EMPOWERING STUDENTS IN THE REAL WORLD

Share this article with a friend.

November 4, 2025

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Notre Dame Prep launches innovative science course unit with Toshiba STEM grant.

Notre Dame Preparatory School announced today that it has secured a $1,250 STEM grant from Toshiba America Foundation to support a groundbreaking new unit in its sophomore honors chemistry curriculum. The course, titled Microplastics, Biopolymers and Advocacy, is set to launch during the upcoming spring semester and aims to merge scientific research with social responsibility.

The unit was conceived by Louise Palardy, an upper school chemistry and engineering teacher at Notre Dame Prep and the grant recipient. Palardy, who also coaches the school’s VEX robotics team and moderates its podcast club, said the project will immerse students in a hands-on investigation of the growing environmental crisis of microplastics, which are tiny pieces of plastic debris found in waterways and ecosystems around the world.

“This project is designed to help students recognize both the positive and negative impacts of innovation, particularly in materials science,” Palardy said. “By exploring the issue of microplastics through direct investigation, students will develop a deeper understanding of how material choices affect the environment and why sustainable innovation is crucial.”

She added that NDP seniors Edith Bryd and Krrish Patel have agreed to assist in the development and roll-out of the course.

A new way to teach chemistry

The course introduces students to ocean diagnostics technology, enabling them to test and quantify microplastic content in sand samples from across the five Great Lakes. Students will then experiment with creating biopolymers from various starches and additives, learning how alternative materials can address environmental challenges posed by traditional plastics.

“Too often, chemistry is taught as a set of abstract concepts, making it difficult for students to recognize its relevance to real-world issues,” said Palardy. “My goal is for students to realize that chemistry is present in their everyday lives and to see numerous practical examples around them.”

The project-based unit will conclude with student-led advocacy campaigns designed to reduce single-use plastics within the school and its surrounding community. According to Palardy, the goal is to empower students to think critically, take action and see themselves as environmental advocates.

“Getting involved with these challenges also gives students more confidence and helps them feel like they belong in STEM fields,” she said. “Plus, working on real-world problems builds important skills like critical thinking, creativity and teamwork — skills that are useful no matter what career they choose.”

Numbers that matter

The Great Lakes, one of the world's largest sources of freshwater, are at the center of the project’s scientific inquiry. Palardy pointed out that the region is home to some of the highest concentrations of microplastics ever recorded.

“Michigan’s Great Lakes have levels of microplastics that rival even those found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — making them some of the most contaminated freshwater systems in the world,” she said.

“Adding a unique element to our project, alum Kate Reimann NDP '21, founder and CEO of Rogue Wave Toys, who developed her own biopolymer for eco-friendly beach toys, will be joining our class virtually from Hawaii to share her expertise and insights on tackling this pressing issue,” Palardy said.

Looking beyond the classroom

This initiative is designed to be ongoing and scalable. Using the newly acquired microplastics testing equipment, Notre Dame Prep intends to monitor waterways that flow into the Great Lakes, collecting data year after year to track changes in microplastic levels.

“Once we acquire the testing equipment, it can be used to monitor creeks and rivers that flow into the Great Lakes,” said Palardy. “This will allow us to repeatedly test these areas over time to observe changes in microplastic levels.”

Palardy believes that the long-term impact will extend well beyond the school’s campus, as students take their findings and campaigns into the wider community. “Because this will be an ongoing, annual initiative, the reach and impact of our community will continue to expand each year,” she said.

As part of her broader teaching philosophy, Palardy also hopes this project will help students discover how they can use science to make the world a better place.

“Empowering students through authentic, hands-on experiences is at the heart of my teaching philosophy,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness students’ excitement as they discover their ability to create meaningful change.”

More on the Toshiba STEM Grant:

The Toshiba America Foundation grant will cover essential tools for the new course, including a microplastics testing kit, Nile red fluorescent dye, glass sample jars and lab supplies for creating biopolymers. Additional funding will support advocacy materials and provide students with samples of sustainable beach toys from Rogue Wave Toys.

Founded in 1990, Toshiba America Foundation supports innovative STEM initiatives by teachers across the United States. The organization provides grants to public and nonprofit private schools, aiming to make STEM learning “fun and successful.”

For more information on Toshiba America Foundation, visit www.toshiba.com/taf. Support for the new course unit at Notre Dame Prep reflects the foundation’s mission to expand STEM opportunities through hands-on, student-centered learning.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.