JOURNAL #2: "JANUARY 4, 2013 SOUTH POLE WEBCAST WITH CLASS 621 AT MS31"

The first collaboration I had with my researcher, Dr. Jim Madsen was signing up my class 621 made up of bilingual 6th grade students, mostly from Dominican Republic, Mexicp and Ecuador, to participate in the Wisconsin Ice Cube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC) South Pole webcast, on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at 2pm Eastern Daylight Saving time. I must confess I was a little nervous at first, but everything turned out just fine. After receiving confirmation from Megan Madsen, WIPAC's Education Outreach Coordinator, I secured the classroom period, one week ahead with my co-teacher Ms.Martinez-Rios, as well as any necessary equipment with Mr. Sanchez, our Technology Coordinator. Next, I set up the day before the equipment I needed to participate in the webcast and downloaded a free program called WEBEX. The period of class prior to the South Pole webcast I went over rules and student expectations for the webcast, as well as discussing the topic of Neutrinos with them. I had asked Mr. Sanchez to let me use his Mac laptop to guarantee that the transmission went as smooth as possible. Right before the start of the webcast: yikes! the high tech Mac was not letting me login into the WEBEX website. On quick thinking I switched my old and trusty Dell and lo and behold! We got instant connection. No video was available, but we could hear the sound loud and clear. We spoke to scientists; heard students from Lima, Peru and other classes in the US asking questions, and my class 621 was able to ask a couple of questions to the researchers about Neutrinos and why is it important to study them.  How cool was that: Bilingual kids from Washington Heights interacting with scientists and students from other states and countries using web-based technology. Overall the students were thrilled to be part of a webcast and thus began the excitement amongst in my school about the Ice Cube Neutrino project!

TIPS FOR CLASSROOM WEBCASTS 

Equipment needed**

*Computer with Internet access.

*LCD Projector.

*Microphone (the built-into the computer is good enough).

*Set of External Speakers (so your classroom audience can hear the audio part clearly).

* An optional Webcam (audio is primarily used with even low bandwith)

Always register and secure classroom time and space ahead (2-3 weeks). Involve your colleagues: get assistance from your school Tech Coordinator to have all necessary equipment. Do not leave it to the last minute. Check that the equipment works (LCD projector, speakers, Internet) and have a plan B, a second computer and worst come to worst using your cell phone Make sure to get the audio conference number and access code. Get the webcast moderator cell phone number just in case you cannot access the conference phone number. I believe these webcast experience will come in handy for the Real- Time PolarConnect Events I will be implementing pretty soon from the field. 

DIARIO No 2: "4 de Enero,2013 Transmision desde el Polo Sur via Internet con la Clase 621 de la Escuela  MS31"

La primera colaboración que tuve con mi Cientifico Principal, el Dr. Jim Madsen, fue la de inscribir a mi clase 621 bilingüe de 6o grado, cuyos estudiantes son en su mayoría de la República Dominicana, Mexicp y Ecuador, para participar en la transmision de una conferencia via Internet o Webcast del Wisconsin Ice Cube Centro Astrofísico de Partículas (WIPAC) desde el Polo Sur, el miércoles 19 de Diciembre, 2012, a las 2 de la tarde (horario del Este de Invierno). Debo confesar que estaba un poco nervioso al principio, pero todo salio bien. Después de recibir la confirmación de Megan Madsen, la coordinadora de Educación deWIPAC ,logre coordinar el uso del salon de clases, una semana antes con mi co-maestra La Sra. Martinez-Rios , así como cualquier equipo necesario con el Sr. Sánchez, nuestro Coordinador de Tecnología. Luego el día antes me asegure de tener el equipo que necesitaba para participar en la web y descargar un programa gratuito llamado WEBEX. En el período antes de la transmision del Polo Sur repase las normas y expectativas del alumnado para participar en la transmision web, así como discutir el tema de los neutrinos con ellos. Yo había pedido el Sr. Sánchez que me dejara utilizar su Mac portátil para garantizar que la transmisión fuera lo más suave posible. Justo antes del inicio de la transmision: ¡Oh no! La  Mac no me permite iniciar la  sesión en el sitio web Webex. Con rapidez me cambié a mi vieja y fiel Dell y Voilaí! Tenemos conexión instantánea. No habia vídeo disponible, pero pudimos oír el sonido claramente. Hablamos con los científicos; se escuchó  estudiantes de Lima, Perú y otras clases de los ESTADOS UNIDOS hacer preguntas, y mi clase 621 fue capaz de hacerle un par de preguntas a los investigadores sobre los neutrinos y por qué es importante su estudio. Lo mas impresionante para mi fue que los chicos bilingües de Washington Heights pudieron interactuar con científicos y con estudiantes de otros estados y países con la tecnología basada en el Internet. En general, los alumnos estaban encantados de ser parte de la actividad. y así comenzó la emoción  en mi escuela sobre el proyecto Neutrino Cubo de Hielo!

