Real-world Education
Lloyd's BioSUB was designed as a partly regenerative system. Some of the oxygen he needed to survive underwater was generated by a photosynthetic bioreactor, the Biocoil. The Biocoil project is a community-based science project led by Cascade High School’s Advanced Biology Class that will serve as Tik and Bubble's model for real-world education. Clinton Kennedy, the science educator and facilitator of the Biocoil project describes this project below:
In 2005, the Biocoil students were contacted by Lloyd Godson, a scientist from Australia who was interested in the project, but not for wastewater treatment. As a photosynthetic bioreactor, the Biocoil removes nutrients from waste streams using chlorella algae, in the process sequestering CO2 and producing oxygen. Godson asked if the Biocoil design could be adapted to function as a life support apparatus in a self-sustained underwater habitat. With renewed excitement, the students began raising funds to take the Biocoil in a new direction. They raised USD 30,000 in grants and donations to work with Godson in the creation of a new Biocoil to produce oxygen in his underwater BioSUB. For a year, students built and tested several designs in the classroom to determine the best possible model for Godson’s project.
In March 2006, six students travelled to Australia and spent three weeks building a Biocoil to be installed in The BioSUB. While in Australia, the students participated in live webcasts with students and classes from across the world -- Australia, Japan, the United States and Argentina, to name a few -- to discuss the Biocoil and inspire others to take on environmental projects. Godson spent twelve days underwater in his BioSUB with a portion of his oxygen provided by the Biocoil. The students learned a tremendous amount about the Biocoil’s capacity and potential, and returned home determined to increase its efficiency. They met with Teacher in Space astronaut Barbara Morgan and presented her with their plans and designs in the hope that she could connect them with members from NASA to continue exploring the Biocoil as a life support system.
In this way, the students are responsible for connecting with mentors, gathering community support, securing funding and actually implementing the project. Teachers guide this process, but the onus remains on the students to choose the direction of their project and see it through to completion. Successes and challenges motivate students in their work. Students want to be a part of such projects because they realise the value in their education and leave a legacy for others to follow.
The Biocoil students went on to win USD 10,000 from the Nature Conservancy at the SeaWorld / Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards in 2009 while their teacher, Clinton Kennedy, was awarded USD 1,000 as the National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Environmental Educator.
The Biocoil students went on to win USD 10,000 from the Nature Conservancy at the SeaWorld / Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards in 2009 while their teacher, Clinton Kennedy, was awarded USD 1,000 as the National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Environmental Educator.