IB Biology and IB Chemistry students attended a Group Four project field trip on Nov. 9, 2011 where they collaborated and collected data from twenty reaches by the stream behind South Lakes.

“The trip was a success it was a beautiful day so the students could get accurate samples for all of their tests and observations,” said IB Biology teacher John Issigonis. “Now we need to collect that data and publish it in a public space for everyone to see.”

In each reach, chemistry students collected phosphate and nitrogen levels, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Biology students observed tree species, invasive plants identified, DBH average, and the calculated Macro Index Score.

“Project Four taught me how chemistry can be used in the real world,” said junior IB chemistry student Trudy Perkins. “I liked how we worked with the biology students for the same project, it gave me a feel for how the two subjects are really related and can work well together.”

The next step is to organize the collected data online so everyone involved can see the combined information.

A Group Four email is available for students to share and email their own work with each other and eventually the community.

The email address is southlakesg4@gmail.com and the password is “southlakessci.”