Mangroves, aquariums, and the feeling of comfort is the ambiance of Alicia Conover’s marine biology classroom. When walking in, Conover is booming with happiness and joy as she is able to spread her wisdom of marine biology to the next generation.
The first semester students get to learn the physical features of the oceans. They take in the knowledge and use it for the second semester in which students learn about the ecosystems and the distinct species in that environment. Once students are finished with the course, they can tie together the information they learned in each semester to have a better understanding of the course as a whole.
Conover said, “We learn about the physical aspects of the ocean in the beginning of the year and take that information and apply it to learning more about the ecosystems and the different animals that live in those ecosystems in the second semester.”
Conover’s passion for marine biology started on a scuba diving trip with her dad which she got certified for in college. She also had a past job working in an animal shelter specializing in animal behaviors. Conover hopes to return to school to achieve her master’s degree and specialize in the marine biology field in the future. She hopes her teaching gets passed down to her students. She wants to make an impact on her students’ lives by helping them understand how the environment is changing and how they can improve the world.
Conover said, “I really love seeing all the different animals in the ocean and learning more about it. Seeing how our climate is changing so much, I really see how important our oceans are to our world.”
Conover continued, “I am hoping to pass on some of that passion on to my students and at least some knowledge so they can have that same love for our planet and help to keep it going.”
Not only does Conover teach marine biology, but she is also one of the sponsors of the marine biology club. This is available for all students who have a love for marine biology at no additional cost. In this club, not only is it just learning the facts about the careers you can pursue or about the course in general, but the club also aims to make it fun. The marine biology club will be taking field trips such as going to the aquarium, restoring Durney Key Island, and making reef balls animals can live in.
Conover said, “We are going to be growing some mangroves, which I have in the back of the classroom. We have not gotten a chance to plant them, but they will be planted outside. So, we will grow those and take them out to Durney Key and plant them out there to help build more of a barrier around the island to reduce the erosion.”
Conover has students who are extremely passionate about this topic and others that are not as interested, but she makes learning enjoyable. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year a switch clicked on in some students’ minds. Some students signed up just because they needed a class, but by the end of the year, they had learned things they never knew would be interesting. It shows how Conover’s dynamic in the room is appreciated by the students.
Sophomore Arthur Machado said, “I like the energy of the room, it is very cheerful. The teacher is very helpful I enjoy spending time in the classroom.”