Senior Research Projects

 SCVTHS Agricultural Science Seniors Taking on Research Projects with Professional Guidance.

Coursework

Students in the Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) Agricultural Science program have already successfully completed three years of coursework in basic agricultural science. First year students learn the basics of each facet of agriculture in basic animal, plant, environment, ecology, engineering, and communication. While second year students complete coursework in plant science and third year students in animal and plant biotechnology. 

Students in their fourth year get to dedicate class time toward specializing in an agricultural facet they want to pursue beyond high school. In this final year I like to describe this year as a mini-master's degree. Senior students get to find an agricultural problem they want to investigate in animal, plant, environment, ecology, engineering, or communication. They then contact a professional in the field to help guide their project for a question they can answer within high school constraints. From here they design an experiment, run the experiment, collect data, analyze the data, and plan to communicate their results. 

Senior project progress

We are currently finishing up first contact with our professional guidance. Students and I have been excited and honored by the support we have received so far this year. Our professionals have been incredibly helpful and inspiring. Below are the seniors and their current topics. 

Alejandra - Currently working with Dr. Lauren Cook, Marine Science professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and Jenna Krug, Environmental Specialist NJ DEP. Alejandra is currently interested in examining how carbon molecules impact local water pH and aquatic wildlife. 

Christina - Currently working with Virginia Osnato, Ecologist Coordinator of Duke Farms. Christina is interested in using bioacoustics to monitor and measure biodiversity on SCVTHS campus and how maintenance practices may impact bird and amphibian populations. 

Eden - Currently working with Irene Wieners, Visiting Professor of Writing with William Patterson University. Eden would like to study how attractive visuals from spring flowering bulbs can have an impact on the learning environment in school classrooms.

Jake - Currently working with Dr. Joseph Heckman, Extension Specialist of Soil Fertility of Rutgers University. Jake is interested in studying soil nutrient availability and uptake with interest in human health.

Start of 25-26 school year with Ecology

Start of 25-26 School Year

Ecology Lessons

Students helped gather native plant seed from four species on SCVTHS campus. Students then cleaned the seed, stratified (cold treated), sowed seed, raised small plug sized plants, and planted into the main courtyard located just outside of the Main Lobby. Students helped clean the planting area of exotic plants and two invasive plant species. 

Here are the after photos. Two pics showing the space after about five months of growing. There were several plants that struggled with establishment due to deer and/or rodent browsing. We will be trialing new species this coming spring for resistance to browsing and fill the more bare areas. The goal is to have a well covered and established planting that out competes non natives and non intended plants from establishing. We also want to educate students and local community of the importance of supporting local insect populations and how we can accomplish this in a stylized and attractive way.

Our Open House plant display getting readied for visitors. Above is the before caring for these. Below is after.

Students expressed interest in raising Butterflies from caterpillars last year. We decided we can do better by raising a moth native moth species. We found a golden bear (Spilosoma virginica) both female and she laid eggs for us. We have about 30 caterpillars in the classroom. We have learned about their behavior, feeding habits, life stages, and more. We currently have at least one that has begun to pupate and we will be overwintering these.

Above: eggs laid on a River birch (Betula nigra) leaf.

Finally, We recently acquired a no till seed drill. We were fortunate to get grant funding to support this purchase. We will be using this machine to plant native seed in areas around our riparian waterway to compete with non native species and help support a healthy water system.