BP Oddo welcomes students involved with Billion Oyster Project to a Maritime Forum
On Monday, April 15, Borough President James Oddo and the NYC Department of Education welcomed fourteen Staten Island schools participating in the Billion Oyster Project to a Maritime Forum at the Michael J. Petrides School in the Borough President's Hall of Science. Approximately 60 students made one-on-one presentations regarding their field work with the Billion Oyster Project to Borough President Oddo and Deputy Borough President Ed Burke.
The schools in attendance at the forum were: Curtis High School, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School, Michael J. Petrides School High School, New Dorp High School, Susan Wagner High School, Michael J. Petrides School Middle School, I.S. 7 - Elias Bernstein, I.S. 24 - Myrna S. Barnes School, I.S. 51 - Edwin Markham School, I.S. 75 - Frank D. Paulo School, P.S. 21 - Margaret P. Emery / Elm Park, P.S. 45 - John Tyler School, and P.S. 59 - Harborview Elementary School, St. Clare's School.
Education and business leaders were present, along with faculty and students from the Governor's Island-based Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, the Billion Oyster Project, the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery (Living Breakwaters), and the Staten Island Zoo. Members of the US Coast Guard Sector New York were also present along with other community members.
"This event was a great opportunity for marine-focused individuals from many different outlets on Staten Island to get together and share the important research they have completed," said Borough President Oddo. "I was very impressed by the students and look forward to seeing the change they will create in partnership with the Billion Oyster Project."
Representatives from Shop Rite donated healthy snacks for those attending, including carrots and hummus, fresh fruit, and popcorn.
This is the first time all Staten Island schools and students participating in the Billion Oyster Project were gathered together in a single event. Those in attendance had the opportunity to participate in a passport program where they collected a sticker from each table stopped at.
The Billion Oyster Project has a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. With a commitment to project-based and real-world learning, their school programming puts students at the center of the movement to restore oysters to NYC waters. Oysters have a remarkable ability to filter nitrogen pollution from water as they eat and can help to protect NYC from storm damage—softening the blow of large waves, reducing flooding, and preventing erosion. Read more about the Billion Oyster Project on their website.
Over 175 people attended the event.