 CONSEJOS PARA TRANSMISIONES VIA INTERNET EN EL AULA

 Equipo necesario

*Computador con acceso al Internet.

* Proyector LCD.

* Micrófono (la que esta incorporada en el computador es suficiente).

* Conjunto de altavoces externos (para que su audiencia pueda escuchar el audio claramente).

* Una cámara web opcional (el audio se utiliza principalmente con Internet de alta velocidad)

Siempre se aconseja reservar y asegurar el tiempo y el espacio en el aula (2-3 semanas).  A sus compañeros: obtener asistencia del Coordinador Técnologico de la escuela  para tener todo el equipo necesario. No deje nada para el último minuto. Compruebe que el equipo funciona (proyector LCD, altavoces, Internet) y tener un plan B, un segundo equipo y como ultimo recurso con el teléfono móvil, y asegúrese de obtener el número de conferencia de audio y un código de acceso. Es importante tener el número de teléfono celular del moderador en el caso de que usted no pueda acceder al número de teléfono de la conferencia. Yo creo que estos webcast o conferencias via Internet seran una experiencia útil para cuando me toque transmitir via conferencia en Tiempo Real PolarConnect los eventos a los que me pondrá en práctica muy pronto desde el campo como parte de mi expedicion al Polo Sur.

A Dominican Teacher in Antarctica/ Un maestro dominicano en la Antartida

Hi and welcome to my new PolarTREC Antarctica Ice Cube Expedition Page! The purpose of this blog is to share with my students, teachers, administrators, parents, family members, neighbors and everyone my new adventures as part of the PolarTREC 2013-2014 scientific expedition to the South Pole, Antarctica. Last December 2012, I was selected among hundreds of teachers to participate in this awesome and exciting Teacher Research Experience. PolarTREC, which means "Polar Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating" is part of the ARCUS (Artic Research Consortium of the United States) and send teachers with the goal of promoting polar science education and understanding to students in US schools by bringing k-12 educators and researchers together. I will be joining Dr. Jim Madsen and his team of scientists and researchers from the University of Wisconsin in the Ice Cube Telescope project, studying Neutrinos from outer space. Neutrinos are subatomic particles that travel through space, and using the Ice Cube telescope they can be study as they penetrate Earth's atmosphere and get trapped in the ice. My adventure will take me from my neighborhood school M319 Maria Teresa Mirabal middle school in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City to Australia, and New Zealand via commercial flight, and to the South Pole, Antarctica via military plane. Once there I will spend 3 weeks on the ice working side by side with the field crew of the Ice Cube project. You will be able to experience my adventures through pictures, and journal entries that I will post weekly on this blog.Please come back as often as you want so you can read my posts, see pictures and feel free to interact by writing a comment or just say hi.I hope to share with you the wildlife and the landscape of Antarctica with you. Sincerely: Obed Fulcar POLARTREC Teacher 2013-2013
P.S: You can also check my PolarTREC Expedition Journal Page at:
 http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/ice-cube-neutrino-observatory-2013/journals/2012-12-19

