Enlighten '10 Education

Enlighten Education Image

For over two decades the University of Washington has enabled at-sea experiences for K-12 and community college teachers and for undergraduate and graduate students through cruise participation. The UW has continued its commitment to providing students direct hands-on learning experiences by providing 15 days of ship time per year to the UW Regional Scale Nodes Observatory effort using the 274' global class research ship, the Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson. Each year, 10 to 20 undergraduate and graduate students work along side UW researchers to learn all aspects of seagoing research, ship operations, and life aboard an oceanographic research vessel.

During the cruises students develop projects around the use of robotic vehicles, mapping, and linkages among geological, biological, chemical, and physical oceanographic processes. Students share their experiences with the public by contributing to a live web site. The Enlighten '10 cruise is continuing this tradition with undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Washington, Oregon State University and Arizona State University aboard.