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a \u201cBroader Impacts\u201d section. This text explains how the results of the research will benefit society either through the creation of new knowledge, the training of the next generation of scientists, or interacting with the public. Julian and Liz both come from families of K-12 teachers and they both felt it was important to find a way to include them in this project.<\/p>\n
Rutgers University has an amazing team of outreach and education professionals that run a myriad of programs with the general public, K-12 schools, boy and girl scouts, and 4-H.\u00a0 It was through this network that I was contacted to help outline a plan to create an \u201cEducator at Sea\u201d program.\u00a0 My experience with informal science education at the Rutgers Geology Museum, my work with the PolarTREC program, and my science background in geology\/paleoceanography put me in a unique position to combine all my skills and expertise into one project. So I was thrilled to have the chance to work with the soon to be named \u201cPUFINS\u201d team.<\/p>\n The grant was officially submitted in January 2020 with the knowledge that it can take 6 months or more for proposals of this size to be reviewed, ranked, and selected for funding.\u00a0 About 6 months later, in June 2020, Julian and Liz received word that their project would be funded.\u00a0 But we all know what was going on in the word in 2020.\u00a0 So even though the project was a go, the worldwide lock down meant that all research cruises were delayed for the foreseeable future.\u00a0 Even after operations resumed, there would be a massive backlog of expeditions.\u00a0 So the team could do nothing but wait and see when they might get time allotted on a research vessel for this project.\u00a0 After months of waiting, they were tentatively given a slot to sail during the summer of 2023, but that quickly changed in December 2021.<\/p>\n If you have been keeping up with our other blogs posts, you may already know that the R\/V Atlantis is the ship that tenders the famous deep-sea submersible, \u201cThe Alvin\u201d.\u00a0 During some routine testing of the tiny submarine, it was discovered that some of the parts were malfunctioning forcing it to return to port to be fixed.\u00a0 This meant that all the research expeditions that were scheduled to use the Alvin had to be cancelled and rescheduled at some unknown date.\u00a0 This is bad luck for any of the scientists that were planning on doing research with the Alvin now, but it also meant that a<\/p>\n ship was now available for other research expeditions.\u00a0 So overnight the PUFINS team went from having a year and half to plan, to only 6 months to get everyone in order to sail in June 2022.<\/p>\n While Liz and Julian went to work assembling their science team and cruise supplies, I went to work finding a crew of top-notch science educators.\u00a0 I\u2019m happy to report that I think all of us succeeded in achieving these goals.\u00a0 Our science team is wonderful and everyone is working together to get all the daily tasks done.\u00a0 And the educators have hit the ground running ever since we told them they were selected to join the team.<\/p>\n There are two main objectives to including educators in the project.\u00a0 The first one is to communicate the science to the public.\u00a0 There are so many misconceptions about climate change, and we hope by talking in an accessible manner to classrooms across the country, students and teachers will be<\/p>\n better informed citizens.\u00a0 Secondly, by seeing their teachers participating in research and hearing first hand from scientists from a variety of background, we hope to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.\u00a0 We need to dispel the myth of nerds in white lab coats conducting science in isolated environments.\u00a0 Getting students excited about scientific expeditions and seeing someone that looks like you doing science are both very powerful tools.<\/p>\n Many of the educators asked students to create artwork that they could bring to sea with them.\u00a0 Hundreds of students from around the world created class flags, colored Puffins, and decorated Styrofoam cups to be displayed and photographed aboard the R\/V Atlantis.\u00a0 We have been posting these pictures online so students can see their masterpieces next to the cutting edge science occurring in real time!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/pufins-at-sea\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/791\/2022\/06\/puffins2-300x225.jpg\")
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