Joliet, IL – A Joliet Central High School science teacher is bringing fresh innovation to her classroom this fall after a summer spent researching forest ecosystems in New York.
Dr. Lauren Kline, who teaches AP Environmental Science, participated in the 2025 BIORETS program at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. The six-week professional development experience offers educators intensive training in ecological research and curriculum development.
According to the Cary Institute, the BIORETS program equips teachers with tools to conduct original research while supporting them in creating new, inquiry-based instructional materials. Dr. Kline’s team studied the long-term impacts of spongy moth caterpillar defoliation on forest structure and productivity, analyzing how persistent damage shifts plant growth toward the understory due to increased light availability.
Wearing mesh-covered hats to shield themselves from insects, Kline and fellow researchers gathered data on foliage density in affected and unaffected sites. Their findings highlighted a shift in productivity patterns, with more growth occurring closer to the forest floor in areas repeatedly impacted by caterpillar feeding.
Guided by Cary scientists Evan Gora, Ian McGregor, and Vanessa Rubio, Kline presented her research and classroom innovations during an August 8 symposium. She plans to incorporate more student-led experiments and data analysis into her lessons, including new fieldwork at Pilcher Park.
Kline received an $8,800 stipend and a $2,000 classroom budget through the program, funded by a National Science Foundation grant and donor contributions.
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