Download ONE PAGE SUMMARY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DR. KRISTIN

ONE PAGE SUMMARY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DR. KRISTIN HASKINS
This school year, Dr. Kristin Haskins was a mentor in the “Scientists in the Classroom”
program. She is a biologist and studies many different things involving ecosystems and the earth.
Her main focuses are specialized plants and the mating behaviors of water striders. Dr. Haskins
has given information and insights about plants. Plant conservation and forestry were the main
topics that were researched this year.
Plant conservation is important in many ways. The first reason is plants are primary
producers of energy in the food chain. Vegetation is one thing that all organisms need to survive,
and already use. Plants do not only provide oxygen and clean air, but food and medicine also.
Sometimes, many think that plants are used for one specific purpose, but plants are actually used
for more reason than thought about. Almost all of the food that people eat come from plants. The
food that is there to keep organisms’ bodies healthy, come from plants. This is why plant
conservation is so important.
Forestry is the second thing that was taught. Forestry is when woodcutters go to forests to cut
the trees down for wood. If some trees are not cut down, then there will be an increase in forest
fires. This subject is not just about the trees, but also about the ecosystem and animals. Even the
soil in the forests are a part of this topic. The soil is a part of this because the soil and trees are
linked to each other. Trees and other plants rely on the soil for water and nutrients. Without the
soil, the trees would not be able to grow very well any more.
Another was reasons why plants are so affected by Climate Change, plants have certain
climate conditions. Even if the climate changes a little bit, plants will have to adapt. Most can’t
adapt that fast, so they die. This doesn’t seem important, but actually is. Without plants, nothing
would have oxygen or food sources.
In conclusion, plant conservation, forestry, and plants affected by Climate Change were
focused on this year. These three topics are all related to each other because each one is
involving plants and ecosystems. There all important, this is why Dr. Kristin Haskins studies and
researches specific subjects that have to do with this.
PROJECT PROCESS
The Capstone project is going to be about plants in the Polar Regions, and how each are
affected by Climate Change. The tri-fold poster will show three panels each with a specific topic.
On the left side will have facts about Climate Change. In the middle will have the summary of
the board and the title. Lastly, the right side is going to have information about polar plants, and
the Polar Regions.
On the Climate Change panel, one fact will be on the Greenhouse Effect. This is where the
gases from the sunlight are absorbed by the land, plants, and water somewhat. The rest of the
gases are reflected back into the atmosphere to keep the planet warm. This is why the more
greenhouse gases that are used and released, the hotter the earth gets. Now when the gases go
into the atmosphere, the more that get trapped, and the more the earth’s temperature will go up.
The panel that will have plant facts will have facts about why plants are so important, and
how they are affected by Climate Change. Plants are so important because they do not only
provide oxygen, but food and medicine to. Everything that is consumed by organisms come from
plants. No matter what is eaten, plants will always be the main source. This is why protecting
plants is so important.
A lat thing that will be mentioned is plants require specific climates. Climate is such a big
factor in polar places. These two topics are related to each other in many different ways. Climate
Change is critical on plant growth. Both of the poles are known as the “hot zones” right now
because they are experiencing more dramatic change. This change is so bad on the plants that
live there because they are used to the cold climate. The hotter the climate gets, the less the
plants will be able to survivr. Each fact is being researched in more depth, but is still being
worked on.