The science faculty at Serere Township Secondary School (STSS) identified a need for their students to have opportunities in STEM related activities. Through the Fulbright DAST program, Annalise Klein, a chemistry teacher in California, USA, worked with STSS for five weeks to implement STEM workshops for faculty and facilitate student projects.

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The faculty group began by identifying local problems in the community that have applications in multiple scientific courses. They settled on soil erosion, a current issue during the rainy season that has applicable research topics in organic and inorganic chemistry, agriculture, geography, and physics.  

 

From the overarching problem of controlling soil erosion, students could identify potential sites around campus that were susceptible to erosion. They could research the benefits of different types of plants, whose root systems could stabilize the top soil during heavy rains. They could learn about the different types of inorganic and organic fertilizers and become experts in knowing which fertilizers to apply and when to apply them, so that the ground cover would grow quickly. Finally, the students could engineer irrigation systems so that the plants would continue to receive water during the dry season.

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From this brainstorming session, teachers developed the following outcomes:

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• Students will brainstorm and test methods to control soil erosion around campus.

• Students will apply scientific knowledge to a problem that affects them every day.

• Students will communicate their findings to the community.