News - University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus
Read New Community Blog: “Elementary Students Tackle Mosquito Vectors of Disease”
In a recent GLOBE Community Blog, Dr. Russanne (Rusty) Low, GLOBE Mission Mosquito Science Lead, presents an article on Professor Glenda Ivette Lozada Negrón, a science teacher whose elementary classroom is actively engaged in reducing the risk of mosquito-borne disease through mosquito surveillance and mitigation, as part of an ongoing service learning project in Puerto Rico.
“The project began as part of a curriculum with the Science and Research Trust of Puerto Rico and the Science in Service project. It is a community of teachers that serves to help students create new learning communities,” Negrón said. “Since August 2018, I have been working with an entomologist, Prof. Fernando L. González Delgado in my school and with my students. We collect the water to determine whether Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are present, and we validate the information using the data we collect. In addition, students meet regularly with the entomologist to learn about mosquito vectors and communicate their findings.”
In the article, Negrón explains that the fieldwork is done during class. “We prepare traps with the students and with the help of the entomologist, we collect larvae and pupae for analysis. We learn about mosquito biology by observing the metamorphosis of mosquitoes. The students really enjoy preparing the traps, collecting data and identifying mosquitoes. They are very interested in this project because addresses a "real" science problem in our school community. Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious threat in the place where we live.”
The problem of vector-borne diseases increased after Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico. “After the storm, there were many more places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. We had a lot of trash and debris and this dramatically increased the number of breeding sites on our island.”
“We need to prepare our students to be global citizens and since they must develop science-related skills, attitudes and knowledge to create a more sustainable society. We need to understand that we are interconnected, and this problem is not just a local problem, it is a global problem. It’s time to take action.”
To read the entire blog, click here.
To read other recent community blogs, click here.
What’s your GLOBE story? As a vital part of the GLOBE community, you are cordially invited to blog on the GLOBE website. Respectfully voice your opinion, ask questions, share tips and tidbits – and make meaningful connections with members of the community today!
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type: globe-newsNews origin: GLOBE Implementation Office