MEDIA, Pa. — Laura Guertin, distinguished professor of Earth science at Penn State Brandywine, celebrated National Ocean Month in June in a most appropriate way — she spent two weeks aboard a research vessel in the Gulf of Alaska. Guertin joined the expedition through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea program.
The Teacher at Sea program provides teachers with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience participating in science at sea. The goal is for educators to enrich their curricula with the depth of understanding they gain by working alongside scientists studying the marine environment. This was Guertin’s second voyage through the program, which she said gave her a chance to bridge science and education through a real-world research experience. Through her time on the ship, Guertin gained experience she could share in the classroom and the community.
The NOAA ship Oscar Dyson’s mission was to assess the population and distribution of walleye pollock in the Gulf of Alaska, collecting data to determine catch allocation and maintain sustainable fisheries. Researchers gathered data through both acoustic surveying and using trawl nets to collect the fish and bring them on board for examination.