Students research oil disaster

When the Deepwater Horizon oil well in the Gulf of Mexico exploded in April, 11 people died and the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history began.
Questions about how and why it happened and what the aftermath means for the ecosystem are behind some of the research that will be presented next week by Scotts Valley High School seniors enrolled in the school’s International Baccalaureate science courses.
Sixteen teams of students will present their findings Thursday, Sept. 30, during the fourth annual IB Science Night in the high school’s student union.
IB Science Night allows the school’s senior IB candidates to show off their skills. The IB Diploma Program is in its seventh full year at Scotts Valley High School, offering rigorous courses of study to highly motivated students. IB students share an academic experience emphasizing critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of points of view.
“IB teaches the whole student, not only making him or her technically capable in college curricula, but also fostering responsibility and compassion,” said David Crawford, IB diploma program coordinator.
At a glance
WHAT: International Baccalaureate student research presentation
WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30
WHERE: Scotts Valley High Student Union, 555 Glenwood Drive, in Scotts Valley
COST: Free
INFO: David Crawford, dc*******@**************ca.us or www.svhs.santacruz.k12.ca.us/01/academics/ib.htm