Sea Lab Science Friday at Dauphin Island Sea Lab: STEM: The Ocean Version

August 12, 2022

Event Date: Friday, October 21
Event Time: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Please register at bit.ly/SeaLabScienceFridays.

Upcoming Dates:
October 21, 2022
December 2, 2022

Ocean Drifters - 9:30-11:30 am
There's motion in the ocean! And it's important! Ocean currents determine the distribution of ocean animals, suspended and dissolved materials as well as heat and energy. Drifters are a type of technology that scientists use to study ocean currents. Come build with us as we design, build, and test our own mini-drifter using our engineering skills. We'll also track a full-size ocean drifter using satellites and an app and discuss the significance of nearshore currents in barrier island dynamics.

What to wear and bring: comfortable shoes that can get wet and sandy, a hat to shade the sun while outside, sunscreen, a water bottle, and your creativity.
Suitable for ages 10 and up, or for all ages with an accompanying adult.

Trash(in) the Ocean - 1:00-3:00 pm
Marine debris is a huge problem that impacts marine life everywhere. Join us to learn more about marine debris and microplastics. We'll play the role of a beach-dwelling animal and understand how hard trash is to avoid. We'll explore how scientists collect and analyze data by collecting our own and comparing it to that collected across the world as we take part in a citizen science project using NOAA's Marine Debris Tracker app.

What to wear and bring: a device (if you can), comfortable shoes that can get wet and sandy, a hat to shade the sun while outside, sunscreen, a water bottle, and your sense of stewardship.
Suitable for ages 10 and up, or for all ages with an accompanying adult.

ROVing the Gulf - 3:00-5:00 pm
Do you like to build things and then see if they work? If so, then this class is for you! Scientists, ocean engineers, and explorers use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as they visit, study, and work in the ocean, especially in the deep sea. In this class, we'll learn more about ROVs, buoyancy, and hydrodynamics and then team up to build and drive a ROV in the Sea Lab pool.

What to wear and bring: a hat to shade the sun while outside, sunscreen, a water bottle, and your building skills.
Suitable for ages 10 and up, or for all ages with an accompanying adult.