SCI science classes participate in national research project

Students at Stayner Collegiate Institute (SCI) have set a trap. A malaise trap will collect bugs as part of a citizen science project in partnership with the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario at the University of Guelph.

Three science classes in Grades 9-11 are involved in the project and will be collecting data until Oct. 2.

SCI was chosen as the only school in the Simcoe County District School Board to participate in this nationwide program giving students the opportunity to learn more about Canadian biodiversity and DNA barcoding starting within their schoolyard. The goal of the project is to assess the number of species (insect biodiversity) in each schoolyard and to compare diversity among schools, as well as between schools and nearby national parks and conservation areas.

Students will be posting their findings to the blog on the Malaise Trap Program website as the collection period unfolds.  The data will be added to that collected across Canada and results will be shared with schools in early December.

Visit www.malaiseprogram.ca, the BIObus blog biobus.ca, and Twitter @Smtp_Canada.