The Bennett's Millpond Project is a collaborative program for aquatic environmental learning partnering The Science House, the Albemarle Learning Center, Chowan County, and NC State University. This program focuses on studying the environment of an unusual and historic space, the colonial-era Bennett's Millpond near Edenton, NC. The Millpond and the surrounding area are considered a coastal swamp and have not previously been studied. Research and data collected will include water quality (chemical, physical, and biological), hydrology of the area, meteorology, and aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna.

Teams of students and teachers from the region interacting with NC State scientists and local environmental experts  perform weekly testing of the Millpond. Students and teachers develop independent research projects for the Millpond Project in areas of their interest.  Goals of the program include reducing the isolation of rural students and teachers, and establishing the rural students as providers of information.

As part of an article about the Bennett's Millpond Project in the November 2010 Issue of the HHMI Bulletin, the Howard Hughes Institute has put together an interactive web site about the student research conducted as part of this project.

To learn more, contact Colleen Karl.

View photos of the millpond and student research projects.

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