Coastal Waters Consortium Outreach (GoMRI) Outreach Efforts
Ocean Commotion at LSU (10/30/2012)- This event is hosted by the Louisiana Sea Grant
College Program and attracts about 3000 students, teachers, and parents to learn about
our coast and sea. Our GoMRI related activity was designed to educate the students on
the processes and hardships involved in cleaning marine animals after an oil spill
incident. Students covered their toy ducks/turtles in “crude oil” (vegetable oil, water,
food color) and used liquid soap, water, and toothbrushes to clean the animals. We tried
to imitate the Emergency Management protocol created by the EPA. As the participants
completed the activity, we talked about the physical and physiological effects from oil
spills. We saw >200 students within an 8 hour timeframe.
La Fete d’Ecologie Festival hosted by BTNEP (11/10/2012)- This festival is a celebration of
the amazing environment, rich history, and the unique blend of cultures found in the
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary. Our GoMRI related activity was designed to
re-create an oil spill at the surface and deeper portions of the water. It was a lesson in
density, as well, as participants compared the differences between the two layers of oil.
Approximately 50 people participated and were amazed at how liquid soap dispersed
the bubbles, making them into tiny oil droplets. We saw >80 students within an 8 hour
timeframe.
Bayou Grace Community Services Dinner (11/16/2012)- There were multiple guest
speakers who focused on coastal land loss and actions needed to stabilize or reverse the
trend. Our GoMRI related activity highlighted the impact of oil on coastal erosion: the
process of how oil spreads through sediment and overlying spartina, possibly
impacting infauna and any other organisms in the surrounding area. It was an activity
geared towards the 10 children that participated in it. The dinner attendance was >60
community members and it lasted ~2.5 hours.
Southern University GoMRI Seminar (11/29/2012)- The general biology course of 30
students received a 40 minute presentation detailing the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,
the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters Consortium, and peerreviewed research thus far. Afterwards questions were answered, most pertaining to
the recent research.
HTV10 Interview (12/13/2012)- This was a 15 min interview conducted by teenagers
who study broadcast at a local news station. The teenager journalists are part of a
group of young adults concerned about the welfare of our environment. The interview
consisted of questions directly related to the BP oil spill, formation of GoMRI,
consequences of the incident, and recent oil spill research.
Bayou Grace Community Services Dinner (1/9/2013)- A representative gave a 30 minute
presentation detailing the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI,
information about the Coastal Waters Consortium, and recent peer-reviewed oil spill
research. There were >80 audience members (students from the University of Buffalo,
seniors from Kansas [community service group], and the local Dulac community). The
dinner lasted ~2 hours and after the presentation, questions were answered, most
pertaining to the recent research.
Woodland Oaks Homeowners Association (1/15/2013)- There was a homeowner’s
association meeting which included local community members, policemen, a city
council member, and a firefighter. We presented material detailing the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters
Consortium, and recent peer-reviewed oil spill research. About 20 people attended and
after the presentation, questions were answered.
Bayou Community Academy Charter School (1/28/2013)- A 5th grade class of 30 students
visited LUMCON for a science field trip. Among the typical field trip activities, a
GoMRI project was included for a duration of 30 minutes. Students were informed
about the DWH incident and gained insight of the remediation techniques through
simulation. They used water, food coloring, oil, and soap to reenact the oil spill and
chemical dispersants required to divide the oil plumes. Afterwards, the activity was
supplemented with a Q & A session that was very revealing for the students.
Comeaux High School (2/1/2013)- A group of 16 high school students came to LUMCON
for a field trip and barrier island excursion with Dr. Darryl Felder. After a session of
trawling, Dr. Felder explained each organism caught and their ecological importance to
this region. The students also obtained experience using a seine net to help Dr. Felder
catch live organisms. Once the students were back in LUMCON’s lab, we examined
how oil is transport in the ocean. Students created different oceanographic terms (e.g.,
downwelling, eddy, convergent currents, Ekman transport, etc.) and discharged the oil
at the bottom of a water-filled tub to see the effects.
Southern University GoMRI Seminar (2/5/2013)- The molecular biology course of 20
students received a 30 minute presentation detailing the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,
the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters Consortium, and peerreviewed research thus far. Afterwards questions were answered, most pertaining to
the recent research.
