Susan Vincent - 2009 SSP Fellow

Young Women’s Leadership School
East Harlem, NY

District: New York City Public Schools
Grades: 9-12
105 East 106th Street
New York, NY 10029

Susan Vincent taught Earth and Marine Sciences at The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem in New York City, a public school serving inner-city, at risk students. She entered the teaching profession late in life with a mission to infuse her students with passion for environmental awareness and action. Vincent earned a Bachelor’s degree in geology at Smith College in 2000. The following year she worked in wetlands research before returning to Smith College to complete a Master’s degree in science education in 2002. Vincent taught coral reef ecology with Smith College’s Coral Reef Ed-Ventures program in Belize in the summer of 2002 before joining the teaching staff at The Young Women’s Leadership School in fall 2002. As an extension of her participation in Columbia University Summer Research Program in 2005-2006, Vincent forged a partnership with Dr. Robert Newton to create the Secondary Schools Field Research Program (SSFRP), an estuarine wetlands investigation at Piermont Marsh on the Hudson River. The marsh serves as an outdoor laboratory, providing opportunity for girls to stretch far beyond the limits of their asphalt and concrete environment and experience the rewards and challenges of hands-on scientific investigation.

SSFRP currently includes six separate, yet related marsh projects: 1) nekton and invertebrate baseline profile and study of habitat preference; 2) baseline profile of plankton species; 3) study of nutrient fluxes and water quality within the marsh and adjacent Hudson River; 4) plant succession study that tracks the advance of invasive species Phargmites australis; 5) carbon sequestration study that includes modern and historic records; 6) sediment accretion study to determine if the marsh surface elevation is keeping pace with sea level rise. The program has grown to now engage a group of 32 high school students, six college students who were former TYWLS students, and six teachers. Students collect and analyze real data that is then published for use by the scientific community and the public. Students participate during the six week summer program and continue their research through the school year. Projects are presented at science competitions as well as such venues as: Geological Society of America, INTECOL International Wetlands Conference, Society for Wetland Scientists, and the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair.

Read the full version of Susan’s Project Management Plan.

Student Posters

Research students presented posters of their work for the Department of Environmental Conservation on Saturday, Sept 12, 2009. They also presented the posters for the School PTA meeting Wednesday Sept 16, 2009. View the posters below: