Program Update: Deep Earth Academy – February 2011
Filed under: DEA,News & Resources,Program Updates,Program Updates - Deep Earth Academy,Understanding
Deep Earth Academy (DEA) has had a busy month conducting multiple outreach events in the Washington, DC/Virginia area and planning for the upcoming National Science Teachers Association meeting in March.
Earlier this month, DEA hosted a “Family Science Days” booth at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, DC. The booth featured a replicate of the K/T core to tell visitors the story of using IODP data to decipher the mystery of the extinction of the dinosaurs. DEA also tested a new giant globe, used to interactively engage visitors in all the areas of the world in which the JOIDES Resolution works. The culmination of the “Family Science Days” was a ship-to-shore video event where technical staff onboard the JOIDES Resolution introduced viewers to the ship’s labs and core processing. The audience members had the opportunity to ask several questions about IODP science and ship operations.
DEA has also been supporting the Consortium for Ocean Leadership Distinguished Lecturer Series by providing staff and hands-on activities for audiences to delve further into ocean drilling science after attending the lecture. At the Virginia Museum of Natural History, University of Hawaii’s Jim Cowen lectured on “Life Deep Beneath the Ocean: The Most Remote Biosphere on Earth.” Following the presentation, DEA conducted school programs and teacher workshops at the museum. The school programs drew around 31 middle school students and 44 high school students with their teachers on Friday, February 25. In these programs, students learned about the JOIDES Resolution and how the sediments from the deep sea help us understand Earth’s history and future. Students made observations of cores, explored microfossils, and learned more about the microbial world hidden deep in the ocean floor. A guest appearance by Dr. Cowen gave students an opportunity to ask what it is like to be a scientist and to sail on the ship. DEA also coordinated teacher workshops to introduce teachers to IODP research on the JOIDES Resolution. Teachers learned several hands-on and web-based activities to share with their students.
Next week, DEA will have a booth and multiple presentations at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) meeting in San Francisco, California. To learn more about DEA’s activities, visit http://www.oceanleadership.org/education/deep-earth-academy/.