LSU School of Environmental & Public Health Seminar (2/15/2013)- Graduate students in
environmental science received a 30 minute presentation detailing the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters
Consortium, and peer-reviewed research thus far. Afterwards questions were
answered, most pertaining to the recent research.
Dads & Daughters: Discovering Coastal Water Science (2/16/2013)- Family couples
endeared a day of tours and activities as a means to spending some quality time with
each other. Groups went aboard the R/V Acadiana to see the Louisiana coast and a
chance to trawl for marine organisms. We then immediately used the pontoon boat to
walk upon some salt marsh and talk about its ecological value. The remainder of the
day was filled with a 30 minute presentation about the research concerning the BP oil
spill and an oil transport activity. This activity incorporated canola oil in a large bin
filled with water; interactions were observed between the oil, water, and powerheads
that created surface currents.
LSU w/ the EnvironMentors (2/18/2013)- High school students with a great deal of
interest in environmental science received a 30 minute presentation detailing the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal
Waters Consortium, and peer-reviewed research thus far. Afterwards, a short activity
demonstrating how soap emulsifies oil in water was conducted by each student.
ASLO aboard the R/V Pelican (2/21/2013)- Multiple groups of students (3rd grade to high
school) came aboard the vessel to encounter oceanographic studies and technology.
CWC had two parts to showcase: a large tub of water with a circular current (emulating
an eddy) and laptops for coastal modeling (oil transport). The students predicted
where oil would be directed inside the tub of water and then dropped oil in separate
areas to observe how location of the oil discharge and the velocity of the current helps
determine where the oil is transported. Afterwards, students used surface current maps
to determine oil could travel within the Gulf of Mexico. This was completed using the
animation technology in PowerPoint. It imitated computer simulations of water and
pollutant movement that physical oceanographers frequently use.
Girls in STEM at Tulane University (2/23/2013)- There groups of 12 female middle
school aged students rotated in and out of our laboratory; each group spent an hour in
which we discussed the life cycle and stages of the blue crab. Students were presented
with information and then spent time using microscopes to examine the six common
stages of this crustacean. Afterwards, students were given a GoMRI related
presentation so they could understand how oil contamination impacts marine
organisms like crabs. Students then played a “scenario-game” in which they rolled dice
to see how different situations could affect each stage of the blue crabs based on
prey/predator relationships. The students drew and colored what they thought would
happen to each phase of the blue crab life cycle (depending on the rolled dice scenario).
This workshop was completed in collaboration with Tulane Ph.D grad student Sarah
Giltz.
Nicholls State University (2/27/2013)- Graduate students in marine biology and
environmental science received a 30 minute presentation detailing the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters
Consortium, and peer-reviewed research thus far. This was an opportunity to be a coguest speaker with a biologist from Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
(CPRA). Due to the nature of the talk and/or interaction between both speakers, many
questions arose from the audience as well as Dr. Aaron Pierce (coordinator of the
seminar).
CWC Teacher Workshop: Seaside Sparrows (3/1/2013)- A presentation was given to
teachers to inform them about specific research being conducted in our consortium.
The Louisiana Seaside Sparrow was highlighted as one of the organisms that can be
impacted by the BP oil contamination. Teachers later learned how to apply a series of
animations in Microsoft PowerPoint as another means of facilitating instruction to
students (i.e., understanding a concept better through modeling).
LSU Public & Environmental Health Career Fair (3/11/2013)- Material about the CWC was
presented at a public health career fair. The CWC was invited to a public health
oriented event because oil impacts human health. Twelve PIs from schools institutions
including LSU, ULL, LSU AgCenter, and LUMCON were highlighted with their contact
information. A job list of all the open positions from the twelve research institutions
within our consortium was also presented. Students were also informed about the
responsibilities of GoMRI educators.
GoMRI Presentation & Activity with students from Purdue University (3/15/2013)Graduate and undergraduate students majoring in environmental science received a 30
minute presentation detailing the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of
GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters Consortium, and peer-reviewed research
thus far. Afterwards, the students participated in 2 relatively-easy GoMRI activities
that they could reuse when mentoring K-12 students. One activity included adding
soap to oil and water to cause emulsification (demonstrating dispersant activity in an
oil spill). The other activity included powerheads that created a current in a bin filled
with water, while oil was slowly poured into it. The students talked about how they
could explain the properties of oil transport to younger students, and even add insight
on oceanographic processes as well.