Bienvenido a mi nuevo blog PolarTREC Ice Cube Expedición Antártida! El propósito de este blog es compartir con mis estudiantes, maestros, administradores, padres, familiares, vecinos y todos mis amigos mis nuevas aventuras en el marco de la expedición científica al Polo Sur PolarTREC 2013-2014 , en la Antártida, Polo Sur. En diciembre del 2012, fui seleccionado entre cientos de maestros a participar en esta experiencia docente y de nvestigación tan impresionante y emocionante. PolarTREC, que significa "Profesores e Investigadores Polares Explorando y Colaborando" es parte de la ARCUS (Consorcio de Investigación del Ártico de los Estados Unidos) y envia a profesores con el objetivo de promover la enseñanza y comprensión de la ciencia polar  a los estudiantes en las escuelas de Estados Unidos trayendo educadores de K a12 grado e investigadores polares juntos. Voy a unirme al Dr. Jim Madsen y a su equipo de científicos e investigadores de la Universidad de Wisconsin en el Proyecto Telescopio Cubo de Hielo,  estudiando los neutrinos que vienen desde el espacio exterior. Los neutrinos son partículas subatómicas que viajan a través del espacio, y usando el telescopio del cubo de hielo que pueden ser  estudiados a medida que penetran la atmósfera terrestre y se quedan atrapados en el hielo. Mi aventura me llevará de mi escuela intermedia Maria Teresa Mirabal MS319 del vecindario en Washington Heights, Manhattan, en la Ciudad de Nueva York para Australia y Nueva Zelandia a través de vuelos comerciales, y hasta el Polo Sur, en la Antártida en avión militar. Una vez allí voy a pasar 3 semanas en el hielo antartido trabajando codo a codo con el equipo de campo del proyecto Cubo de Hielo. Podras experimentar mis aventuras a través de imágenes, y las entradas de diario que voy a publicar semanalmente en este blog.Please volver tantas veces como desee para que pueda leer mis mensajes, ver fotos y no dude en interactuar escribiendo un comentario o simplemente para saludar. Sincerely/Sinceramente: Obed Fulcar Maestro POLARTREC 2013-2013
P.D: Puedes chequear mi pagina bilingue de la Expedicion en: http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/ice-cube-neutrino-observatory-2013/journals/2012-12-19 

Trying cold gear for Antarctica Expedition, at Fairbanks, Alaska, near the Arctic Circle in the North/Probandome la ropa termica para mi expedicon al Polo Sur, Antartida, en Fairbanks, Alaska, cerca del Circulo Artico. Mar/2013

Mr.Fulcar NASA Space Camp Turkey: NASA Space Camp Turkey/Campamento Spacial NASA Tur...

Mr.Fulcar NASA Space Camp Turkey: NASA Space Camp Turkey/Campamento Spacial NASA Tur...: Welcome to my NASA/CAS Space Camp Turkey Blog! Bienvenidos a mi Blog de NASA/CAS Campamento Espacial Turquia! Hi my name is Obed Fulcar, bu...

