National Park Service Award:
In 1916 the National Park
Service was created to “…promote and regulate the use of
Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and
reservations…to conserve the scenery and the natural and
historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide
for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such
means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of
future generations.” Since then a lot of new environmental,
recreational, and even political issues have emerged, and
the National Park Service of today operates in an ever
changing world. Future scientists are some of the best
suited to help the National Park Service evolve with these
changes to continue conservation efforts.
The Park Service will select
one project at the grades 9-12 level in line with our goals.
The award will be an annual pass for admission to all
National Parks, as well as a National Park backpack filled
with books, movies, and other National Park surprises. Some
ideas for science fair projects are listed below, but these
are by no means the only types of projects we will consider.
A few ideas:
-
How can we make
National Parks or the world in general more “green”?
-
How will climate
change affect exotic plants and their interactions
with native plants or the ecosystem in Alaska?
-
Design a better bear
proof garbage can or a bear proof backpack/tent or
other camping gear for use in National Parks and
throughout Alaska.
-
How does human
disturbance or use of land/resources affect soil,
plants, or animals in parks?
-
How are animal
populations in parks affected by encroaching
urbanization?
-
How would National
Parks be affected by increased visitation? What are
some solutions?
-
How do people’s
lifestyles at home affect the health of National
Parks?
For more information about the
National Park Service and our mission:
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/index.htm
and
http://www.nps.gov/americasbestidea/
Description provided by the
National Park Service 2012 |
