High School West Marine Science teacher Ms. Williams and her Marine Ecology classes joined District Technology Integration Specialist Tim Needles and Librarian Cathy Masrour to participate in a workshop titled "Communicating Conservation, Curriculum and Careers in STEAM.”
Students were given the opportunity to practice using a variety of art techniques and media to communicate science more effectively. They learned more about careers in Art, Conservation, and being an Entrepreneur.
The workshop was led by Conservation Artists Karen Talbot from Maine and Susan Buroker from Smithtown. After sharing her own work with them, Ms. Talbot brought specimens for students to try their hand at scientific illustration and taught them about the importance of accuracy and visual storytelling. She shared diagrams she created for veterinarians trying to learn more about endangered species and invited the students to make their own scientific illustrations using specimens she brought with her that came from the Gulf of Maine.
Ms. Buroker brought giant sculpted puppets and modeling materials to help the students learn more about using visual arts to convey difficult scientific concepts to a general audience, especially to younger learners. She gave them a chance to brainstorm messages in conservation and discuss how they would use art to tell the story of what we need to improve in our local community as well as what we are doing well and want to showcase.