"Land Ho!Back to Dutch Harbor" Tierra a la Vista! De vuelta en Dutch

Teacher Log#10

NOAA Teacher at Sea:Obed Fulcar

NOAA Ship:Oscar Dyson

Mission:Summer Pollock Survey III

Geographic Area:Bering Sea, Alaska

Date: August 7, 2010

Today at 0600 am we finally made it back to Dutch Harbor. We arrived yesterday at the Island of Unalaska, where "Dutch" is located, but we were on the other side of the island, performing a Callibration (adjustment or fine tunning) of the acoustic sonnar. The ship came to a complete stop, and using shiny metal spheres, tied to lines that were dropped on both sides and under the ship, a "ping" or sound wave was done for fine adjustment. Callibrations are done several times a year in order to for the Sonar to work accurately. The crew took advantage of the ship been anchored to do some fishing for Halibut fish, but the catch was mostly of Cod fish. We also went out on a boat ride on the Peggy D speed boat, named after Oscar Dyson's wife, around nearby bays and inlets, where we saw wildlife like sea otters and Puffin seabirds. Later on the day I was able to see where this sensitive piece of high technology was located when my good friend Robert, 2nd Engineer of the Oscar Dyson, gave a last tour of the "bowels of the beast". We went through several hatches and steps down to the lowest decks of the ship, where Robert explained the many pieces of heavy duty equipment and machinery that kept the ship on the move. First we put on Ear Muffs, because the noice level was too high (again safety first) and then we went to see the giant forward thruster in charge of moving the ship left or right, followed by even larger and louder machines: the ship's four Caterpillar Diesel Engines. These enormous and heavy duty machines were connected to large generators that 24 hours a day supplied the electricity needed to run all of the ship's electronic systems. Next we checked out another room containing the large Wastewater Treatment tank, in charge of treating all the grey water or waste water from toilets, showers, and sinks of the ship. The tank utilized a biological process where bacteria broke down all the waste, then the resulting water was treated with with a combination of chemicals and Ultra Violet (UV) light to kill any germs before being safely released into the ocean. Finally he showed me the Disalinization Plant in charge of producing up to 1,500 gallons of freshwater by Evaporation or boiling of the saltwater and then through Condensation, where the water vapor is then separate from the salt and then be collected for human consumption. Also was able to see the darn Sonar acoustic antenna at the very bottom of the ship. I was amazed at the sustainability of the Oscar Dyson and how strict were NOAA's rules concerning reduction of pollution of the oceans. After thanking Robert and the crew it was time to say goodbye to the Oscar Dyson and to all my new friends that I made during the Summer Pollock cruise. I leave with a lot of memories, a wealth of experience and resources that I hope will have an enormous impact in my students when the new school year starts in September. I know it already have made an impact not only in my students, but in my family,friends and colleagues who had followed my adventures in my Blog these past 3 weeks. I wanted to thank CO Mike Halshyk, XO Sarah Duncan, and NOAA Corps Officers Ensign Russel Pate, Ensign Amber Payne and Ensign David Rodziewicz for their diligence in taking care of us, the scientitsts on board for their patience and wealth of knowledge, as well as all the crew of the Oscar Dyson for feeding me, teaching me about life at sea, and for bringings us back safe and in one piece. I also wanted to thank Elizabeth McMahon, Elizabeth Bullock , and Jennifer Hammond from NOAA for taking care of everything, and to my fellow Teacher at Sea Story Miller. You can check out her blog http://storymillernoaa2010.blogspot.com/

