Turning to scientists from Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service, Cook InletKeeper and the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, they examined the big picture of global warming, learned how to document changes in stream temperatures, how the transplanting of specific plants can aid in stream stabilization and how to identify invasive species.

They communicated with Joel Pedro, a Tasmanian scientist who told the students about sudies of pen-raised salmon raised in water at higher temperatures than in Alaska.

The students created a salmon calendar, with each month offering salmon-saving steps. For the month of January, it lists the following suggestions for reducing global warming to help salmon:

1. Wear a coat if you are cold.

2. Keep things cold outside instead of in a refrigerator.

3. Try to have insulating curtains on windows. Every night, tuck it in on the windowsill.

4. Keep unused rooms less heated.

The Ice Dragons -- Axel Gillam, Aziza Pitcher, Aurora Waclawski and Sarah Weinfurter -- tackled a different weather-related subject: erosion. They turned to local scientists to learn how erosion impacts area residents who build along bluffs and to understand the challenges of sea walls.

Looking beyond the Kenai Peninsula, the team studied Shishmaref on Alaska's Seward Peninsula, where the Chukchi Sea is eating away at the community. In 1997, a storm eroded more than 30 feet of shoreline, requiring the relocation of 14 homes and the National Guard Armory. Five more homes were moved in 2002. Storms continue to eat away at an average of 3-5 feet per year.

The Ice Dragons also created a brochure to distribute to the public, as well as a video documenting their research.

Friday, it was storms on the Kenai Peninsula that caused a change of plans for the McNeil teams.

Ice, flood warnings and heavy rain caused travel for Kenai Peninsula Borough School District students to be cancelled, keeping the McNeil team from Saturday's competition.

Sotelo is hoping a peninsula-wide meet later this month will allow students to participate, even if it is on a smaller scale.

"They were disappointed, but then excited that there'll be a forum for sharing what they learned," Sotelo said. "One of the exciting parts is to see how other people approached the problems, mission and challenges."

At Homer High, Lowe's science students had an opportunity to meet for the second time this school year with Spurkland. Earlier in the school year, Spurkland invited them to join her in research of Jakolof Bay.

Using tools available in the HHS science lab, Spurkland and the students looked for possible antibiotic properties of Kachemak Bay macroalgae.

"The advanced science curriculum includes studies of local ecosystems and organism interactions. Additionally, the class is about to begin a DNA unit," Lowe said of how Spurkland's visit fit the curriculum.

Beyond the immediate study was the benefit of having Spurkland share her work with the students.

"This was an opportunity for students to be part of real research. (Spurkland's) involvement means that students' learning is valued and that they are valued and worth the investment. Her involvement means that we respect their work and their present and future roles as scientists," Lowe said.

"The underlying value of this visit is that these students have an opportunity to be a part of the scientific communitymaybe just a couple of days for some, maybe a lifetime for others."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.