Outreach Opportunities
As a PolarTREC teacher, I am tasked with helping to create connections between science and the public. One way to accomplish this task is by participating in public outreach events. On August 10th, Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT hosted their 2nd annual Women in Science Day. Graduate students from the University of Rhode Island asked if I would like to attend the event in order to help promote our PolarTREC expedition and to add to their outreach program involving algae. I jumped at the chance to participate.
Women in Science
The Women in Science event is an opportunity for women to showcase their work in the scientific fields. This year, more than 30 women participated in the event. Career examples ranged from aquarists, animal care professionals, college professors and graduate students, lab technicians and other researchers. The mix of job descriptions and content focus created a wonderful opportunity for aquarium visitors to get a sense of various aspects of science, but also an opportunity to see how women are working in so many different types of scientific fields. During the course of the day, children ranging from toddler to high school ages stopped by the different tables to learn more about different science fields - hopefully sparking interest in the wonderful world of science!
URI researchers Alexa Sterling (left), Jillian Freese and Laura Filliger (at microscope) educate Mystic Aquarium visitors about macro and micro algae.
Algae Takes Center Stage
I was joined at the event by URI graduate students Alexa Sterling, Laura Filliger and Jillian Freese. Alexa and Laura both work in Dr. Jenkins lab at URI and are part of the upcoming expedition to Antarctica. Jillian is also a PhD candidate at URI. She studies parasitism in red algae and works with Dr. Chris Lane. These three URI representatives brought algae to the forefront of the conversation at the event. Live samples of macro algae and micro algae were available to touch and view under microscopes. Visitors also learned about the uses of algae in our everyday lives. For my part, I wanted to show visitors why studying algae is so important in Antarctica and around the world. Using a food web as a conversation starter, visitors were able to see how phytoplankton (including algae such as diatoms) play a major role in supporting the energy flow in the food web as well as providing the oxygen that organisms breathe on a daily basis.
Visitors to the URI table at the Mystic Aquarium Women in Science day learned about different species of algae. Many also learned about the importance of algae in our everyday lives. Red algae is used to make agar which is found in products like toothpaste, salad dressing and even ice cream.
URI researchers used their phone to help visitors see the diatoms (phytoplankton) and copepods (zooplankton) in the light microscope. Photo courtesy Laura Filliger, URI
PolarTREC teacher Cara Pekarcik talks to visitors at the Mystic Aquarium Women in Science Day. Visitors learned about the importance of phytoplankton in the Antarctic ecosystem with this hands-on food web activity.
Visitors were also able to experience ways that researchers and animals survive in the Antarctic climate. ECW (extreme cold weather) gear and blubber gloves were part of the experience. Many visitors bundled up in a thick parka, bunny boots and goggles to see just how challenging conditions can be when studying diatoms in Antarctica.
A Mystic Aquarium visitor uses the Extreme Cold Weather gear (ECW) to simulate life as an Antarctic scientist.
Thank You Mystic Aquarium
A very special thank you to the folks at Mystic Aquarium for organizing such a wonderful event. Alexa, Laura, Jillian and I received great support and feedback throughout the day. Click here for a brief write-up about the event
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