This week we welcomed students from South Africa aboard the JR, we think that these were the first students to virtually sail from South Africa. A wave of thanks to teacher Frans Kalp and his high school students from Ligbron Academy of Technology in Ermelo South Africa for joining us on the JR. The Ligbron school is in the town of Ermelo in the province of Mpumalanga South Africa. Students had a question and answer session with fellow South African, Jurie Kotze, 340 Marine Instrumentation Specialist. We extend ‘shout outs’ to middle school students from William Davies Middle in Mays Landing NJ and Cupertino Middle in Sunnyvale CA, who joined us aboard the JR. Several Colleges joined us this week, too. A special ‘shout out’ to Ursula Quillmann’s undergraduates at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins CO, who stayed with us even through technical difficulties on the JR. And finally, thanks to Drs. Naar and Hallock-Muller’s graduate students at University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science for joining us aboard the JR.

Photo credit, Etienne Claassen, 340 Marine Instrumentation Specialist

Live Video Events: CSU and USF Undergraduate Students
During 340 I was also able to provide several lessons to my Undergraduate students, but this time the JR was the classroom. This was made possible thanks to the Deep Earth Academy who provides live video broadcasts with the educator and scientists on board the ship during every expedition. This is the first time USF undergraduate students have been taught while a professor was at sea. This provided a unique opportunity for students in my natural science classes to experience more directly the field based aspects of scientific research as well as ask questions about the science happening during our expedition in the Lesser Antilles. We broadcasted to two locations in the USF family, campuses in Tampa Florida and St. Petersburg Florida. I extend a wave of thanks to the Deep Earth Academy for this anything but typical ‘science class.’

It was so nice to read comments from students in Ursula Quillmann’s undergraduate oceanography class at Colorado State University, who also joined us aboard the JR this week.

“It’s a really great experience for us to see the practical applications of the course,” CSU student, Mira Madorsky said.

“I’m really excited,” CSU student, Brent Brady said. “It’s going to give an interesting perspective to the class, an opportunity a lot of people don’t come across.”

Live Video Event: USF College of Marine Science Graduate Students

This week Michael Martinez (340 Micropaleontologist) and I were also able to give a tour of the JR to some of the next generation of geoscientists during a graduate-level Geological Oceanography class—students at our home institution. This is the first time USF graduate students were able to ‘virtually’ visit the JR and see firsthand the outstanding operations and design of the vessel, especially the state of the art laboratory space. This provides a unique opportunity for graduate students to experience more directly the at sea field-based aspects of scientific drilling research as well as ask 340 scientists questions about the science as it is unfolding. It is my hope that this LIVE Aboard the JR tour inspired students with new questions for exploration and even ideas about future expeditions for the JR. A special thanks again to Deep Earth Academy for this anything but typical science learning experience!  Here are comments from some of the graduate students who Skyped with the JR this week:Be sure to visit Deep Earth Academy

“Seeing all the equipment there is amazing,” said USF grad student Josh Breithaupt after the session.

USF grad student Rita Beckhorn says, “I would love to fill out that application and get out on a ship.”

“A chance for me to get on this cruise and be able to take part in what they’re doing is very difficult. Most people get to do it a few times in their career,” said Tasha Snow, USF Ph.D. student at USF’s College of Marine Science.

 

Thank you to all the students, teachers, technicians and scientists who joined us for LIVE! Aboard the JR.

Be sure to follow the next JR Expedition and sign-up to participate with your students