Seventy-Four Students Reunite for Honeywell Discovery Day to Present Data from Hands-On Learning Activities
Seventy-four students reunited one last time during Honeywell Discovery Day to discuss scientific findings from their exploration of the Onondaga Lake watershed during the sixth Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST. The students were joined by family members, teachers, and Nancy Lowery, 25th Congressional District Office Director for U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle, as they presented reports on their observations and findings. This year’s Summer Science Week was held July 11-15 and featured the largest class to date.
Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST, which provides unique learning opportunities to help excite and inspire a new generation of scientists in Central New York, is sponsored by Honeywell Hometown Solutions, Honeywell’s corporate citizenship initiative.
 Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST participants use a kick-seine net at Onondaga Creek to collect and examine aquatic macroinvertebrates. |
 Tully Middle School student Lisa Esposito (left) and Solvay Middle School student Carrisa Moleski (right) touch a catfish that was caught in Nine Mile Creek. |
At Honeywell Discovery Day, Lowery presented a video from U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle to the Summer Science Week participants.
“Throughout this week you had the special opportunity to learn about the remarkable asset Onondaga Lake is to our community,” said U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle in her video. “I hope that you will be part of a future team of scientists and engineers who are involved in studying Onondaga Lake and creating ways to make it even better. Our country is really counting on your generation, and each one of you can make a difference. I hope that all of you will continue to study science, technology, engineering and math because the possibilities are endless.”
 Summer Science Week participants and their families watch a video from U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle about the importance of pursuing science-related careers. |
 Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe speaks about the Onondaga Lake watershed and lessons the students learned during the week. |
“You have become young scientists during Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST, learning hands-on lessons that helped you understand local ecosystems and the environment in a fun and exciting way,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “I hope that you share this knowledge with your classmates and families and continue to be environmental stewards in your communities.”
The week-long journey began with an Onondaga Lake boat tour aboard Mid-Lakes Navigation’s Emita II. Students were joined by Syracuse University Ph.D. candidate Svetoslava Todorova, who taught the kids about the water quality of Onondaga Lake. Montezuma Audubon Center Director Frank Moses also joined the Summer Science Week participants and taught them about birds native to Onondaga Lake and their habitats.
The students spent the rest of Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST studying and exploring the Onondaga Lake watershed, and engaging in unique hands-on learning activities, such as geocaching on an Onondaga Creek walk, collecting bugs, and examining the water quality of Onondaga Lake and Nine Mile Creek.
 Students find a crayfish while searching for macroinverterbrates in Onondaga Creek. |
 Solvay Middle School student Yuliya Garkot records her findings and observations from Onondaga Creek in her Summer Science Week notebook. |
(left to right) Lincoln Middle School student Rebecca Rolnick and Solvay Middle School students Brianna Wieszczynski and Juliana Parkhurst conduct a stream profile of Onondaga Creek to understand the flow of streams.
The Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection also taught the students about water quality and the diversity of fish in Onondaga Lake at Munro Park in Camillus.
 Experts from the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection use a fish shocker to count fish as they reach the surface at Nine Mile Creek. |
 Sanitary Engineer Chris Gandino from the Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection shows students the various types of fish that were caught in Nine Mile Creek at Munro Park. |
Summer Science Week activities also included visits to Heiberg Memorial Forest, Syracuse University, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF).
Students spent Friday morning learning about Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Remediation Project through seven hands-on experiments. The week ended with a nature hike through Clark Reservation State Park.
 Summer Science Week participants spent Friday morning learning about Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Remediation Project. |
 Solvay Middle School student Jessica Kuts learns how to enhance the separation of solids and liquids during a flocculation experiment. |
At the end of Honeywell Discovery Day, the student scientists received completion certificates and became “MOST Associates.” The title of “MOST Associate” grants each student a one-year museum pass.
Families, teachers, and Nancy Lowery from the Office of U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle, look at presentations the students made based on their observations and findings during Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST.
Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST is part of Honeywell’s overall initiative to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and educate youth about habitat and conservation. Honeywell Hometown Solutions focuses on key areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education; Family Safety & Security; Housing & Shelter; and Habitat & Conservation.
 Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe and Nancy Lowery from the Office of U.S. Representative Ann Marie Buerkle congratulate students upon their completion of Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST. |
 Summer Science Week students hold their certificates of completion and MOST Associate Passes. |
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
