For their unit of inquiry on ‘Sharing the Planet’, the Grade 5 students focused on the role of energy flow and transfer in ecosystems, the interdependent relationships in an ecosystem, and how scientists record and use data to better understand ecosystems
As part of this unit, the students had an exciting opportunity to be the first school students to visit the Wadi Qudaid Experimental Station (WQES) where they learned about the work currently taking place there, including research into salt-tolerant crops, water-efficient irrigation techniques, soil improvement, and desert ecosystem restoration.
The team at WQES were super hosts to the students, and took them on a field walk to the weather station, where they saw the instruments that are used to monitor environmental changes, and talked about how data collection helps scientists to study desert conditions. They then learned more about experiments that are taking place with native grasses and trees. The walk ended at the Shade House, which is a plant-propagation space, and also a welcome respite from the sun for humans! The trip ended with an energy flow game, which really helped the students to understand how energy flows through the ecosystem, and the things that can disrupt this energy flow.
WQES is a research and demonstration facility located in the Wadi Qudaid National Park. It is a partnership initiative between the KAUST university and the National Center for Vegetation Cover. The station serves as a testing ground for innovative agricultural practices and technologies which will serve agriculture in desert and arid environments. The station spans 10 hectares and includes a plant nursery, experimental field plots, irrigation systems, a weather station, and facilities for researchers.
Photos of the fun trip can be found here.