June 15, 2009
Monday PM

Ketchikan, Alaska - Students from the marine biology classes and the maritime class at Ketchikan High School participated in a science cruise on the F/V Jack Cotant on May 7, 2009. High school teachers Julie Landwehr and Rick Collins worked with UAS staff Barbara Morgan, UAF Marine Advisory Program Agent Gary Freitag and UAS Fisheries Technology student Jessica Davila to give these students hands-on experience in oceanographic data collection. Thank you to Wayne Kinunen, who also participated, for pioneering the way with many past oceanographic field trips on the F/V Jack Cotant.

During the science cruise, a variety of scientific tests and procedures were conducted. Students practiced taking physical and chemical water quality tests including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity. Students did phytoplankton and zooplankton tows and identified the species they found. They also used Van Dorn bottles to practice taking a water sample from depth and took a bottom sediment sample. The cruise gave the Maritime students a chance to learn boating skills.

The science cruise increased student interest and enhance learning. As one student said, "I thought it was really cool that I learned about the item, then we used it in the water and I got to see it firsthand. The trip was really nice. It made me really thing about all the jobs out there and taking a marine class would be really cool." And in the words of another student, "I think it was a great trip and a great experience! I think we should totally do it again!"

This collaborative effort was made possible through a USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) grant awarded to UAS Ketchikan Fisheries Technology Program. CSREES' mission is to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. CSREES helps fund research, education, and extension at the state and local level and provides program leadership in these areas.

As the principal investigator of this grant, UAS Assistant Professor of Fisheries Technology Kate Sullivan assisted in developing the idea of using the F/V Jack Cotant as a means of offering a science experience for local high school students, and obtained the necessary grant funding.

The F/V Jack Cotant is maintained by the KGBSD as a part of their Maritime course. Quoating a prepared statement, "UAS Ketchikan is pleased to have been able to make this learning opportunity possible for these students and hopes to be able to repeat the trip again next school year."

Source of News:

University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan
www.ketch.alaska.edu

The University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus provides a wide variety of educational courses and programs to Ketchikan and the surrounding communities throughout the year. Courses and programs are available locally and distance including web-based and audio-conference classes. Through these offerings, students can achieve certifications, associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees. UAS is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

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