Experiential Education for STEM Undergraduates to Explore Oceanography

The proposal seeks funds to provide experiential education opporturuties for STEM undergraduates to explore the field of oceanography. Opportunities will be provided through course development, small-team building activities in isolated environments, and independent research.

Funding will allow Navarro to develop a new course further to provide opportunities for students to explore oceanography. Students will gain training in the new at-sea oceanography course (BIOL 193/393, goal = 7 students), and through new independent research (BIOL 498, goal = 3 students). ln addition, students will be exposed to new curricula in the biological oceanography course (BIOL 349, goal = 14 students), The PI will engage the students into oceanographic research in the field using the requested tools (current meter, microscopes, microphones, cameras) and renewable energy sources (water turbines, and power banks) for the BIOL 193/393 at-sea oceanography course. In addition student engagement into oceanography will be fac ilitated through use underwater life support system to train a STEM student as a American Association of Underwater Science (AAUS) diver to conduct subtidal independent research (B IOL 498). Also, the PI will incorporate the Europa mission into the BIOL 349 course lectures including the course introduction lecture, the "Blue Marble," as well as the lecture on "Deep-sea biology."

At least two astronauts have Ph.Os. in oceanography, including Ors. Jessica Meir and Megan McArthur. As such, oceanography may be a developing "hub" for astronauts. Dr. Meir credits her selection into the NASA astronaut class of 2013 (class of eight selected from a pool of 6,000
qualified applicants) to her ability to work well in a small team in an isolated environment (https://bit.ly/2VxYvtl). The University of Alaska Southeast is an ideal location to provide these training activities for our STEM undergraduates.