Feb. 4, 2022-- Back in 2017, High School South teachers Charlene Wallace and Christine Girtain brought 17 students on the Seeds of Change (SOC) Costa Rica trip. Four students were sponsored by the Grunin Foundation. They embarked on a science-driven experience to the research site called La Anita Ranch, three hours outside of Liberia, Costa Rica. While at this site, students were immersed in a tropical rainforest research program focusing on leaf cutter ants and butterfly caterpillars, and were exposed to various topics including ecotourism, conservation, organic farming and rainforest ecology. Under the umbrella of the work done by Dr. Cameron Currie from the University of Wisconsin and Dr. Adrian Pinto from the University of Costa Rica, these students participated in a research effort to not only generate discoveries relating to these ant colonies, but also to propel the high school students' understanding and knowledge of tropical field research to a level typically not possible until far into the university level biosciences. The students gained an understanding of how nature can teach us things that otherwise would take place years into a university level curriculum.

Fast forward five years later to 2022. More specifically, last weekend, when the district hosted a bioprospecting workshop geared toward training teachers on using authentic science research in the classroom. The Seeds of Change project has evolved to include a host of passionate TRRS educators who are part of a global initiative. Those educators are engaged in hands-on laboratory practices, and navigating online genomics databases.

"The practices used throughout this workshop are skills that students and researchers are utilizing at the university level," said Dr. Kyle Seiverd, High School North teacher. "By providing teachers with this type of training, they are equipping them with the knowledge to implement college-level science practices at the high-school level."

It's apropos that a project which began in Costa Rica is inclusive of teachers from all over. In fact, 14 teachers attended the biodiversity workshop from six different states (NJ, PA, RI, KY, MN, WI, OH). Two native Costa Rican professors, Dr. Gabriel Vargas and Ibrahim Zuniga from the University of Wisconsin Madison, joined Education Specialist and Assistant Director of Seeds of Change Beth Hunt to forge a uniquely diverse group of educators.

"Science teachers often tell their students that the best way to learn science is by doing science," said Mary Russo, ASR teacher at Jackson School District. "This program aims to do just that. SOC provides teachers and students alike the opportunity to engage in hands-on, authentic citizen science research."

High School East's Marybeth Kretz echoed Russo's sentiments.

"Truly, one of the best hands-on workshops I have attended in a long time" Kretz said. "SOC has put together a team of brilliant, innovative, talented professionals to help teachers implement cutting edge technology in the high school classroom. Best of all, the research being done by students will have a global impact on the health and welfare of our society."

The next step is to plan another trip to Costa Rica with students from Toms River so that they can work side by side with these same investigators to conduct field research. Such an extraordinary, researched-based, ongoing effort can only happen with support at the highest levels, including the school board. Thankfully, the Toms River Board of Education not only supports Seeds of Change in spirit, but also actively.

"I was honored to meet such a group of intelligent educators who showed me their research practices," said Toms River board member Kathy Eagan, who attended the bioprospecting workshop. "The students in these educators' classrooms will be shown hands on how to do research, and possibly affect health worldwide. Mrs. Girtain is a very innovative teacher. Staff from other states as well as Toms River staff were included in this worthwhile workshop, and I am looking forward to seeing the students' reactions to this worthwhile research."

The SOC bioprospecting teacher workshop proved to be an extraordinary experience that no one involved will soon forget, a highlight of a global initiative being spearheaded by educators right here in Toms River. Seeds of Change is certainly living up to its name, and the thought of where it might be five years from now is both intriguing and inspiring.