A unique opportunity exists for 2 high school teachers to serve a 2+ week internship during each of the next two summers at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. These teachers will work closely with Dr. William Savidge and other research scientists from the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, the University of South Carolina and the University of South Florida on an NSF funded “BOTTOMS-UP” research project to develop a remote benthic observatory for the Georgia continental shelf.
The Research:
Scientists will conduct a broadly interdisciplinary research project designed to increase our understanding of how the biology and the chemistry of the sea floor and the overlying water column interact. They will deploy a series of instruments capable of measuring the seafloor response to physical forcing from the water column across a range of time scales. They will measure the changes in sediment transport, chemical fluxes, and biological production in response to oceanographic conditions. The teachers will participate in the project as interns, and will experience how science is done by participating in cruise preparation, data collection and analysis.
Requirements of Teacher Participants:
Excellent communication skills are required
A willingness to learn how biological and chemical processes interact with the sea floor. A two year commitment (16 days each during the summer of 2007 and 2008) working with research scientists.
The teacher participants will work together to develop material that can be used in a high school Oceanography (or Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science) class that are aligned with national and state science standards.
Take the lead in and share their research experience with their peers in an additional teacher workshop in the fall of 2008 to develop a larger (middle and high school) national and state science standard aligned curriculum.
Attend and present your experiences at the GSTA Science Teachers conference in October of 2009.
Teacher Participants will receive:
The opportunity to take part in cutting edge marine research.
A $1200 stipend each summer for their full participation on the cruise and in developing educational materials.
A housing allowance to cover expenses while residing on the Skidaway Institute campus for the two summers.
Re-certification credit (if this can be arranged)
Registration and lodging to attend the Georgia Science Teachers Conference, October 2009.
Time Investment:
During each summer (2007 and 2008), the two selected high school teachers will spend 16 days at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (~July 10-26 in 2007; similar but as yet unscheduled dates in 2008). Travel = 2 days; Orientation = 2 days; Pre-cruise preparations = 3 days; Instrument deployment and data collection at sea = 3 days; Post-cruise data analysis = 4days; Work on the educational component = 2 days. These teacher interns will also attend and present at the GSTA Conference in February of 2009 (2-4 days).
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