Ocean Exploration Trust to Inspire Future Explorers (USA)

Bechtel recently announced that the company is sponsoring nine teachers and five students participating in a pair of 2012 Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) programs that promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to a global audience.

Both the Educator-at-Sea Program and the Honors Research Program combine classroom learning with ocean exploration and provide students with an exciting opportunity to learn more about careers that incorporate STEM.

“The mission of the Trust is to inspire the next generation of explorers,” said Dr. Robert Ballard, president of Ocean Exploration Trust. “Our partnership with Bechtel supports our mutual goal of strengthening the STEM pipeline through educational and research programs.”

This year teachers and students in the programs attend the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography for several weeks where they work with scientists and engineers to learn about oceanography and the scientific research process. After completing an onshore research project, they board the exploration vessel E/V Nautilus to study the geology, biology, archeology, and chemistry of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Bechtel engineer Zenhar Marolia will participate in a portion of the at-sea expedition to share his experiences as a civil engineer with the teachers and students.

Following the expedition, the teachers will develop lessons plans and classroom activities based on their first-hand experience at sea.

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Press Release, August 27, 2012; Image: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov