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Dr. Rich
Aronson and the students of Dixon Elementary. |
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The Dauphin Island
Sea Lab Foundation (DISLF) and the South Mobile County Education
Foundation (SMCEF) joined forces this past year to bring a Marine
Science Experience to the students of six elementary schools located in
South Mobile County.
Both DISLF and
SMCEF recognize that many of the children of the southernmost part of
Alabama, whose parents work in water and fishing related industries, are
the future stewards of this unique and fragile ecosystem. The Marine
Science Experience was created to make sure that these children gain a
better understanding of the environment around them, inspiring a thirst
for more in-depth studies in biology and marine sciences.
The schools
involved in this program were Alba, Breitling, Castlen, Dauphin Island,
Dixon, and St. Elmo elementary schools. The hope of DISLF and SMCEF was
to forge a more direct relationship between the research and educational
activities of the Sea Lab and the students of these schools.
The Experience
consisted of bringing Lab scientists to each elementary school to share
research interests with the student body; giving children in grades K-3
a hands-on experience with the marine environment through BayMobile (the
Lab’s traveling classroom) to each school; and partnering Sea Lab
graduate students with fourth and fifth (sixth) grade teachers to
provide classroom assistance and activities in marine science.
After giving a
presentation on his Antarctic studies at Dixon Elementary, Dr. Rich
Aronson took time for a Q&A session.
“Can I go with you
next time you go to Antarctica,” a student asked eagerly.
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A
Dixon Elementary student enjoys a visit from BayMobile, from
which he learns that octopuses have arms, not tentacles. |
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“That depends,”
answered Dr. Aronson, jokingly. “Can you fit into my luggage?”
Two seconds later:
“How big is your luggage?”
“Both the BayMobile
visits and professor presentations were incredible!” exclaimed Ms. Freda
Roberts, chair of DISLF. “Not only was I delighted to see the
excitement and interest expressed by the children, I gained a greater
understanding and appreciation of the work done at the Lab and how it
impacts all of us.”
The DISLF would
like to acknowledge Ms. Jackie Previto of the SMCEF for all her hard
work in scheduling these visits.
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February 26,
2004 Dr. Rich Aronson, Adventures in Antartica, Dixon Elementary
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March 3, 2004
Dr. George Crozier, Aquanauts, Castlen Elementary
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March 16, 2004
Dr. Just Cebrian, Don’t Trash our Waters, Breitling Elementary
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March 23, 2004
Dr. Monty Graham, The World of Jellyfish, St. Elmo Elementary
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April 22, 2004
Dr. John Valentine, Sea Grass and Sea Critters, Alba Elementary
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May 10, 2004 Dr.
John Dindo, Oceans and Estuaries Alive!, Dauphin Island Elementary
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