HEBRON — Science teacher Louise Roy’s seventh and eighth graders from the Middle School at Hebron Academy are participating in the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Vital Signs program this year.

According to the institute’s website, the program “enables Maine students to use scientific tools and methods to investigate the state’s fresh and saltwater ecosystems, using communications and computing technology to create authentic, hands-on research experiences for students and link them with world-class scientists.”

In class, students collected scientific data on the locations and types of invasive plants on campus. This data included GPS points, scientific photos using a scale, identifying leaf characteristics and quantitative and qualitative observations.

Back in the classroom, the data is checked by classrooms and entered into the Vital Signs website, www.vitalsignsme.org. The data is checked by local scientists and collected into a statewide database. The data is available to the public, as well as scientists interested in tracking the spread of these invasive plants.

After the data is entered onto the site, students are able to look at data collected by other schools. The website allows viewers to view data by school, species, watershed or date found.

“Hebron Academy is focusing on 21st century learning – making use of the technology our kids already know how to use,” said Roy. “This program gives us the opportunity to expose students to the ways this same technology is used in modern science.”

For more information about the middle school, visit www.hebronacademy.org or call 966-5225.