William Floyd High School Science Honor Society and Stony Brook STEP students recently engaged in the "A Day in the Life" program at Forge River and Osprey Park. The initiative offered hands-on experience in scientific exploration, focusing on local ecosystems.
The students were divided into groups with specific tasks. One group collected physical data, including tidal measurements and wind speed. Another group described site characteristics, mapped areas, and conducted sediment collection. A third group focused on biological sampling by seining the river to study species diversity. The final group performed chemical analyses of water samples.
Participants from Long Island contributed their findings to Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Central Pine Barrens Association to track changes in local waterways over time.
Anya Swiss, a science teacher at William Floyd High School, advises the Science Society, while Christopher Orlando oversees the Stony Brook STEP program. Heather Ehman also participated as a chaperone.
Acknowledgments were given to the Central Pine Barrens Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Brookhaven National Laboratory for facilitating this educational opportunity.