From a participant's perspective, a day with Ocean Inquiry Project is a whirlwind. This is appropriate because research ship-time is always limited and every minute counts. Most OIP volunteer educators have conducted research at sea and those experiences partly inspired us to create OIP and provide similar, though shorter, opportunities to all students. When a student connects a 10°C reading in the sea-surface temperature data with a cold splash of spray from Puget Sound, it is rewarding or instructors and students alike.
A typical OIP cruise begins with a safety briefing, an orientation to the research questions of the day, and division into groups of 6-10 people. At the first sampling station, each group works with an instructor to complete different scientific tasks. One group deploys an instrument (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth Device also known as a CTD) to see how temperature, salinity and density change with depth, discussing expectations and results. Meanwhile, students in another group pose questions about the marine food web and then seek answers by measuring water clarity and sampling plankton with nets. Examining the plankton under microscopes is always popular. A third group generates a science log, complete with time, position, atmospheric data and activity notes.
Once all the data for a station is collected, the ship moves to the next station and the student groups rotate to another task. If time and ship facilities allow, we often end the day with a short SCUBA dive. Students participate via a live video feed from an underwater camera carried by the divers. This shows the bottom flora and fauna in their habitat rather than as independent samples. A few specimens are brought up to the ship for close examination (and photographs) before returning them to the bottom.
While transiting back to the dock, we all review the observations of the day and think about the bigger scientific and ecological issues. Usually there's a little time to enjoy the views too.
At present, OIP is able to offer a limited number of cruises for free to qualified programs and instructors. To find out more or make a reservation, please contact Amy Sprenger at asprenger@oceaninquiry.org, or at (206) 280-9850.
If you are interested in scheduling a cruise for the 08-09 school year, contact Amy Sprenger at asprenger@oceaninquiry.org, or at (206) 280-9850.
Date |
Num |
Location |
Vessel |
Institution |
Instructors |
| 11.09.2008 |
110 |
Commencement Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
University of Puget Sound |
Peter Wimberger |
| 10.24.2008 |
109 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
Ingraham HS |
Wendy Lane, Jonathan Kellogg |
| 10.19.2008 |
108 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
OIP Instructor Training |
OIP |
| 08.18.2008 |
107 |
Elliot Bay |
R/V Thomas G. Thompson |
UW School of Oceanography |
Russ McDuff |
| 08.02.2008 |
106 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
Shoreline Community College |
Brian Saunders |
| 07.12.2008 |
105 |
Friday Harbor |
R/V Centennial |
COSEE-OLC/NAME |
Veronique Robigou Susan Bullerdick |
| 06.07.2008 |
104 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
UW GK-12 |
Tansy Clay |
| 05.30.2008 |
103 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
Bow School |
Donna Cole |
| 04.26.2008 |
102 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
CWU |
Matt Pruis |
| 04.19.2008 |
101 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
Sierra Club Inner City Outings- Garfield H.S. |
Joe Anderson |
| 11.10.2007 |
100 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
COSEE-OLC |
Veronique Robigou |
| 11.04.2007 |
99 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW Tacoma |
Julie Masura |
| 11.03.2007 |
98 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
North Seattle Community College |
Julie Masura |
| 10.28.2007 |
97 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Shoreline Community College |
Chip Dodd |
| 10.23.2007 |
96 |
Everett |
C.A. Kane |
Bow School |
Donna Cole |
| 07.21.2007 |
95 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Shoreline Community College |
Brian Saunders |
| 07.07.2007 |
94 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline Community College |
Woody Moses |
| 06.10.2007 |
93 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Franklin High School - ORCA Bowl |
Harmony Shenk |
| 05.26.2007 |
92 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline Community College |
David Hamm |
| 04.28.2007 |
91 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle Central Community College |
Liz Campbell |
| 04.22.2007 |
90 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Sierra Club Inner City Outings - Garfield HS |
Joe Anderson |
| 03.10.2007 |
89 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle Central Community College |
Joe Hull |
| 02.17.2007 |
88 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Bellevue Community College |
Sue Miller |
| 02.03.2007 |
87 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline Community College |
Woody Moses |
| 01.27.2007 |
86 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline Community College |
Woody Moses |
| 11.13.2006 |
85 |
Everett |
C.A. Kane |
Bow School |
Donna Cole |
| 11.04.2006 |
84 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
North Seattle Community College |
Julie Masura |
| 10.28.2006 |
83 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline Community College |
Rus Higley |
| 10.20.2006 |
82 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle Central Community College |
Liz Campbell |
| 08.21.2006 |
81 |
Hood Canal |
RDT & E (Guardian/Fast Boat) |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program |
Jan Newton |
| 05.24.2006 |
80 |
Everett |
Holiday (Hat Island Ferry) |
ORCA - Everett CC |
Ardi Kveven
Cliff Palmer |
| 05.13.2006 |
79 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline CC |
Rus Higley |
| 04.20.2006 |
78 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
ORCA - Everett CC |
Ardi Kveven |
| 04.07.2006 |
77 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW Tacoma |
Cheryl Greengrove
Scottie Henderson |
| 03.05.2006 |
