Students in Peter Berg’s Ecological Sustainability class recently visited nearby Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve to learn about the importance of estuaries and the biotic and abiotic factors that comprise them. The Reserve consists of 2,250 acres of protected land, a restored saltwater farm called Laudholm and is a natural refuge for wildlife. The Reserve contains a composition of plants and animals not found elsewhere in Maine.
The purpose of the class is to examine how the principals of sustainability intersect with the sciences of biology and ecology. In these photos, students are comparing salinity levels in different pools within the estuary. The class will be returning to Wells Reserve soon — another great example of learning taking place outside the classroom at The New School.
