Next school year, Shorecrest is introducing the AP Environmental Science class. With this addition to the curriculum, students will be able to receive AP credit while also learning about the natural world and the impacts humanity makes on it.

Although several students have previously taken the class through virtual school systems, US Science Teacher Dr. Carlie Saval will be teaching it in-person next year. She emphasizes the importance of the course, especially when considering local habitats.

“It’s nice that it’s an AP, and what we’re learning will just be really good to know. Oceanography [and the environment] relate so much to our surroundings here in Florida,” she said.

Having previously taught the course before at a different school, Saval especially aims to educate students on humanity’s ecological footprint.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize just how detrimental us humans really are to the earth,” she said.

Besides teaching students about the natural world, this new class will provide a chance to earn that valuable AP credit. Although it covers one semester of a college course  — as opposed to most other APs, such as AP Physics — this will likely allow the class to be taught at a slower, less rushed pace than the more challenging APs, as it will take place over an entire school year.

For this reason, Dr. Carlie believes this is going to be a good “starter” AP for many students.

     “My hope for this class is that it could take a student that isn’t that interested in science and make them really interested in the world around them after the things they will learn [here],” said Dr. Carlie.