Biology Service Learning Students Steal the Show

All of the students in UCF Biology professor Linda Walters’, Ph.D., advanced marine biology course were winners at the 2016 UCF Service-Learning Showcase on Thursday, April 14. The team, dubbed the “Microterrors,” conducted research on microplastic abundance and diversity on Central Florida beaches and estuaries and then presented this research to Ms. Tricia LaChance’s fifth grade classes at Sunrise Elementary School. The team won the College of Sciences Best Presentation Award and $500.

The “Squawk Squad,” another team from Dr. Walters’ Advance Marine Biology course, focused its research on human-shorebird interactions on Florida beaches. The team presented its research to numerous beach-goers and to second graders at Galileo School for the Gifted in Seminole County. The team received the Civic and Community Engagement Award and $200.

Sponsored by the Office of Experiential Learning, the UCF Service-Learning Showcase is held each spring. The purpose of the showcase is to provide students involved in community-based learning courses an opportunity to display and present their community projects to academic and public audiences.

“It makes me very happy that UCF chooses to celebrate Service-Learning each year through the annual showcase…it gives my marine biology students the opportunity to share their experiences with students in different program” said Dr. Walters.

This unique opportunity gives students a chance to share their observations, create networks and connections with other students and faculty, and collaborate for future projects.

“UCF understands the importance of high impact experiences for our undergraduates, and Service-Learning has a huge positive impact on both the UCF student participants and our community,” explained Dr. Walters.