NARRAGANSETT, R.I., March 24, 2016—Teachers from Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts are participating in a year-long program in marine technology and ocean sciences at the University of Rhode Island’s Inner Space Center.

The Marine Technology for Teachers and Students Project—funded by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation award—focuses on providing opportunities for teachers and students to explore new technologies in ocean sciences. Teachers are also studying at the University of Connecticut, Avery Point.

Throughout the spring, teachers will build hydrophones, remotely operated vehicles, observational buoys and sensor-based instruments during weekend sessions at UConn.

In July, the teachers, accompanied by teams of their high school students, will participate in a week-long program at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. There, they will use and deploy their instruments and take part virtually in seagoing expeditions.

Starting in the fall, teachers and students will host live interactions between Inner Space Center scientists and middle and high school students. The teacher and student teams will also participate in webinars and science cafes—informal gatherings with scientists giving presentations.

The teachers are: Kathleen Bulger, Stoughton High School, Stoughton, Mass.; Ross Clayton, East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School, Bridgewater, Mass.; Shannon Donovan, Scituate High School, Scituate, R.I.; William Hurley, Melrose High School, Melrose, Mass.; Marsha Jorgensen, Canton High School, Canton, Conn.; Leah Gawlak-Leach, Suffield High School, West Suffield, Conn.; Zoe Madden, North Haven High School, North Haven, Conn.; Taylor Rock, Rogers High School, Newport, R.I.; Alexandra Romano, Cumberland High School, Cumberland, R.I.; Debra Slade-Redden, New Caney High School, New Caney, Texas; Stacey Strong, Sturgis Charter Public School, East Campus, Hyannis, Mass.; and David Wehunt, Soddy Daisy High School, Soddy Daisy, Tenn. The teachers applied for the program.

URI’s Inner Space Center is an international leader in ocean science research, exploration and education. The center captures, displays and disseminates high bandwidth streams of undersea video and data in real time, and it uses cutting-edge technology, including telepresence, to explore the ocean and support research. Visit Inner Space Center for more information.

For details about the program, contact Andrea Gingras at 401-874-6524.

Pictured above: The Marine Technology for Teachers and Students Project Teacher Leaders Alex Romano, Cumberland High School; Shannon Donovan, Scituate High School; and William Hurley, Melrose High School, display their newly built remotely operated vehicle during a Saturday professional development session at the University of Connecticut, Avery Point.

Photo courtesy of URI’s Inner Space Center.