Title

State-of-the-Art Shipboard Science Program

Relevance

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"black"},"insert":"Lake Champlain Sea Grant is committed to educating as broad an audience as possible by developing and sharing "},{"insert":"science-based knowledge to benefit the Lake Champlain basin. Its hands-on approach to learning often involves bringing students, teachers, researchers, and the public out on Lake Champlain to learn about its fisheries, geology, aquatic ecosystems, and related fields. From 1987 until it was retired 36 years later, the R/V"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" Melosira"},{"insert":" served as the University of Vermont’s (UVM) lake research vessel and was used by faculty members, graduate students, and others from the university’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory to conduct research. When it came time to replace the aging vessel, the decision was made to go with hybrid-electric technology onboard the vessel to align with UVM's environmental sustainability goals. \n"}]}

Response

{"ops":[{"insert":"The R/V "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Marcelle Melosira"},{"insert":", which replaced the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Melosira"},{"insert":", is larger and can accommodate 30 passengers and three crew members. It also has an indoor laboratory space for sample analysis and microscopy. As the primary user of this new state-of-the-art research vessel, the Lake Champlain Sea Grant education team was heavily involved in its design and construction. Since this vessel acts as a floating classroom for Lake Champlain Live, one of Sea Grant’s educational offerings for K-12 students, the team reimagined the program to take advantage of the space and equipment aboard the new vessel. The redesigned program includes microscopy stations for students to analyze plankton and several new hands-on activities to engage them in basic limnological sampling.\n"}]}

Results

{"ops":[{"insert":"The arrival of the R/V "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Marcelle Melosira"},{"insert":" was delayed, causing a lapse in shipboard science programming. The education team quickly got acquainted with the new vessel when it finally arrived in Burlington, Vermont, in July 2023 and re-launched Lake Champlain Live. During the 2023 field season, the team led 26 education and outreach trips with 528 participants aboard the vessel. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"black"},"insert":"Lake Champlain Live p"},{"insert":"articipants observe "},{"attributes":{"color":"black"},"insert":"how scientists take chemical, biological, and physical measurements of the water to improve their understanding of the lake and its watershed. They also tow for and identify plankton, sample sediment from the lake bottom, assess water samples for invasive species, and monitor water clarity, conductivity, temperature, and depth as part of their interactive, onboard activities to learn about the lake."},{"insert":" \n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"black"},"insert":"In addition, the research vessel also plays an important role in "},{"insert":"professional development for educators from schools in the Lake Champlain basin of Vermont, New York, and Québec. In 2023, Lake Champlain Sea Grant received an education grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to create the Watershed Alliance Teacher and Researcher Partnership. This new partnership is geared toward middle and high school teachers to provide hands-on learning opportunities aboard the R/V "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Marcelle Melosira"},{"insert":". Participants become involved in ongoing research projects and develop educational materials and lesson plans to integrate watershed science into their classrooms. The vessel also is frequently used by UVM faculty, students, and staff to facilitate lake-science research.\n"}]}

Public Value Statement

{"ops":[{"insert":"Educating people about their local lakes raises awareness about the important role water plays in their daily lives, inspiring them to make informed choices that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship to protect this valuable natural resource.\n"}]}

Primary Focus Area

Environmental Stewardship

Secondary Focus Area

Youth, Family, & Communities

Impact Statement