Kara Nazor, a molecular biology, environmental & marine science teacher at McCallie School in Chattanooga, will set sail on May 29 to assist scientists on a 10 day Rockfish Recruitment & Ecosystem Assessment survey off the central California coast. Dr. Nazor will participate in this cruise as part of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program, which bridges science and education through real-world research experiences.
“Many of the high school boys that I teach are avid sports fisherman who prioritize time on the water over video games and their phones,” Dr.
Nazor said. “As a NOAA Teacher at Sea, I will have the opportunity to work alongside NOAA scientists on one of the most technologically advanced fisheries vessels in the world, studying rockfish abundances along the California Coast. My students are excited to hear about my hands-on experience sorting juvenile rockfish, learning how the health of fish stocks are actually assessed and managed, and they can't wait to see the videos and photos of the process. I aim to inspire my students to consider careers in fisheries, engineering, earth sciences, oceanography, and meteorology.”
Dr. Nazor will board NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker on May 28 in San Francisco, and she will work with scientists daily as they conduct an on-going population survey of rockfish populations and ecosystem conditions along the West Coast. Dr. Nazor is writing a blog about her experience, accessible at:
https://noaateacheratsea.blog/author/knazor2019/.
"NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program gives teachers the professional opportunity of a lifetime with a chance to participate in cutting edge science, on the ocean, working side-by-side with world-renowned scientists,” says Jennifer Hammond, the program’s director. “Teachers describe this authentic research experience as transformative and one that allows them to bring new knowledge and excitement back to their classrooms.”
Now in its 29th year, the program has provided more than 800 teachers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience participating in science at sea. This year, NOAA received applications from nearly 300 teachers, and chose 19 to participate in research cruises. "These educators are able to enrich their curricula with the depth of understanding they gain by living and working side-by-side with scientists studying the marine environment," officials said.