Newark Students conduct enzyme field research at PEEC with University of Tennessee

 

High school students from Malcolm X Shabazz in Newark spent 3 days at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) conducting field research with Dr. Andrew D. Steen from The University of Tennessee.  The students collected and tested water samples looking for five different protein degrading enzymes, which are key in the conversion of plant material into carbon dioxide (CO₂) and are important for understanding the global carbon cycle. This was cutting edge research the students actively worked on, as four of these enzymes had never before been measured in freshwater.

The field research at PEEC was funded by a Teacher Innovation Fund Grant from the Foundation for Newark’s Future.

Attached is a video of Dr. Steen interviewed by Saskieya A., a senior at Malcolm X. Shabazz High School:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sObxmG6zdY