Training Young Scientists for the Future

Kristin Elmstrom Klenk
Science Teacher, South Kingstown High School

Kristin Elmstrom Klenk received a BS in geology from URI (1980) and an MS in geological oceanography from GSO (1986). Kristin enjoys reading, gardening, jogging, going to the beach, coaching soccer, and playing on the computer. 

In the summer of 1975, following my junior year in high school, I attended a National Science Foundation program at GSO. The program was designed to introduce oceanography to high school students interested in learning about the ocean. For me, it was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with the field of geological oceanography. My goal was to study at GSO, and I worked toward that end through college where I majored in geology.
     I spent eight years at GSO (1978­1986) as a research technician, graduate student, and finally as an editorial assistant to Dr. James Kennett, who was chief editor of the journal Paleoceanography. During those years, I learned the ins and outs of scientific research and came to appreciate the school as both a research institution and an educational facility. At GSO I learned to think independently and use an inquiry-based approach to my education. My training at GSO has been invaluable to me throughout the years.
     I teach Oceanography and Earth Science at South Kingstown High School in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Geographically, it is a short distance from GSO and, as a result, I have taught the children of GSO faculty and staff members. Teaching was an afterthought to my initial goal of a graduate education in science, but it is extremely rewarding. Every day I think about the ideas that have fascinated me since I first became interested in geological oceanography. Curious young students are full of questions, forcing me to probe deeply into the processes that shape the earth and its geologic history. To me, teaching at the high school level is extremely challenging. One of the oddest questions I am asked is, "Are you bored?" It would be very difficult to be bored in a high school as every day presents a new challenge: classroom management and discipline, providing an environment conducive to learning, and motivating students to perform their best.
     Earth science is a fabulous topic to teach high school students because it is so dynamic. In my classes I use a hands-on, student-centered approach to teaching, very similar to my graduate studies. The students investigate various topics from earthquakes and volcanoes to marine organisms. They use an assortment of resources, including the Internet, to research subjects that they then present to their classmates. I try to teach them to think for themselves and to read critically, skills that I learned at GSO.
     GSO still plays a role in my work and continuing education. Last year, I attended a program in Marine Studies for Rhode Island teachers conducted by URI's Office of Marine Programs. The program provided a great opportunity to meet other teachers in Rhode Island who teach marine-related courses and to stay current in the field. I continue to rely on the scientific training I was provided during my tenure at GSO and can only hope that some of my students will benefit from the same opportunities.