Educational exhibit at the Bliss
Students and teachers may be interested in an environmental display at the Bliss Institute. It is sponsored by SIWA-Ban of Caye Caulker and participating organizations include the Belize Audubon Society and the Coastal Zone Management Agency. So far the students seem to be learning a lot about our fragile marine environment.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Since the exhibition opened on Monday primary and high school students been steadily streaming into the Bliss. Although many of them have never seen the barrier reef and cayes for themselves, through photographs they got a close up look at the damage that has been caused to the marine environment.
The exhibition highlights the problems created from chemical pollution, silt and sediment, fertilizer runoff and solid waste.
Racqkeem Gotoy, Intern, Belize Audubon Society
“We are hoping that the students will know all about the environment and the sea creatures and what live in the sea and know that they shouldn’t destroy it because we will need it for years to come.”
Jacqueline Woods
I know when students are brought over to these exhibitions, when they are taken back to their classroom, they are tested on whatever information they may have gathered at the display. Do you intend to do this with your class?
Yasmin Enriquez, Biology teacher, Pallotti High School
“Yes we intend to do so. This outing is not just to bring the girls out of the classroom. We must realize that learning do takes place out classrooms many times. So we brought them here to see what is going on. The testing though will not happen at this time because right now in the syllabus we are not dealing with the environment but this will create a good frame of mind and background knowledge for the girls later on when we do get into the environment.”
The students were impressed with the display and say it was interesting to learn all about our coral reefs and how they can be protected.
Alicia Li, Student
“One of the things that I have learnt today is that the oil spills it washes away into the sea and contaminates the water and when the aqua-organisms that live in the water, swallows the water it contaminates their bodies and the other organisms that
depend on those organisms for food they will be contaminated. And in this way if this process continues the whole ecosystem in the aquatic environment will be contaminated.”
Lydia Guerra, student
“The algae which is in the water uses it up, they feed on it and they multiply very quickly, using up the oxygen in the water. Eventually there is no oxygen for the other aquatic animals which are in the water and so they die because of lack of oxygen.”
The display at the Bliss ends Friday, February 25th. Schools are urged to call the National Arts Council to make an appointment for a guided tour.