CWC Participation at the CASA Kids Festival (3/16/2013)- Court Appointed Special
Advocates (CASA) had a spring festival that focused on the different countries around
the world. CWC was given Belize, so we focused on oil exploration in Belize since it
dangers the world’s second largest barrier reef system. A poster was created detailing
the famous reefs and how oil exploration can lead to oil contamination, and how
ultimately that is bad for that environment. Children were informed about atolls,
fringing and barrier reefs; they were allowed to create the 3 different reefs using playdoh. The kids then cut black napkins (oil spill simulation) to identify, if there was an oil
spill along their play-doh inspired reef, where it would be located.
CWC Video Production at LSU (3/25/2013)- Video footage was recorded from PIs, postdocs, and grad students in laboratories at the Baton Rouge campus. Some of the footage
included interviews about avian DNA expression, different variables affecting plant
growth, and entomology. Pictures were also taken to include in future videos. All of
which pertained to the research being conducted within the CWC.
CWC Video Production at ULL (3/27/2013)- Video footage was recorded from PIs, postdocs, and grad students in laboratories at the Lafayette campus. Some of the footage
included interviews about variables affecting crustacean mortality and different
variables affecting red algae growth. Pictures were also taken to include in future
videos. All of which pertained to the research being conducted within the CWC.
ECOGIG/CWC Conference Call (3/27/2013)- The education and outreach team for both
consortia planned a possible collaboration to take place during the summer of 2013.
ECOGIG researchers will use a research vessel along with their deep sea technology. It
was thought that both outreach teams could educate the local community about the BP
oil spill, the environment, and how new technology helps improve our understanding
of both the oil spill and environment.
GoMRI Presentation & Activity with students from Franklin College (4/2/2013)- Graduate
and undergraduate students majoring in environmental science received a 30 minute
presentation detailing the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI,
information about the Coastal Waters Consortium, and peer-reviewed research thus far.
Afterwards, the students participated in 2 relatively-easy GoMRI activities that they
could reuse when mentoring K-12 students. One activity included adding soap to oil
and water to cause emulsification (demonstrating dispersant activity in an oil spill).
The other activity included powerheads that created a current in a bin filled with water,
while oil was slowly poured into it. The students talked about how they could explain
the properties of oil transport to younger students, and even add insight on
oceanographic processes as well.
Dillard University Seminar (4/10/2013)- Undergraduate students in environmental
science and biology classes received a 40 minute presentation detailing the Deepwater
Horizon Oil Spill, the formation of GoMRI, information about the Coastal Waters
Consortium, and peer-reviewed research thus far. Afterwards questions were
answered, most pertaining to the recent research.
CWC Activity with students from Central High School (4/11/2013)- High school students
participated in 2 relatively-easy GoMRI activities that they could reuse when mentoring
younger kids. One activity included adding soap to oil and water to cause
emulsification (demonstrating dispersant activity in an oil spill). The other activity
included powerheads that created a current in a bin filled with water, while oil was
slowly poured into it. The students talked about how they could explain the properties
of oil transport to younger students, and even add insight on oceanographic processes
as well.
CWC Workshop with SUNO (4/12/2013)- Southern University students along with
microbiology professor, Dr. Illya Tietzel, travelled along the Terrebonne Bay in the R/V
Acadiana to gain experience aboard a research vessel, learn about coastal processes,
trawl, and classify different organisms. Afterwards, students dissected fish in a
LUMCON laboratory and enjoyed discussions about the impacts of oil contamination.
CWC Activity at LUMCON Open House Event (4/13/2013)- Children participated in a
science experiment in which they created polluted water and then contributed to the
reclamation process. Each participant added food coloring to faucet water to create
their ‘oil contaminated water’. The next steps included adding dispersant (i.e., diluted
bleach), microbes (i.e., Alka-Seltzer), and filtering the final product to remove any
precipitate (i.e., excess microbial biomass). The end result included a clear parcel of
water, almost to the same extent before the children added the food coloring.