Marlboro H.S. students join
university research project
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — About 45 marine science students at Marlboro High School have been participating in a deep sea adventure in conjunction with scientists from the University of Delaware.
"The goal of the program is to get kids excited about science, see what scientists do, understand what it takes to overcome challenges that may arise and take part in a discovery," said Tracy Bryant, director of the Marine Public Education Office at the Graduate College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, Del.
The Marlboro students participating in "Extreme 2002: Mission to the Abyss" are being linked via the Internet with scientists who are on a research expedition deep in the Pacific Ocean.
The expedition was expected to conclude Nov. 1.
"We have received materials, including a curriculum guide and some support lesson plans, from the University of Delaware," said Marlboro High School science teacher Kristina Mayberry. "We’re using a curriculum booklet that describes the mission of the scientific research. It talks about the hydrothermal vents, the creatures and other items."
A scientific team led by University of Delaware marine biologist Dr. Craig Cary set sail on Oct. 20 aboard the 274-foot research vessel Atlantis from San Diego for a 24 day mission to explore the ocean’s depths.
Upon arriving at the Pacific Ocean dive site, the scientists climb aboard the submersible craft Alvin and plummet to one of the most demanding environments on Earth, super-hot hydrothermal vents more than 1 mile deep on the ocean floor. Both the submarine and the research vessel are owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
Under Cary’s direction, researchers studied the vents and the organisms that inhabit them, including the Pompeii worm, which is regarded as the Earth’s most heat- tolerant animal, able to withstand temperatures up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
"By following along with the expedition through our multimedia program, students can see in action, and connect with, the scientists through several interactive features on the Web site, including ‘Write the Scientists’ and ‘Extreme Experiments,’ " Bryant said.
"We’ve watched video segments of the exploration," said Mayberry. "The students went online and examined the journal entries of the scientists day by day."
Mayberry said the Marlboro students made models of the creatures and some made posters of the creatures that exist in that environment.
Mayberry, who teaches both classes involved in the project, said there will be an Internet search to find answers to questions regarding the project.
The students were also expecting to develop their own science project and submit it to the university.
"The kids will get a chance to form a hypothesis and to figure out how they will go about testing the hypothesis," the science teacher said.
Marine science is a half-year elective course.
"It’s important for kids to learn about something that’s happening in real life," she said. "Although they don’t get to go deep down, they’re responding because the subject is happening right now. They seem to be enjoying it. It shows them what scientific research is really all about."
Approximately 42,000 students at 500 schools in the United States, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa have participated in the adventure.
Students and the public can log on to the expedition at the Internet Web site www.ocean.udel.edu/extreme 2002.