Alumni, Uncategorized

Middlebury Solar Decathalon Team Finishes Fourth!

Congratulations to Katie Romanov (F’05) and the rest of Team Middlebury College for their impressive finish in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathalon 2011!

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Solar Decathlon is a biennial competition that challenges twenty collegiate teams from around the world to design and build net zero energy houses that are attractive, affordable and entirely solar-powered. Team Middlebury College’s entry, Self-Reliance, received 1st place in three of the ten decathlon contests: communications, home entertainment and market appeal.

As the first undergraduate liberal arts team ever to make it into the finals on their own, Team Middlebury College is extremely proud to have performed as a top contender amongst teams from technical architecture and engineering institutions. Right before the final results announcement in West Potomac Park on Saturday Oct. 1st, the team’s Communications Coordinator Katie Romanov ’11 commented, “If we could finish in the top five, and be the little engine that could, we’d be thrilled!”

 

Read the full press release here!

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 2, 2011

Being Cacique on my Birthday today was awesome, especially because it was a Sunday, and we got to sleep in and have exploration time almost all day. In the morning after everyone woke up around nine, the girls took a trip to High Rock to celebrate. The view was very relaxing and it was a great opportunity to even out farmer’s tans. After we went to brunch that day, my advisor, Peter, brought 6 pints of ice cream for girl’s dorm to share. I think everyone almost forgot what cold food tasted like, the girls were very happy, and the boys were a little jealous. For the rest of the day, people spent their time working on their Eleutheros, and Marine Ecology papers, and by dinner people were hungry for birthday cake, and since it was a Sunday and most of the faculty was off campus, students got as much as they wanted. My sweet sixteen was a lot more than I had expected it to be, and every one here took part to make it a great day.

CEI, research, Uncategorized

F’11 First Lionfish Research Update

By Maddy Philipp and Katie Harpin

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Greetings from the Lionfish Research team! We are now three weeks into the program and have already learned so much. The purpose of our study is to look at how grouper and currents affect the distribution of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) found around Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas. So far we have gone on two mock dives. Unfortunately our second one got cut short due to an unexpected thunderstorm. We have also learned how to identify grouper and take the total length of fish from a distance underwater. For one of our classes, we took a trip to CEI and learned how to dissect a lionfish. From the dissection we could see what the lionfish had eaten. We also learned that lionfish can expand their stomachs up to 30 times its normal size. For another class we became scientist for a day and learned the correct structure for scientific papers. We have 3 research classes a week and two of those usually involve fieldwork. Although the readings may be strenuous, the lionfish team is excited to have the opportunity to work alongside biologists and helping to further the worlds knowledge on lionfish.

Cacique Update

Cacique Update September 30, 2011

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By Cacique Ihna

As our van pulled up beside a field covered with more rocks than open land, multiple “Are we here?” remarks filled the car. My scrutinizing eyes surveyed, in confusion, the surrounding area that appeared to be just a random unharvestable plot. Going to the “farm”, I had an image of big, open fields with neat rows of crops, but, instead, random blotches of fruit trees welcomed me. I was a bit ashamed of myself; all term, I have been learning to always keep an open mind and to try to rid all my preconceived notions but that is not what I did. I quickly thought of the farmer, Reverend Nixon, as someone who must have been careless, but, after I met him, I realized how industrious he actually is. Continue reading →

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Salutations to the Sunday

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My alarm sounded. Confused, I turned it off and rolled over. Today is Sunday, the one day at The Island School when students and faculty alike take advantage of sleeping in. I was content nuzzling back into my pillows until I remembered: today was the day Griffin had asked me, or maybe convinced me, to lead yoga at the sandbar. I left my house in the dark noticing the silence of campus, the brilliance of the stars in the morning sky. Stepping into the boathouse I made out the silhouettes of students sitting with lifejackets as promised: 6:10 am and ready to go. We groggily filled two boats and headed out as the first glimpses of daylight shone through the clouds in the distance. The water was quiet, each movement of our boat breaking the steady silence of the sea. The pale pink of a sunrise reflected on the glassy surface as we all came to life. [slideshow] Continue reading →

CEI, research, Uncategorized

Need Support for November Shark Expedition!

Attention alumni! Edd Brooks, shark project manager, is in need of some support on his upcoming shark expedition and is looking to The Island School alumni network for help. November 6-18, Edd and his team will be in Little San Salvador to recreate shark surveys that were conducted in the late 1970s. Their goal is to identify any shifts in the diversity and abundance of sharks in the last 30 years. If you are interested in applying to join this expedition or have any other questions, please contact Edd at eddbrooks@islandschool.org by October 14th. Continue reading →

research

Introduction to the F’11 Biodigestion Research Project

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By Tyler Courville and Ihna Mangundayao

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Did you know that 5.2 million people die every year from waste related diseases? Now you do! This is a result of irresponsible and inappropriate global waste management – 50% of which is organic and 35% is unsorted recyclables. This is becoming a major problem in both developed and less developed countries with the latter usually suffering the consequences. Developed countries like the US often dump their trash in less developed countries that cannot always meet the waste demands. People have been trying to find alternative ways to dispose of waste more responsibly and sustainably. To solve this crisis, scientists turned to Nature for a solution – creating an emerging field known as biomimicry, which copies Nature’s processes to make the world a better place for humans. From this, a solution arose: Biodigestion. Continue reading →

Aquaculture, Cape Eleuthera Institute, research

Fall 2011 First Aquaculture Research Project Update!

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Aquaculture Fall 2011 is off to a great start! Six enthusiastic students have embarked on a journey through the wild scientific studies of Aquaculture. Already, we have trod through mangroves, swum through strong currents, and collected 200 water samples in the past week. We have been testing pH level, levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature of the water. The water sample data we collected is being used to see if the mangroves surrounding the school and institute filter the water efficiently. The water is collected outside of the CEI campus and is then used in the CEI labs to raise fish. After the water goes through CEI, it goes through the mangroves and back out into the ocean. Hopefully our water sample research will show that the mangroves do effectively filter the water. Later on in the semester, we will dive down ninety feet to our underwater Aquaculture cage in order to help inform ourselves on ways to improve the problems Aquaculture has faced. We will keep you updated on our progress throughout the rest of the semester!

Cacique Update

Cacique Update September 27, 2011

by Caciques Tori O. and Forrest

Today we woke up at the regular time of 6:30 for run and swim track practices.  Run track completed a timed run of around four miles while swim track practiced sprints.  After breakfast we rotated between Literature, Math, and Histories class.  In Histories and Literature we had Harkness discussions, while in math we began our project on The Island School cisterns.  The project entitles students to try to answer the question: how do we most efficiently use our cisterns? Continue reading →

Uncategorized

Stories Beneath the Waves

In the beginning, there was artwork. From the artwork, came stories. Yes…yes, we are indeed talking about marine ecology. No joke.  Marine ecology is NOT just about diving and pretty fishes.  God help us if it was.  Sticking with the cross-disciplinary approach at The Island School, students incorporate themes from other departments, holding them close as they descend beneath the waves. Beautiful dives abound throughout the Cape, yet the beauty is never truly ‘seen’ until one’s attention is focused. This is where the intricate detail is. This is where the nuances come alive. This is where life begins. This is where ecology happens. Continue reading →