Robert Fest

"Connections To Global Conservation Science," Fest's winning, collaborative project between students and field biologists, will afford students at Winslow Township High School the opportunity to work with scientists in Belize by using SKYPE. The scientists are conducting a jaguar population census and researchers are in dire need of assistance in monitoring traps. Students will be able to observe jaguars on the video feed, and their discovery may lead to the protection of thousands of acres of rainforest. They will experience empowerment and pride when the jungle becomes a protected wildlife preserve as a direct result of their discovery. This program takes the learning out of the textbook and applies it to real-world scenarios. More than 500 students will benefit from this program, and 25 will be trained as "Student Conservation Experts." Ideally, Fest hopes his program will help students realize science is not just something to learn to pass a test but instead that science is a tool that can lead them down the path of adventure and intrigue. Fest, a science teacher, lives in Palmyra.