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Nuweetooun School students learn about Narragansett Bay as part of Sea Grant Diversity InitiativeThis spring, Rhode Island Sea Grant hosted students from The Nuweetooun School at the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum in Exeter, as part of its Diversity Initiative. Padma Venkatraman, URI coordinator for graduate diversity, arranged for the students to attend the NOAA broadcast that the URI Graduate School of Oceanography's Office of Marine Programs (OMP) makes available to Rhode Island schools and the public. The students were able to participate in a live broadcast hosted by Robert Ballard, URI oceanographer, featuring the undersea exploration of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. The students also enjoyed an interpretive program, “Rhode Island Seashores,” by George Klein, OMP marine educator. Klein brought buckets with a variety of Bay creatures, including lobsters, stone crabs, and sea stars. He described plankton and its vital role in the ecosystem. “The stuff you can't even see plays one of the biggest roles that sustains the marine environment and consequently us,” Klein said. He discussed one of the more common and visible types of fisheries in the state—lobstering—and demonstrated how a lobster trap works and some of the tools of the trade. Next, Klein delved into the natural history and biology of the animals themselves, focusing on conservation with the live animals. Students also examined many different types of shellfish from local waters, from mussels to steamers, which interested many of the students who liked to eat shellfish. Klein also showed the students a variety of crabs, beginning with the invasive species, the Japanese shore crab. This is a natural bridge that allows students to see an invasive species first hand, and gets them to start wondering how a crab traveled half way around the world to end up in Narragansett Bay. “The asian crab was really, really, really awesome because it walked sideways. I also like the colors on it,” said Laurel Spears, a student at Nuweetooun School. Klein also showed the students a rock crab, which is a native species and important in the commercial fishing industry. Periwinkles are the most common snail locally, and Klein showed the students how to have them emerge from their shells by holding them gently. This brought a lot of giggles from the students. The grand finale was none other than the lobster, which the students particularly enjoyed seeing. “What I always like to stress is how important it is to conserve these animals, and consequently, the environment in which they live. Concepts of stewardship, respect, reverence. Stuff like that. I think it provides for a more enriching experience, more than just a funky show and tell, if the kids can come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world around them,” Klein said. In May, Venkatraman hosted some of the older students for a workshop on the chemistry of the oceans, with an interactive question and answer session and experiments in separating chemicals. And in June, Rhode Island Sea Grant sponsored another visit from the Nuweetooun School in which students visied the rocky shore of Jamestown at Fort Getty with Klein. “We are interested in examining new relationships with the Narragansett Indian Tribal Nation in research, outreach, extension, and education,” said Barry Costa-Pierce, Rhode Island Sea Grant director, who added that Rhode Island Sea Grant is committed to promoting diversity. For more information on the education programs offered by the OMP, visit their website at omp.gso.uri.edu. —Heather Rhodes |
Rhode
Island Sea Grant |
Coastal Institute |