Ms. Davida Nitka, a computer teacher at the Nixon Elementary School in Landing, New Jersey, will be going to Belize, her fourth Earthwatch Expedition, from July 29 through August 6, 2006. The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation sponsored two of her projects, fellowships awarded to her from Earthwatch. According to the rules, Ms. Nitka must fund any other project she intends to participate in.
Ms. Nitka, has been diving for many years and has shared her experiences with her students. “I have always wanted to participate in a project such as this,” says Ms. Nitka, “and discover first hand how the changes of the environment impact the ecosystems.” The decline of coral reefs has been most pronounced in the Caribbean, where coral cover has dropped 80 percent in the last three decades due to climate change, coastal runoff, and coral diseases. Will they bounce back? This is an experimental program to document the resilience of corals both within and outside protected reserves. Working with Dr. Les Kaufman, Burton Shank (both of Boston University), and Dr. James Crabbe (University of Luton), Ms. Nitka will scuba dive to sample sites to collect coral fragments, return them after experimental treatments, and monitor their recovery. She will also conduct surveys of corals, fish, and other organisms. All volunteers will help Crabbe extend the work from his popular Jamaica’s Coral Reefs project investigating the impact of storms on coral recruitment and the growth of new coral colonies.
Ms. Nitka will spend nine days this summer working in the field with Dr. Kaufman. She, along with her team, will scuba dive in the waters off Punta Gorda where she will collect and experiment on marine specimens. Ms. Nitka adds, “Upon my return to school next year, I plan to share the knowledge I have gained with as many students as I can in the school.” “I also plan to post pictures on my website of the trip so that the students can access them during the summer.” Her website address is: (http://teacherweb.com/NJ/NixonElementarySchool/Nitka/).