Focused on the sustained involvement of African American
students in the marine geosciences, Oceans
of Opportunity is establishing a robust pipeline from
kindergarten through to high school and gradaute study
in the Savannah, GA area. The
progam consists of two pipelines that extend geoscience
research and academic endeavors from Savannah State University,
Adelphi University and JOI into the public school
systems.
Within the academic pipeline, Oceans of Opportunity is
developing and implementing innovative, interactive geoscience
modules
and lesson plans that are based on actual sediment samples
pulled from the deep ocean through scientific
ocean drilling. Some of these modules are developed for elementary
and middle school, while others are geared for high school
students. Courses, such as the new courses
in marine geoscience and oceanic
change, are being developed and inserted into the marine
science curriculum in the Savannah
State University Marine Sciences Program.
Within the research pipeline, Oceans of Opportunity is
providing small amounts of support for student research (graduate
and undergraduate) on the Georgia Shelf and benthic foraminiferal
records, using core samples and data obtained from the Ocean
Drilling Program.
Oceans of Opportunity also has an outreach component
that introduces students in the Savannah-Chatham
County Public Schools to marine geosciences by testing
the modules that
have been
developed and engaging students in hands-on educational activities.
A critical component of the outreach endeavor is Georgia
State
Univerisity's Bio-Bus,
a mobile instructional laboratory that travels to public
and private schools in the Greater Atlanta Area. Partner
schools in the Savannah area include Johnson High School, Thunderbolt
Elementary Marine Science Academy, and the Oatland
Island Education Center. The Adelphi
University Environmental Studies Program is also a
partner, working in the New York area.
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