Lake Mead research center bringing science to life

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Home News

Children from local area middle schools gather aboard the Forever Earth, a 70-foot floating classroom on Lake Mead, to watch a live feed of a submerged diver as he makes his way around a sunken World War II-era Higgins aircraft at the bottom of the lake.

By Dave Clark (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 | midnight

"Alien Invaders" may sound like a horror movie populated by Martians. But the star of this film shot at Lake Mead last Saturday can be just as threatening, although much smaller: the quagga mussel.

Students on the set of the film learned how the mussels, which are not native to the desert Southwest, can alter the ecosystem by removing plankton, increasing the water's acidity, accumulating pollutants and clogging water intakes. The mussels, which National Park Service officials discovered in Lake Mead a couple of years ago, were transported here by boats they had attached to.

The film is a joint partnership of the National Park Service, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Outside Las Vegas Foundation, aimed at broadcasting into classrooms both the resources and environmental perils of Lake Mead.

"Our vision is to get kids interested in nature and what is at the park," Lake Mead National Recreation Area spokesman Andrew Muñoz said. "We want kids to say to their parents, 'Let's go to the lake this weekend.' A lot of people don't realize there's a national park in their backyard."

As students spoke into microphones, their unscripted questions were transmitted to divers, whose images appeared on screen as they encountered things like a sunken plane.

Cheryl DeWitt, a science teacher at Hyde Park Middle School, lauded the high-definition film for enlightening students' understanding of the fragility of ecosystems.

"If kids are thinking about how the quagga come in, the next generation can come up with ideas to solve the problem," she said.

For four years, DeWitt has been bringing students to Forever Earth, a 70-foot floating classroom and research center on Lake Mead, where students spent two days filming the movie from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

However, not all students are able to take field trips to Lake Mead — one reason for the film, DeWitt said. Students on set have been exposed to biology, chemistry and mechanical engineering — all from watching and interacting with divers and the film crew, she said.

"Science can definitely be out of the classroom," she said. "It can happen anywhere."

Garrett Junior High School sixth grader Sarah Dey was awed by the divers, as well as the ruins and wrecks that are found at Lake Mead.

"It's neat seeing all the equipment," she said.

But Dey, like others, did not know much about the invasive quagga before arriving.

"It's good to know how it's affecting the environment," she said.

Bishop Gorman ninth grader Christian Aldan learned what the creatures looked like, along with the quagga's diet and behavior.

"I've been able to do hands-on stuff," he said.

But the entire day was not consumed by intellectual curiosity.

Dey and her friends brought games and a portable DVD player. During one break, they played on a water slide at a house boat.

"The most fun was getting to know all these people and having friends," Martha P. King Elementary School student Hallee Rinella said.

Dey's favorite part was speaking with diver Sami Seeb, who was eager to share her knowledge with students.

"It's hard for them to understand if they don't see it themselves," Seeb said. "It's important for people coming to the park to be proactive and clean their boats."

Director Brett Seymour saw the film, partially funded by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, as a great vehicle to educate the public.

"We can stimulate kids, and get them excited about what's here," he said.

Dave Clark is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2677 or dave.clark@hbcpub.com.