Andrew Hayes

Hayes’ innovative teaching idea, “Marine Science to the Rescue!” is designed to help students increase their learning, achievement, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills as they address a severe local and national environmental and public health threat: the pervasive growth of algae blooms in bodies of water. According to Hayes, students will use concepts and tools from marine science and biology to identify and evaluate the biological factors that lead to pollution as well as the impact on humans and marine organisms. They will breed marine life to determine the impact of different environmental conditions and test potential solutions to the algal bloom problem. At the end of the project, the students will present their findings to local groups, including the Toho Water Authority.