Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney Honors Students as Week-Long Program Concludes — Honeywell Discovery Day Scheduled for September
Having retired their bug nets and completed their field notebooks, the 2008 Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST students were congratulated by Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney last Friday and reminded that their scientific adventures were far from over.
“You represent the future of Onondaga County and I am certain the knowledge you gained this week will inspire tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs,” said County Executive Mahoney. “I am very proud of each and every one of you.”
 County Executive Joanie Mahoney congratulates the summer scientists. |
 Joyce Green tests local water quality. Students conducted hydraulic tests throughout the week. |
During the week the students walked along Onondaga Creek, explored the geology of Clark Reservation, visited Heiberg Memorial Forest, and toured the Honeywell Groundwater Treatment Facility and the Onondaga Lake Salt Museum. They conducted their scientific fieldwork by testing the water quality, collecting bugs, inspecting geological formations and studying the effect of urban and rural development on Onondaga Creek. Academic partners included middle school teachers, as well as faculty and graduate students from Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF).
Students examine bugs collected on the shore of Onondaga Lake.
The student-scientists received completion certificates on Friday and became MOST Associates.
 Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe quizzes the students on what they learned throughout the week. |
 Khija Rockett is all smiles as she receives her certificate of completion from County Executive Joanie Mahoney. |
 John McAuliffe discusses the week’s activities with Malik Burgess. |
 John McAuliffe listens as two summer scientists tell him about the Tully Mud Boils. |
As MOST Associates students will continue their scientific adventures with a free one-year museum pass.
Students also received an invitation to return on September 13 for the Honeywell Discovery Day. On Discovery Day the students will present the findings of the water experiments they conducted.
The week began with a boat tour of Onondaga Lake.
 On behalf of Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll, Syracuse City Councilman Van Robinson launched the boat tour with a proclamation from the city declaring July 14-July 18 “Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST.” |
 Ready to begin the week the summer scientists let out a cheer. |
Once off the boat the students took a trip to Heiberg Forest.
 Christina Clemente searches pools of water for examples of local aquatic life. |
 SUNY-ESF Distinguished Teaching Professor Peter Black was one of the teachers. |
 Dr. Peter Plumley from the MOST provides a lesson to Kasandra Fox on the geology of Heiberg Forest. |
 In preparation for Discovery Day in September Khija Rockett takes notes. |
A trip to the Tully Valley let students get their feet wet.
 Summer scientists John Salvagno and Malik Burgess wade into the headwaters of Onondaga Creek to measure stream levels. |
 Students learned how to use GPS units to map the location of each experiment and lesson. |
 The students use a screen to capture sediment in the water. |
 Students take turns examining sand and gravel from the creek. |
 Maggie Datterlas collects bugs. |
 Emily Papini and Salina Fasulo examine the bugs they caught. The samples collected provide a comparison of the wildlife throughout the Onondaga Lake watershed. |
On the final day students toured Honeywell’s Groundwater Treatment Facility to learn about the lake cleanup process.
 Students examine a vial of mercury reclaimed from the former LCP property. |
 Buffy Quinn of Parsons Engineering uses a model to demonstrate the effect of runoff from urban and rural development on the watershed. |
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
