Around & About + Chadwick School’s Innovation and Design Chair Selected for Ocean Exploration
Chadwick School’s Innovation and Design Chair has been selected to explore the ocean aboard exploration vessel Nautilus. Dr. Dijanna Figueroa will join the Expedition Team in a Groundbreaking STEAM Initiative Exploring Deep-Sea Biology and Geology in the Central Pacific. She has been selected as a 2022 Science Communication Fellow and will sail aboard Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus for 23 days in March and April. Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), a nonprofit founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, operates with a mission to explore the unknown parts of the ocean, seeking out new discoveries across the fields of geology, biology and hydrography while pushing the boundaries of STEAM education and technological innovation. Dr. Figueroa is one of twelve 2022 Fellows hailing from schools, science centers and non-profit organizations across seven U.S. states. They will join the Corps of Exploration in teams during different sea-going expeditions from March to October near the Hawaiian Islands, in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, and in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument..
“Bringing science, technology, engineering, math and the excitement of ocean exploration to my students in real time is a dream come true,” Dr. Figueroa shared. Dr. Figueroa will be Zooming into her classes from under the sea as much as the schedule allows. She will act as the remote, undersea teacher while a land teacher engages directly in the classroom. She already Zoomed with Chadwick’s kindergartners from Hawaii last week to explain the expedition, and will Zoom from the submarine to enhance their ocean unit during scheduled science time.
Students in Chadwick’s marine biology class are working on a project researching different ocean ecosystems, and she will engage with the juniors and seniors via Zoom over the next two weeks. The public can also engage with Dr. Figueroa via Nautilus Live, a 24-hour live streaming web portal bringing expeditions from the field to explorers on shore via telepresence technology at www.NautilusLive.org and via social media. Dr. Figueroa will participate in live audio commentary and question-and-answer sessions through the Nautilus Live website while aboard the ship. She will also engage in events and activities upon her return. Local schools can also schedule free, live one-on-one Q&A sessions with explorers on the ship in English or ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).
OET promotes science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education around the world using the excitement of exploration and innovation to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. “One of the major goals of our Nautilus Exploration Program is to motivate the next generation of explorers in STEAM fields,” said Allison Fundis, OET’s Chief Operating Officer.
“We are very excited to provide educators and students with direct experience in ocean exploration while allowing them the opportunity to share that experience with their peers around the world.”
According to Megan Cook, OET’s Director of Education and Outreach, “Science Communication Fellows work alongside scientists and engineers and help to bring the ocean exploration experience alive across the NautilusLive live stream, our social media, and outreach directly with classrooms. PEN
The public can also engage with Dr. Figueroa via Nautilus Live, a 24-hour live streaming web portal bringing expeditions from the field to explorers on shore via telepresence technology at www.NautilusLive.org. Dr. Figueroa will participate in live audio commentary and question-and-answer sessions through the Nautilus Live website while aboard the ship. PEN