562 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
VI. Lunch 
VII. Coral reef species diversity, ecology and conservation 
VIII. Reef lesson plans 
a. Science investigations through observation and sketching 
b. Other lessons 
IX. Break 
X. Conclusion 
VI. Teacher Professional Development Workshops at the 
Philippine Science Centrum for International Museum Day 
A) The Ecology and Conservation of Philippine Coral Reefs: 
A Workshop for High School Teachers 
Research is documenting that Philippine coral reefs are home to more species of organisms 
than any other marine ecosystems in the world! In addition, millions of people living in coastal 
communities around the world depend on healthy coral reefs for food and as an important resource 
for their livelihood. This professional development workshop will help teachers understand the 
biology, ecology and conservation challenges of Philippine reefs, including their role as environ¬ 
mental indicators of global climate change. The workshop will provide this important background 
information, as well as ideas on how to incorporate key concepts and facts into classroom curricu¬ 
lum and engage then* students with locally relevant science. There will also be opportunities to try 
hands-on activities for the classroom that can be used to reinforce these concepts. A list of biblio¬ 
graphic resources will be also be provided to participants. The workshop is being held concurrent 
with and will leverage the findings of die largest, multidisciplinary natural histoiy expedition ever 
undertaken by the California Academy of Sciences. Partnering closely with Filipino colleagues. 
Academy scientists will survey the biodiversity of shallow-water reef ecosystems, adjacent deep¬ 
water habitats and teiTestrial tropical forests. Results from this expedition will help inform conser¬ 
vation policy and resource management decisions. 
B) The Ecology and Conservation of Philippine Tropical Forests: 
A Workshop for High School Teachers 
Tropical forests are known to be the richest terrestrial ecosystems on Earth, and also among 
the most tlireatened. The Philippines are rich in this valuable and vulnerable natural resource, but 
much of its biodiversity has yet to be discovered. This professional development workshop will 
help teachers understand the biology, ecology and conservation challenges of Philippine forests, 
including their role as environmental indicators of global climate change. The workshop will pro¬ 
vide this important background information, as well as ideas on how to incorporate key concepts 
and facts into classroom cun'iculum and engage their students with locally relevant science. There 
will also be opportunities to try hands-on activities for the classroom that can be used to reinforce 
these concepts. A list of bibliographic resources will be also be provided to participants. The work¬ 
shop is being held concurrent with and will leverage the findings of the largest, multidisciplinary 
natural histoiy expedition ever undertaken by the California Academy of Sciences. Partnering 
closely with Filipino colleagues. Academy scientists will survey the biodiversity of shallow-water 
reef ecosystems, adjacent deep-water habitats and terrestrial tropical forests. Results from this 
expedition will help inform conservation policy and resource management decisions. 
