On Thursday, October 8th, the Advance Placement Biology students who attend Baruch College Campus High School taught 36 fifth graders from Public School 78 about water quality testing procedures and helped data on the Hudson River for the Department of Environmental Protection as a part of the “Hudson Snap Shot Day.”

The project could not have happened without the inspiration AP Biology teacher Uzma Shah got from the New York City water Professional Development training she received in the summer of 2009 and the planning of Min Kan of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Because water is the most basic of life's necessities, local water quality must continually be monitored and maintained.

The BCCHS students and the fifth grade students tested the Hudson River water’s salinity, the acidity, turbidity, tides and amount of chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen.

A week prior to the day of the project, the AP students familiarized themselves with the test equipments and the procedures. It was challenging to simplify the scientific ideas in order to make them easier to understand for the fifth grade students. It was also difficult to find the best  way to teach the material. Development of leadership skills was one of the goals of the project, in addition to increasing student awareness and appreciation for New York City water and the luxury that it is.

“I think all 12th graders should have these leadership opportunities,” said Shah. “[The project was a] great opportunity and great partnership, I’d like to do it again next year.”

2009 was the first time BCCHS students participated in the “Hudson Snap Shot Day” and first time engaged in the hands-on environmental testing of river water.

Students have responded to the project with satisfaction.

“For me, the best thing about the entire trip was teaching fifth graders the importance of water quality,” said Jacqueline Fung, a senior and an AP Biology student. “It’s an issue that people need to be more wary of.”

Aside from the data collection, there were fun moments. According to Zhao Liang Deng, fellow senior and AP biology student, the fifth grade students thought a “green tube floating was a big eel."

“I learned that our generation is indeed getting smarter and smarter," said Deng.

Environmental consciousness has been an aspect of the BCCHS curriculum since 10th grade chemistry and continues on to 12th grade science. In tandem with the school’s focus on community service and a diverse curriculum, the AP Biology Hudson River water testing reflected the school’s goal to train students to become leaders and active, conscientiousness members of society.