Hazy, Summer Days
Science Institutes explore at the beach
Chelsea Overs, Mary Jack and Kristin Curtis

She's proud of her mole crab.

With four buses full of zealous Science Institute students, a day at the beach was a welcome change from the classroom. After spending the previous day studying Marine Biology and the nature of water species, members were able to dive into a hands-on experience exploring and identifying Onslow beach’s aquatic life.

Science Institute member and rising freshman at Jacksonville High, Anna Thomas stated, “My favorite part of the trip to the beach was the ocean search and discovery, it gave me a chance to recognize the importance of our oceans wildlife.”
Students were given a chance to use several instruments to identify the species they found throughout the day. Using aqua scopes, fishnets and sifters a variety of species were more closely examined by members of the institute. As one of the first hands-on experiments the overall morale of the science institute participants was positive.

She's sieving by the seashore.

Institute member and rising White Oak freshman Aaron Smith said, “The trip to the beach gave me much enthusiasm for the days to come. This opportunity is giving me something positive from the summer.”

Sounds of Life
Nicola Chernetski, Rachel Christian, and Kristin Curtis

On the morning of June 7th, 2005, the Science Institute trudged through Maritime Forest and made their way to a sound in the inter-coastal waterway. Students spent several hours in the water collecting specimens.

Students found animals such as oysters, shrimp, pipefish, and pinfish, which are cousins to the seahorse. Kristopher Jammer, a rising freshman from Southwest High School, found a filefish and pinfish in the sound.

After completion of the first exercise, students walked back to the parking lot where they were presented with fossils of starfish, sea urchins, crabs, and sturgeon. Students discussed classification of families of the remains of marine life. There they learned if animals were pore bearing, the smell they excreted, and their distinctive qualities.

Led by Daniel Norris, who achieved his masters at Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina (Wilmington), University of Guam, and North Carolina State University, set up a table cluttered with a mass of marine science discoveries for the students to observe.

Norris, a Cape Fear Community College professor, stated: “If you’re interested in the world around you some of the most impactful things are the living creatures around us.”