Beacon Middle School Students Tackle Marine Debris Research at University of Delaware's Lewes Campus

Earlier this spring, fifteen 7th grade students from Beacon Middle School spent six sessions conducting hands-on science research at the University of Delaware's Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, studying marine debris and its impact on Delaware's coastal ecosystems.

The program was led by David Christopher, a Marine Education Specialist with Delaware Sea Grant at the University of Delaware and recipient of the 2024 National Marine Educators Association Award for Excellence in Marine Education. Students explored how marine debris affects ocean life and what communities can do to reduce coastal pollution.

Field experiences included visits to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes Beach, where students examined wrack lines (the debris-laden high tide lines where marine material washes ashore) to identify and document marine debris in a real coastal setting. “I was surprised about the amount of trash I found on the beach,” recalled Tommy Taylor, 7th grade student at Beacon.

Students also collected and analyzed water samples at Roosevelt Inlet, where the UD campus meets the bay, gaining firsthand experience with the tools and methods used by working marine scientists.  "Finding microplastics right at the surface near the dock was fascinating and honestly not that surprising given how much plastic we use every day,” said 7^th grade science teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Hahn.

The program is part of a broader effort at Beacon to expand STEM career awareness among middle school students through real-world, community-connected learning. Science teachers Mrs. Jacquie Kisiel and Mrs. Elizabeth Hahn co-facilitated the initiative alongside Beacon’s Green Team and other after-school environmental programs. 

“Connecting our students to real scientists doing real work right here in coastal Delaware is exactly the kind of experience that opens doors,” said Mrs. Jacquie Kisiel. “When a 7th grader stands on a research campus and sees what a career in marine science actually looks like, it changes how they think about their own future.”

Programs like this remind us that some of the most important science happening on Delaware's coast starts with curiosity and a willingness to get your feet wet. For these fifteen Beacon students, the coast will never look quite the same.