Chicago City Day School students recently spent a week in the Bahamas for one of the school's signature programs — the annual Coral Reef Research Expedition.
The students and several faculty members lived aboard the R/V Coral Reef II, a Shedd Aquarium research vessel, for an intensive science experience that included observing and recording data about coral reef habitats in the waters near the region of Bimini. The students, all seventh- and eighth-graders, also performed beach restoration, water sampling, and plankton analysis during the trip. The group even got the chance to swim alongside 10 Caribbean reef sharks!
This summer was the 21st year for the research expedition. In that time, our students have recorded and shared data with working scientists throughout the world via such organizations as REEF. City Day's work — remarkable for middle school students — caught the attention of noted conservationist Jean-Michel Cousteau, who once visited with City Day students at the school. The program has inspired many past participants to focus their future studies and even their careers on environmental science.
See more photos from the expedition below.
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