The team, known as the Carpe Noctem Initiative, is focused on developing solutions to reduce the impact of the illness and help preserve declining bat populations.
BERLIN, Connecticut — Story by Grace Perez, Ryan Tang – Berlin High School
At Berlin High School, a group of students is taking science beyond the classroom by working to protect bats from White Nose Syndrome, a disease that has affected millions of bats each year.
The team, known as the Carpe Noctem Initiative, is focused on developing solutions to reduce the impact of the illness and help preserve declining bat populations.
The project is led by science teacher Christopher Wisniewski, who is known among students as the “Berlin Batman.” Under his leadership, students are learning how scientific research can be applied to real world environmental problems while making a tangible difference in wildlife conservation.
White Nose Syndrome has had a devastating effect on bats, which play a critical role in controlling insect populations and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Recognizing the urgency of the issue, students involved in Carpe Noctem have taken responsibility for researching and designing ways to minimize how many bats are affected each year. The initiative is supported by a Lemelson MIT grant, a highly competitive award given to only eight schools across the country.
The grant supports teams that are inventing solutions to real world problems and allows the students to fund research, materials, and outreach efforts. Through the grant, students are studying bat biology, researching environmentally focused scientific solutions, and advocating for policies that support conservation efforts.
Their work combines science, innovation, and community awareness with the goal of protecting nocturnal wildlife. Those interested in following the progress of the Carpe Noctem Initiative can find the group on Instagram.
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