Old Quarry Middle School Teacher to Explore the Ocean with Exclusive Program

Photo: Ocean Exploration Trust

LEMONT, IL — An Old Quarry Middle School teacher will join a select group of 24 educators and 22 students from around the world selected from a competitive pool of applicants by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to participate at sea during the 2016 Nautilus Exploration Program expedition.

Michelle Anderson Ed.D., has been selected as a Nautilus Ambassador and will sail aboard Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus during its 2016 expedition. Anderson will join the Corps of Exploration aboard E/V Nautilus in August as the ship transits and explores a portion of America’s ocean backyard between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

OET, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Robert Ballard in 2008, has the mission to explore the ocean, seeking out new discoveries in the fields of geology, biology, maritime history, archaeology, physics, and chemistry while pushing the boundaries of STEM education and technological innovation. The selected educators and students hail from schools, universities, after-school programs, science centers, aquaria, and non-profit organizations in twenty states in the US and Australia. They will join the Nautilus Corps of Exploration during sea-going expeditions from May through September in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Nautilus Ambassador Program will bring seven educators from locations within the Community STEM Program aboard E/V Nautilus to experience life aboard a research vessel as part of the Corps of Exploration. Ambassadors gain exposure to at-sea science, technology, engineering, communications, and education during their time onboard while shadowing professionals in each field. Ambassadors return home to share the excitement of ocean exploration and research with their peers, schools, and communities.

“When I was fortunate enough to attend a Community Stem Program (CSP) via Citgo in Lemont I was hooked at the moment the presentation began!" Anderson said. "I daydreamed about being on the ship assisting in the research on the Nautilus and helping students, teachers, and community members get more involved with STEM and more excited to see what new information we are learning everyday about our world.

"When I was forwarded the opportunity to apply for a Nautiulus Ambassador position, I was hopeful, but I did not think I would be selected (this was too good to be true that there was a chance of ME actually getting to be on the ship). I was so happy to receive an email that my application was accepted! I cannot wait for the experience this August and I am excited to be an ambassador throughout the school year for the community.”

As members of the Corps of Exploration, Michelle will stand watch alongside scientists and engineers, as well as participate in live audio commentary and question-and-answer sessions through the Nautilus Live website (www.NautilusLive.org), a 24-hour web portal bringing expeditions from the field to future explorers on shore via telepresence technology. Global audiences can tune in to the website, Facebook or Instagram at NautilusLive, and on Twitter as @EVNautilus to follow her expedition.

OET promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education around the world using the excitement of exploration and innovation to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. In 2014, OET began targeting its suite of education and outreach programs to specific communities through an exciting new initiative, the Community STEM Program (CSP). The CSP allows partner communities to engage community members in all of the educational programs OET offers, which are designed to guide young students to early career professionals and educators through a series of programs focused on STEM fields and vocations, increasing the impact the programs can have in any individual location.

“One of the major goals of our Nautilus Exploration Program is to inspire the next generation of explorers in STEM fields,” said Allison Fundis, OET’s Vice President of Education, Outreach and Communications. "We are very excited to provide educators and students with the direct experience of ocean exploration, while allowing them the opportunity to share that experience with their peers around the world.”