FRG26 MSTE Share Resistance Activities in physical sciences

For just over a decade, sargassum seaweed has been proliferating in the Caribbean. From March to November, these brown algae render many beaches and ports in Guadeloupe unusable, severely disrupting the daily lives of residents as well as the archipelago's tourism and economic activities. Classified as pelagic, these algae move in the form of floating rafts and are particularly sensitive to ocean currents. Before 2011, they were primarily found in the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Florida. However, due to climate change, rising ocean temperatures, and altered ocean currents, their proliferation zone has gradually expanded to encompass the entire Caribbean arc. In addition to these climatic factors, there has been a significant increase in nutrients in the Atlantic Ocean, linked in particular to human activities, agricultural operations, and polluting discharges. These nutrients promote the massive growth of sargassum and accelerate its spread. For both residents and the tourism industry, its presence is a real calamity. When it washes up on beaches and decomposes in anaerobic conditions, sargassum releases toxic gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, which can cause health problems, damage electrical appliances, and make some areas uninhabitable due to the strong odors it emits. Collecting, processing, and storing sargassum has therefore become essential, but represents a very significant cost for local communities. Faced with this situation, it is crucial to better understand sargassum in order to develop appropriate solutions to limit its impacts on the environment, health, the economy, and tourism. It is with this in mind that 9th-grade students were invited to conduct an initial scientific and technical study of sargassum. By developing their knowledge of these algae, students not only learn to better understand this major environmental phenomenon, but also to consider avenues for innovation and development that could, in the future, help the population better withstand sargassum invasions and reduce their impact on Guadeloupe. To initiate this scientific and technical approach, two groups from the 8th grade class proposed activities to explore different characteristics of sargassum: * **Activity 1: Measuring the pH of a solution of crushed dried sargassum** • Byzans, Evan, and Youri This activity aimed to study certain chemical properties of sargassum in order to better understand its composition and its potential effects on the environment. * **Activity 2: Create a quiz on sargassum** • Mathyas, Esteban, and Ismael Through this educational quiz, the students aimed to raise awareness among their classmates about the causes, consequences, and challenges related to the proliferation of sargassum seaweed in Guadeloupe and the Caribbean. This project allowed the students to develop their scientific curiosity, analytical skills, and awareness of local environmental issues. They also demonstrated that knowledge and research are essential tools for better anticipating, understanding, and addressing the challenges posed by sargassum invasions.