Two years ago, Ms. Alejandra Martinez from Memorial Junior High set sail with Dr. Sylvan and Dr. Edgecomb on the JOIDES Resolution where they applied for a National Science Foundation Grant that could fund a trip to Port Aransas for her students.
It was completely free for the 43 students to experience this once in a lifetime experience!
The students kicked off their exploration in Port A with Plankton Sampling.
These are organisms that float in the water column.
They used a plankton net and the students were able to look at what they collected under hand held microscopes and a camera microscope (screen).
Next, they did Benthic Sampling where a heavy container is sent to the bottom of the ocean and sort of acts like a claw to grab sediment.
They used screens to sift through organisms and shells.
Finally, they towed a large net and caught puffer fish and other fish that the kids put into buckets and were able to hold.
The land activities involved beach combing with Dr. Jason Sylvan and Shu Ying Wee of Texas A&M, and Dr. Virgina Edgecomb of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
They found shells and even a sea cucumber!
it was a tremendous opportunity for the students to explore just what the ocean blue holds!
Way to go Mavericks!