Hoy temprano a las 0600 am horas finalmente llegamos de vuelta a Dutch Harbor! Desde el dia de ayer habiamos estado anclados en la isla de Unalaska, al extremo opuesto de Dutch Harbor. La tripulacion y los cientificos estaban practicando una Calibracion del sonar acustico, usando unas esferas metalicas, con el fin de ajustar las lecturas de este sofisticado instrumento electronico. Estas esferas estaban atadas a unas cuerdas finas de un lado a otro del barco (de Babor a Estribor), y con un "ping" del sonar estas eran grabadas en el monitor. Tambien fuimos en un paseo por las bahias y ensenadas cercanas en la lancha rapida "Peggy D" nombrada en honor a la esposa de Oscar Dyson, Estuvimos admirando el increible panorama de la isla de Unalaska y su vida silvestre como las Nutrias Marinas y las aves marinas Puffin. Luego en la tarde mi buen amigo Robert, 2do Ingeniero de maquinarias del Oscar Dyson, me dio un tour de la barriga del barco. Armados de linternas y de protectores de oido, debido al alto ruido de las maquinarias. Bajamos bajo cubierta por varias compuertas y escalinatas que nos llevaron primero a visitar el cuarto del Propulsor de proa, usado para darle vuelta al barco. Luego fuimos a ver los enormes Generadores de gasoil Caterpilar usados para producir la energia necesaria para mover todos los equipos electronicos abordo del Oscar Dyson 24 horas al dia. Despues fuimos a otro cuarto conteniendo el Tanque de Tratamiento de Aguas Negras de la nave donde toda el agua de desecho de inodoros y lavaderos de cocina, utilizando un proceso biologico donde bacteria descompone el desecho en el agua. Despues el agua pasaba por una lampara de Rayos Ultravioleta para matar todo germen patogeno, para ser luego descargada inofensivamente en el mar. Finalmente visitamos la maquinaria que mas me interesaba ver: la Planta Desalinizadora de Agua que estaba a cargo de producir 1,200 galones de agua potable usando agua salada del mar. Por medio de un proceso de Evaporacion la sal era separada del agua de mar, y por medio de Condensacion el agua potable es recuperada para consumo humano en el barco. Me sorprendio mucho la sostenibilidad del Oscar Dyson, donde los desechos son reciclados pues en NOAA son muy estrictos con que ninguna basura solida alcanze el mar, lo cual esta prohibido por ley. Es increible que todavia hoy en dia naves comerciales y cruceros de lujo lanzen sus desechos de aguas negras y basura al mar. Despues de darle las gracias a Robert llego la hora de decir adios al Oscar Dyson y a su tripulacion que fue mi hogar y mi familia por 3 semanas de mi vida en este verano 2010. Me marcho con muchos recuerdos y conocimientos que no solamente impactaran mis estudiantes en Septiembre sino que ya han hecho un impacto positivo. Le agradesco a todo el personal de NOAA, asi como al Oficial Comandante Mike Helshyck, Oficial Ejecutivo Sarah Duncan y demas oficiales, asi como a todo el personal de abordo por haberme adoptado y compartido tantas informaciones durante el Crucero de Pollock. Tambien le agradesco mucho a todos los cientificos abordo asi como a la Maestra en el Mar, mi colega educadora de Dutch Harbor Story Miller por su ayuda y consejos. Pueden tambien chequear su blog en http://storymillernoaa2010.blogspot.com/

"Camera Trawl to ROV" De Camaras Aquaticas a Robots

TEACHER LOG#9
NOAA Teacher at Sea: Obed Fulcar
NOAA Ship:Oscar Dyson
Mission:Summer Pollock Survey III
Geographical Area:Bering Sea
Date:Friday, July 30, 2010

Weather from the Bridge:
Time:11:47 am
Latitude:58.47 North
Longitude:178 West
Wind Speed:2.9 knots
Wind Direction:270 West
Sea Temperature:9.7 C (49.46 F)
Air Temperature:7.2 C (44.96 F)
Barometric Pressure:1008 millibars
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LOG:
During this cruise the tech crew has been very busy working on getting to work the prototype for a new Camera Trawl. This new camera array is designed to be deployed independently from the trawl and able to take pictures and footage of the fish down below. The pictures then can be analyzed to determine if the size of the Pollock is the rights one, thus reducing the need to launch the trawl net unnecessarily. So far the camera has not worked as expected and the team has done countless adjustments to it. They suspect that there is a bug in the software causing the problems. This is an example of how technology has to be tested many times in labs and in the field in order to become available for use. I always tell students in the class that many of the technology that we use today, such as cell phones, laptop computers, flat screen TVs, and even microwaves, we owe it to the scientists and technicians that developed them originally for the astronauts in the aerospace program.
PERSONAL LOG:
Coming to the ship on this cruise I was very excited because I had seen on the Oscar Dyson website pictures of an ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) underwater robot been deployed, and was really looking forward to see it in action. I was a little disappointed when I learned that the ROV was not on board, because it was part of a test done the year before. This gave me the inspiration to implement in September a technology project i have been meaning to do with my students:to build a student ROV, using NOAA's "Rov in a bucket" activity. The students will incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering) as part of the process of learning to design, create, and build the ROV. This project will be built during/after school and once assembled and operational it can be used to broadcast pictures or even underwater footage. We could use it during our community events on the Harlem River to create awareness amongst residents that the river is cleaner than ever, and that many aquatic species inhabit the waters.
"Camaras Aquaticas a Robot Sumergibles"
Durante todo el crucero los tecnicos de la nave han estado muy ocupados en hacer funcionar una Camara Sumergible, que a diferencia de la Camara de Arrastre, que se lanza junto a la red para tomar fotos, esta tomaria fotos y video de los peces a diferentes profundidades sin necesidad de tener que lanzar la red de arrastre. El beneficio seria que esta camara usaria un programa especial que permitiria analizar en tiempo real las dimensiones de el tipo de pez expecifico. El personal tecnico realizo incontables ajustes, sin ningun exito hasta el momento. Se cree que es un malfuncionamiento del program de computadora. Este es un ejemplo de como la tecnologia es probada y examinada tanto en el laboratorio com en el campo antes de estar disponible al publico. Siempre le digo a los estudiantes que mucha de la tecnologia que usamos como el telefono celular, el microndas, y el ordenador laptop, han sido fruto de la investigacion del program aeroespacial para los astronautas. Antes de yo venir al Oscar Dyson estaba muy entusiasmado en poder ver en accion al robot sumergible ROV, o Vehiculo de Control Remoto, que yo habia visto en fotos del website. El desencanto que recibi cuando me dijeron que el ROV no estaba abordo, y que las fotos eran de una vieja mision, no fue poco. Esto me ha inspirado a en Septiembre a hacer un proyecto de STEM (Ciencia, Tecnologia, Ingenieria y Matematicas), donde los estudiantes armaran un ROV sumergible. ellos usaran estrategias similares a las que usan los technicos y cientificos en la creacion de un robot. El ROV tendra la capacidad de tomar fotos y video bajo el agua, y posiblemente ser usado en exhibiciones ambientales de la comunidad.

