Teach Under the Sea!

In November 2008, six aquanauts will venture into the Aquarius undersea laboratory to live for eight days underwater and study the surrounding coral reef. Along with science, a goal of this, the program’s 100th mission, is to bring the exciting experience of living and working underwater as part of a scientific aquanaut team to classrooms and people around the world. To do this, we are seeking a qualified and enthusiastic teacher to join the mission team and help us to educate students everywhere about the ocean, coral reefs, science, and undersea technology.

The Aquarius undersea laboratory is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and operated out of Key Largo, Florida by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).
Aquarius Reef Base includes:
• the Aquarius undersea laboratory;
• an ocean-observing platform with access to real-time data via the Internet;
• a shore-based field station.

Aquarius is the world’s only operating undersea research laboratory. It sits in 60 feet of water within a sandy expanse at the base of Conch Reef, some four miles from shore off Key Largo. It is situated within a specially designated research-only site within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Through saturation diving techniques, Aquarius allows scientists to live and work underwater 24/7 during one to two week missions. This enables them to conduct research, surveys, or undertake in situ experiments that would be difficult, if not cost and time prohibitive, if diving from the surface.

As the participating educator, the teacher/aquanaut will be expected to:
• host several online broadcasts from the Aquarius undersea habitat (with assistance);
• provide online blogs and other web interaction during the experience;
• communicate regularly with classrooms and the media;
• coordinate and host a 1-day professional development workshop for educators in his/her local school district, connecting lesson plans (existing, e.g. NOAA Ocean Exploration, National Marine Sanctuary Program) with the planned mission and encouraging classes to follow along with the mission online;
• connect these education efforts with the Ocean Science Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts.

This looks like an absolutely amazing experience, and makes me look even more forward to becoming a teacher!

For more information visit http://www.ocean.com/article.asp?locationid=1&resourceid=11115&ProdId=&CatId=1&TabID=&SubTabID=