Fifth grade students from Ocean Palms Elementary School recently received a private tour of the OCEARCH research vessel docked in Jacksonville.
Staff from both OCEARCH and the Mote Marine Laboratory discussed the mission of the at-sea laboratory, which conducts research expeditions, including the tracking of great white sharks. Students, family members and teachers Holly Chaker and Anne Nichol then enjoyed a tour of the facility, during which students viewed the shark lift and learned how a shark is caught, led to the lift and tagged.
The OCEARCH STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum enables students to learn STEM skills while following the real-time data on the movements of their favorite sharks. In preparation for the tour, students participated in a video conference with OCEARCH Expedition Leader Chris Fischer, who answered students’ questions.
