Bel-Aire Opens One-of-a Kind Science Lab with Help of GCRL

Thanks in part to a donation of approximately $10,000 worth of equipment from the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory's (GCRL) Marine Education Center (MEC), Bel-Aire Elementary School in Gulfport is opening the only elementary science laboratory of its kind in the Harrison County School District .

The MEC's donation included tanks of various sizes (including touch-tanks) and complete filtration system set-ups for all the tanks. Also, a myriad of creatures were donated.

Some of these creatures were raised as part of the aquaculture program at GCRL, others have been brought to the MEC throughout the years in need of rehabilitation and still others have been caught off of East Beach adjacent to the GCRL teaching site. In addition, a very special donation of a brown banded bamboo sharkwas made by the Aquarium of Pacific located in Long Beach, CA.

The unique lab held its grand opening on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Students will for the first time be able to use the lab to discover and learn about the creatures and habitats of our Gulf region and enjoy the special benefits of hands on education.

For additional information contact John Leon 601-310-6842, jleon@harrison.k12.ms.us