Washington, West Florida students learning to create artificial reefs

Industry,

By Mary Lett 

Some Booker T. Washington and West Florida Technical high school students are learning to design and construct artificial reefs that may eventually be used to help the area’s marine life.

About 140 students from each of the schools are enrolled in marine science classes that incorporate a new Artificial Reefs Curriculum into coursework. The pilot program – a collaboration between Escambia County, the Escambia County school district, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and Sea Grant Florida – started in October at the schools.

“It’s a relevant subject because we have so much marine environment where we live. We also have a lot of artificial reefs in this area,” said Cheyenna Novotny, ECSD K-12 Science Specialist, who added students will study marine biology in their own backyard.