76 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline CC |
Woody Moses
Rus Higley |
| 03.03.2006 |
75 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW Tacoma |
Julie Masura |
| 11.19.2005 |
74 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline CC |
Becky Stave
Rus Higley |
| 06.02.2005 |
73 |
|
Mary Beth |
La Conner HS |
Bev Mowrer |
| 04.08.2005 |
72 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW Tacoma |
Cheryl Greengrove
Scottie Henderson
R. Horner
M. Rasmussen |
| 03.01.2005 |
71 |
Salmon Bay |
C. A. Kane |
ORCA - Everett CC |
Ardi Kveven
Josh Searle
Jenny Hoffman
Wendy Houston |
| 02.26.2005 |
70 |
Salmon Bay |
M. Instructor |
Highline CC |
Woody Moses
Rus Higley |
| 11.15.2004 |
69 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Woodinville HS |
Bob Spencer
Randy Huybers
Orca Bowl |
| 11.12.2004 |
68 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 11.11.2004 |
67 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 09.28.2004 |
66 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 09.14.2004 |
65 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 09.07.2004 |
64 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 08.31.2004 |
63 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 08.26.2004 |
62 |
S Hood Canal |
HCSEG boat |
Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen |
Dan Hannafious
Renee Rose |
| 06.04.2004 |
61 |
Pt. Defiance |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Ted Wood |
| 06.04.2004 |
60 |
Pt. Defiance |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Ted Wood |
| 05.29.2004 |
59 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Making Connections (UW) |
Amanda Babson |
| 05.29.2004 |
58 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Cascadia CC |
Katy Shaw |
| 05.15.2004 |
57 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC
UW Ocean 101 |
Liz Campbell
Tina Emerick |
| 04.24.2004 |
56 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 04.15.2004 |
55 |
Sucia Island |
Mary L. |
Langley Middle School |
Jay Freundlich |
| 04.15.2004 |
54 |
Sucia Island |
Mary L. |
Langley Middle School |
Jay Freundlich |
| 03.13.2004 |
53 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Joe Hull |
| 03.06.2004 |
52 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Liz Campbell |
| 02.29.2004 |
51 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 101 |
Tina Emerick |
| 02.29.2004 |
50 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 101 |
Tina Emerick |
| 02.28.2004 |
49 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW Ocean 101 |
Fritz Stahr |
| 02.21.2004 |
48 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Highline CC |
Woody Moses |
| 02.15.2004 |
47 |
Edmonds |
Mary L. |
Cascadia CC |
Katy Shaw |
| 11.23.2003 |
46 |
Bremerton |
Mary L. |
PSNS class |
Richard Ellison |
| 11.15.2003 |
45 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW Ocean 101 |
Fritz Stahr |
| 11.26.2003 |
44 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 09.14.2003 |
43 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
ERF |
Fritz Stahr |
| 08.15.2003 |
42 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
UW, Tacoma |
Cheryl Greengrove |
| 05.30.2003 |
41 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Woodinville HS |
Randy Huybers
Orca Bowl prize |
| 05.17.2003 |
40 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Joe Hill |
| 05.09.2003 |
39 |
Tacoma |
Mary L. |
UW, Tacoma |
Cheryl Greengrove |
| 04.26.2003 |
38 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seatttle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 11.12.2002 |
37 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 08.19.2002 |
36 |
Salmon Bay |
Mary L. |
CWB/Public |
Fritz Stahr |
| 06.29.2002 |
35 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 06.02.2002 |
34 |
Pt. Defiance |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Tom Bush |
| 06.01.2002 |
33
32 |
Pt. Defiance |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Beth Norman
Tom Bush |
| 05.30.2002 |
31 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Woodinville HS |
Larry Goldberg
Orca Bowl Prize |
| 04.13.2002 |
30 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 03.17.2002 |
29 |
Pt. Defiance |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Beth Norman |
| 03.02.2002 |
28 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
SCCC Ocean 101 |
Christian Sarason |
| 12.02.2001 |
27 |
Salmon Bay |
Mary L. |
Salmon Bay Cruise West |
Monique LaFollete |
| 11.10.2001 |
26
25 |
Tacoma |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Beth Norman |
| 11.03.2001 |
24 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 07.12.2001 |
23 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 101 |
Richard Strickland |
| 07.11.2001 |
22 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 101 |
Richard Strickland
Tom Schaeffer |
| 07.08.2001 |
21 |
Salmon Bay |
Maritime Instructor |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 05.12.2001 |
20 |
Cornet Bay |
Mary L. |
Sedro Wooley HS |
Bev Mowrer
WSOSB Prize |
| 04.25.2001 |
19 |
Salmon Bay |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 101 |
Tina Emerick |
| 04.9.2001 |
18 |
Salmon Bay |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 102 |
Richard Strickland |
| 03.11.2001 |
17
16 |
Tacoma |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Beth Norman |
| 03.09.2001 |
15
14 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
UW Ocean 101 |
Richard Strickland
Tina Emerick |
| 03.05.2001 |
13 |
Salmon Bay |
C.A. Kane |
Seattle CCC
UW Ocean 101 |
Christian Sarason
Richard Strickland |
| 11.19.2000 |
12
11 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 11.05.2000 |
10
9 |
Tacoma |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Beth Norman |
| 05.14.2000 |
8 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 05.13.2000 |
7
6 |
Shilshole |
Mary L. |
Seattle CCC |
Christian Sarason |
| 02.27.2000 |
5
4 |
Tacoma |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Christian Sarason |
| 11.13.1999 |
3 |
Tacoma |
Mary L. |
Pierce College |
Christian Sarason |
| 07.27.1999 |
2 |
Shilshole |
Ed's Girl |
UW Ocean 101 |
Fritz Stahr |
| 07.25.1999 |
1 |
Shilshole |
Ed's Girl |
Seattle CCC |
Chris Moore |