"An International Collaboration" Una Cooperacion Internacional

TEACHER LOG#8
NOAA Teacher at Sea: Obed Fulcar
NOAA SHIP:Oscar Dyson
Mission:Summer Pollock Survey III
Geographical Area:Bering Sea
Date:Thursday, July 29, 2010

Weather from the Bridge:
Time:05:56 am
Latitude:61.05 N
Longitude:178.51 W
Wind Direction: 300 N
Wind Speed:12.5 knots
Sea Temperature:8.0 C (46.4 F)
Air Temperature:9.5 C (49.10 F)
Barometric Pressure:1008 mb
Foggy Skies
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LOG:
Wednesday, July 28: after a cloudy and foggy day, (Picture of a ship on Russian waters)the weather finally changed and the afternoon became sunny and clear, very pleasant to be on deck. For the past several days we have been navigating in the Russian territorial waters of the Bering Sea, for which we have permission, as testified by a letter in Russian posted on the bridge. Alaska used to be a possession of Russia, until October 18, 1867 it became a territory of the United States. We can still see Russian Orthodox churches still open today in some islands of Alaska. Pretty soon the direction of the current transect or line course, will bring us as close as 12.6 miles from land. At one point we were close to 14 miles off Cape Navarin, but there was fog in the distance and without notice the beautiful afternoon disappeared and I was not able to see Russia. Later on during the afternoon trawl, while sorting the catch of Pollock, a big fish came out on the conveyor:it was a Chum Salmon or Dog fish" said Dr. Mikhail Stepanenko, a Russian scientists working with his colleague Elena Gritsay, from the Vladivostok School of Fisheries, collaborating in the Walleye Pollock survey.to help improve the management of Russian fisheries. According to Mikhail it was most likely that the chum salmon had been born in Japanese waters, and had migrated to spawn near Cape Navarin. After I measured it then I dissected the fish to see if it was male or female. The organs were slightly different in size and location than the Pollock, but basically the same. The pillora seca was very large, engulfing the long stomach and liver, and the kidneys were right behind the swim bladder. The presence of an organ called gonads or testes confirmed that it was a male. I tried to locate the otolith, for my classroom collection bu could not locate it. There was also a very interesting fish in the catch: a Toad Lump sucker, a very cute looking fish that resembled a blow fish because it was swollen like a balloon. It had a suction orifice in the underbelly too.

