On Sept. 4, 37 APES students went to the University of Arkansas to learn about sustainable food production. The students arrived at 8:50 a.m. at the Equestrian Center. Each session dealt with reusing or modifying earth’s resources and included the following topics: bioenergy crop production, soybean research on GMO (genetically modified organisms), and industrial and food uses. Other topics were a biodiesel plant demonstration using cooking oil from the University of Arkansas food service units, evaluating the use of charcoal to protect ground and surface water, water conservation in crop production, and examining soil profiles. At 9:15 a.m. the students began their first of six sessions.
When walking around and listening to each session, the students were not the only ones paying attention to the instructors. Mr. Nokes was also listening to what each session instructor was saying, so he could have class discussions with his students about what they learned and how food sustainability could affect their future.
“My philosophy about education is that we do as many hands on things as we can,” said AP Environmental Science teacher Charles Nokes.
An example of this would be during session three. This session involved reusing the cooking oil from the U of A kitchen (about 200 gallons a week). By reusing the cooking oil, the oil could be turned into a type of diesel for trucks to run on, instead of gasoline. Mr. Nokes wanted to bring this question to his students.
If the U of A kitchens can reuse cooking oil to fuel trucks, why can Springdale schools not do the same to fuel the buses?
Junior Tara Sallee enjoyed session two on soybean research. This session talked about GMO and how soybeans are used in almost 90 percent of food in any given grocery store.
“I was really interested in the soy bean plant and how they were saying it was super healthy for you,” said Sallee
While this field trip was a great hands on experience for AP Environmental students, it also showed students that they don’t have to be doctors or teachers. They can be researchers and help discover different ways to use soil to help fuel cars or create the next water saving plant.
“I think it’s very important for students to see what you might say is the real world,” said Mr. Nokes.
