Student Life
Environmental Sustainability

Marine Field Research students participate in coral reef monitoring and restoration

Students in the upper school Marine Field Research course continue to connect classroom learning with meaningful scientific research and conservation action on the bay in Ransom Everglades' backyard. Sophomores, juniors and seniors in the class participated in coral reef monitoring and coral restoration in September and October. After studying coral reef threats in the early part of the semester, the class went diving in Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean both to collect scientific data and participate in coral restoration efforts – all while earning three PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) specialty certifications.
 
The Marine Field Research course is taught by Drs. Kelly Jackson and Kristine Stump, with support from RE SCUBA instructor Maddy Quirke-Shattuck. Learn about two special field research trips below:
September 16 – SEAFAN BleachWatch Coral Reef Monitoring
Throughout September, students studied the impacts of warming oceans and coral bleaching on Florida's reefs. They completed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) SEAFAN BleachWatch eLearning course, welcomed guest speaker Mo Morrow from FDEP's Coral Reef Conservation Program, and practiced coral bleaching surveys before heading underwater.

During a September 16 field trip with Grove Scuba & Diver's Paradise in Key Biscayne, students conducted two underwater coral bleaching surveys at Neptune Memorial Reef and Rainbow Reef under the guidance of SEAFAN BleachWatch instructors. Students applied scientific monitoring techniques to assess coral health and earned their PADI SEAFAN BleachWatch Diver specialty certification.

October 13 – REEFLINE Coral Restoration
Building on their coral reef monitoring experience, students took the next step in marine conservation by actively restoring coral reefs. On October 13, RE's Marine Field Research students made history as the first public group of citizen science divers to outplant corals on REEFLINE. At REEFLINE's Traffic Jam artificial reef off Miami Beach, students participated in an innovative coral restoration initiative, successfully outplanting 25 corals.

Students were joined by REEFLINE founder and creator Ximena Caminos and Executive Director Brandi Reddick, gaining firsthand insight into the intersection of marine science, public art, conservation, and innovative reef restoration.

Through this experience and a dive on a nearby natural reef, students earned their PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation and PADI Underwater Naturalist specialty certifications.
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Middle School

2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 250 6850

Upper School

3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 460 8800

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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. It is rated the top private school in Miami and among the 10 private schools in North America. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.


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