Animals Seen Today:
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Toad Lump sucker (Eumicrotemus phrynoides)
Vocabulary:
Cape Navarin, Gonads, Pillora Seca, Orthodox, Swim Bladder

PERSONAL LOG:
I noticed that in this cruise there is an atmosphere of professional collaboration between scientists and the crew. There is also a sense of collegiate amongst all the scientists working on board the Oscar Dyson. The Pollock Survey is the primary mission, but there are other parallel missions going on: the seabird survey, done by Marty and Liz, and the marine mammal survey, done by Patty, Paula, and Ernesto. To do research on the Bering Sea is very challenging due to the remote locations, and the storms, winds, large waves, and extreme weather. The need for oceangoing vessels to work in these extreme conditions makes it very expensive, so when ships like the Oscar Dyson are deployed, different missions are planned to "piggyback" along. I was very impressed by the international collaboration in the mission, with the two Russian scientists on board conducting research on the Pollock fisheries, since part of the transects done by the Oscar Dyson covered Russian territorial waters as well. The fact the one Mexican scientist, a Filipino cook, and a Dominican teacher at sea were part of this cruise added more countries to the mission. Just like us, fish travel in different waters, local and international, and they too are citizens of the world's oceans. I wanted to commend NOAA's administration for providing career opportunities to minorities, Latinos, and women to work as scientists, technicians, Corps officers, and crew.
"Una Cooperacion Internacional" Durante todo el trayecto de este crucero de Monitoreo del Pollock he notado un ambiente de profesionalismo entre el personal cientifico y la tripulacion, asi tambien como un ambiente de colegiatura enter los diferentes cientificos trabajando a bordo del Oscar Dyson. La mision primaria es el Monitoreo del Pollock, pero a su vez hay otras misiones paralelas a la mision principal, como son el Estudio de las Aves Marinas,por Liz y Marty, asi como el Estudio de los Mamiferos Marinos, por Patty,Paula, y Ernesto. Hay que entender que hacer investigacion cientifica en el Estrecho de Bering es una tarea logistica complicada por lo remoto del lugar, lo extremo del clima, asi como gigantescas olas. Solo se pueden usar barcos de navegacion oceanica que son muy costosos, por lo que cuando embarcaciones como el Oscar Dyson son lanzadas, multiples misiones son planeadas al mismo tiempo tambien. Me llamo mucho la atencion la cooperacion internacional, especialmente los dos cientificos rusos a bordo, que tambien relizaban estudios del Pollock, lo cual tiene mucho sentido, debido a que gran parte de la investigacion cubria aguas territoriales rusas. El hecho de que un biologo Mexicano, un filipino (Ray el cocinero), y un Maestro en el Mar dominicano tambien forman parte de este crucero le agregan mas paises a la mision. Yo quiero felicitar a la administracion de NOAA por proveer oportunidades de carreras profesionales tanto a minorias, como a Latinos, y a mujeres para trabajar como cientificos, tecnicos, Cuerpo de Oficiales o como tripulantes. Yo creo que esto es un gran incentivo para que mas jovenes estudiantes de escuela intermedia y secundaria puedan perseguir carreras profesioanles en Conservacion Ambiental.

"Trawling in the High Seas" Echando La Red en Alta Mar

TEACHER LOG#7

NOAA Teacher at Sea: Obed Fulcar

NOAA Ship: Oscar Dyson

Mission:Summer Pollock Survey III

Geographical Area:Bering Sea

Date:Wednesday, July 28, 2010



Weather from the Bridge:

Time:04:42 am

Latitude:61.04 North

Longitude:178.06 West

Wind Speed:10.74 knots

Wind Direction:50 degrees North

Sea Temperature:8.99 C (48.02 F)

Air Temperature:8.2 C (46.76 F)

Barometric Pressure: 1010.1 millibars

Cloudy Skies



SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOG:

