Elementary school students engage in BioBlitz at Indiana University Kokomo
Students from area elementary schools came to Indiana University Kokomo in September to study plant and animal life on the university’s campus.
Indiana University Kokomo’s Office of Sustainability invited fourth and fifth grade students from Sts. Joan of Arc and Patrick School to participate in an event called BioBlitz with faculty and staff from the university.
The visiting students were treated to presentations from Leda Casey and Michael Finkler, who teach geology and physiology, respectively. The presentations covered topics like the species of insects found around campus, the geology of Indiana, and all about soil.
Next on the agenda for the elementary students was participating in stations staffed by university faculty and volunteers from the Student Sustainability Council and the Howard County Stormwater District. Rotating through the stations, students got to try out some fun, hands-on activities like using binoculars to catch glimpses of birds, finding various plant species, and playing games to help students discover and learn about animal environments.
The goal of the BioBlitz was twofold, according to Andy Tuholski, who serves as an assistant professor of Political Science and sustainability director: “The information they are finding today will be used to inform what kind of species we have in our area,” Tuholski said in an article from Indiana University Kokomo’s website. “They are making connections to nature and contributing data that will be useful to people who manage our natural resources. Hopefully this will develop a lifelong love of nature for them.”
Throughout the event, students had access to an app called iNaturalist, which allowed them to record their environmental findings. The app gives anyone the ability to upload data into its open-source database, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, which scientists and others then are able to use in their own research.
One of the elementary school students found a southern two-lined salamander, which, according to Indiana University Kokomo alum Megan Moss, might not until that point have been recorded as living in Howard County.
Moss is a field technician for the stormwater district and hopes the event will instill in the young students a lifelong appreciation for the environment.
“Hopefully they will continue to do things like this and look around and see how wonderful and beautiful our world is, and be inspired to take care of it,” said Moss.
More information about Indiana University Kokomo can be found at the school’s website.