my family, and observed first hand the problems being experienced by polar bears as a result of climate change. Later, when I learned more about climate change after watching An Inconvenient Truth, I was inspired to research what types of practical things could be done now to attempt to reverse the trends toward global warming. What advice would you give other young people about conducting investigations in the natural world? I think that it is important for today’s young people to take an interest in climate change and conservation in general. If changes are not made soon, we are the ones who will suffer the consequences. i 2 imagine March/April 2008 http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2007/winners.html http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2007/winners.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo

Imagine Magazine - March/April 2008 Contents Letters Big Problems Big Picture In My Own Words Putting E-Waste in Its Place Big Juice Making Waves What Does "Green" Mean? Into the Woods Swimming with Whale Sharks Crash Course in Costa Rica Selected Opportunities & Resources Hooked on Logistics Off the Shelf Word Wise Middle Ground One Step Ahead Exploring Career Options Planning Ahead for College Students Review Creative Minds Imagine Sudoku Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo

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