MVRHS Maritime Sciences teacher Brock Callen along with his son, Brock Callen, Jr. (who is an ambassador for 11th Hour Racing, an organization dedicated to ocean sustainability) have been sharing their experience through Google Hangouts with students while onboard R/V Falkor, an oceanographic research vessel owned by Schmidt Ocean Institute, as it went from Guam to Honolulu from December 27th to January 17th. This is an exciting and unique opportunity not only for them, but MVRHS students as well.
Falkor’s misson is to map previously unknown undersea topography, including seamounts around Johnston Atoll using multibeam mapping tool and sonar. The mapping project allowed them to study the geological features and marine biology, including coral and sponges, at depths ranging from 3500 to 9000 meters.
The Callens shared with students a broad spectrum of shipboard life, from operations to research, through a daily video blog, social media, and Google Hangouts sessions. They opened a window to the many career paths represented in team on the ship, from captain, to cook, to even a cartoonist on board. There were relevant connections across our curriculum across all grade levels and subjects, from CTE, sciences, engineering, health, math, social studies, history (the Johnston Atoll was involved in WWII and nuclear testing), art, and more.
Recorded segments of the Google Hangouts are available on the MVRHS Library website:
For more:
Cruise log: https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/eyes-testing-uavs-mapping-johnston-atoll/
Twitter & Instagram: @SchmidtOcean, @brockcallen, @11thHourRacing