PROGRAM FOR SUMMER 2024

Interns:

American High School:  Divya Ayyagari, grade 10;  Suhas Bathini, grade 10,  Sharva Parmar, grade 10,   Mahiya Rade, grade 10,   Swetha Madhanrajan, grade 11

Mission San Jose High School:   Sharanya Chandra, grade 10,  Shivani Palanikumar, grade 10,    Annabell Sze, grade 10,  Samhita Bathina, grade 11,  Ashita Garg, grade 11,    Evelyn Zhao, grade 11

Irvington High School:   Siddharth Thyagarajan, grade 9,    Ritika Mhatre, grade 10

James Logan High School:    Michelle Nguyen, grade 10,   Miriya Hao, grade 11,   Tiffany Lee, grade 11

Two sessions made up the 7-week internship, with Interns participating in the session(s) they were interested in.

 Internship description:

Session 1:

Interns had a focus on biological and geological environmental parameters during the first 3-week session of summer 2024. Interns met from June 11^th to June 28^th, meeting for a total of six days of labs and six days of service. During lab days interns learned about quantitative and qualitative science through pH tests, field sketches, observational analysis of microorganisms and insects, geologic mapping, and soil pH analysis.

Service projects ranged from tule plant lab experiments to restoration and upkeep of nectar regions in the butterfly meadow. Interns identified native and non-native plants in the Butterfly Meadow region, removed invasives, cleaned up trails, and replaced invasives with native or nectar-friendly plants to promote pollinator habitat regions, such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Interns had a focus on water quality parameters and ecology during the second 3-week internship session of summer 2024. Interns met for three weeks, from July 9th to July 26th. Three days were devoted to lab sessions where interns got to learn about freshwater ecology, botany, and wetland chemistry. Activities included mapping out the food web through observational analysis of organisms in the region, collection of leaves and microscopic observations of plants, and use of a spectrophotometer for nutrient analysis from water samples collected in Tyson Lagoon. Interns sampled for phosphate, nitrate, and sulfate. Interns also collected depth and turbidity depth measurements of Tyson Lagoon. Throughout lab sessions, Interns safely learned how to kayak to collect samples and conduct measurements.

Six service days were scheduled, with service projects ranging from tule plant lab experiments to tule plant cutting in the Muwekma Ohlone area. Interns tested pH ranges in fish bowls to determine if tule plants would increase or decrease acidic and basic pH ranges. Tule plants were cut and prepared for the incoming fall field trips, where children will use the dried tule plants for activities. In addition, Interns reinforced the preexisting tule hut, recorded native and non-native plants in the surrounding areas, and cleaned the creek.