Friday, July 23: The Walleye Pollock survey has been conducted since 1979, every summer by MACE (Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering) part of the Alaska Fisheries Science center (AFSC). The sea was quite calm compared to the last days, giving us a break from sea sickness. The other day I missed the trawl, but I will not today. As soon as we saw the fish in the Acoustic sonar screens I knew it was trawling time, so I ran up to the bridge to witness the whole thing. The started deploying an Aleutian Wind Trawler or AWT net that was attached to a giant winch with huge ropes and chains. The long net had a front orange section with smaller openings compared to the back. I was invited to come to deck by deckhand Buddy Gould. He is a veteran New england fisherman from Rhode Island, now living in Florida. I asked permission from Commanding Officer CO Mike Hashlyck , and went on deck wearing a PFD, and a hard hat. After trawling the net behind the ship for what felt like an eternity, it was finally hauled back, the catch of Pollock was then spilled into a box leading to the wet lab for slicing and dicing. I went inside an put on rain boots, a plastic jacket and a jumpsuit, plus elbow high plastic glove and got down to slice and measure Pollock. While sorting out the fish we found a Pacific Flounder and a Rock sole fish, both flat bottom fish. For the next several days while conducting the survey, I kept dissecting the content of the stomachs of everal fish to find out what they have been eating. I learned that the main diet of Pollock was made up of animal plankton called Euphasiids, also known as krill. These small organisms are arthropods or segmented invertebrates (without internal skeleton), and just like shrimps, and crabs, their bodies are covered by an exoskeleton or shell, with paired antennae, pincers, and legs. They were present in the stomach of all the specimens in a pink color mass. There was one large maturity level 4/5 Pollock that when I opened its stomach, a large Northen Pacific shrimp came out of it. Then in later catches I observed that all the stomachs were very dark-blue looking. When I opened the stomach of one fish there was a dark purple mass of another arthropod called Pelagic amphipods, or sea fleas. Amphipods swim drifting in the water column and are larger than euphasiids or krill, wich instead formed massive swarms swimming at great depths by day but heading to suface by night. I was able to witness this pattern when once the echogram from the acoustic radar showed a swarm of krill drifting from the surface to the bottom as the sun was rising.

Animal Species observed:

Arrowtooth Flounder (Atheresthes stomias), Northern Rock Sole fish (Lepidopsetta polyxystra), Northern Pacifi Shrimp

VOCABULARY: Amphipods, Arthropods, Ecograms, Euphasiids, Exoskeleton, Invertebrates, Krill

PERSONAL LOG:I realized that this tiny organism (the krill) is crucial for the survival not only of many animals in the ocean, but ultimately of us humans. We have historically harvested the rich waters of the Bering Sea for food, and most recently as a source of cheap protein to feed cattle and even pets. Disasters such as the recent massive oil spill from the tracgic explosion of the Deep Horizon oil platform, own by giant multinational BP, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska during the 80's are examples of how fragile the marine ecosystem is. But the number one threat to ocean fisheries is actually overfishing exploitation of the ocean resources. I heard stories about the foreign fleets that come to Russian waters and overfish with impunity, while at the same time processing, canning, and packing all their catch aboard their ships, taking it all back to their countries, without sharing any jobs opportunities with the local communities. Historically local fishing fleets have fished sustainably, bringing back to local ports the catch, allowing canneries, and fish markets to also benefit from it. We have to spread the word about this injustice and begin to question our own habits, to see what can we change in our consumption that will have a positive impact in this urgent matter.

"Echando la Red en Alta Mar" El mareo de ayer no me permitio participar en la pesca del Pollock, pero no hoy! Tan pronto me entere, subi al puente para observar lo todo. Mi buen amigo del personal de cubierta, Buddy Gould pescador de Rhode Island radicado en la Florida, me invito a bajar a cubierta. Despues de ahbe asegurado permiso del Oficial Comandante Mike Holshyck, baje a la cubierta con chaleco flotador y casco de seguridad a cuestas. La anaranjada Red de Arrastre fue lanzada al mar por unos gigantescos rollos de cables y cadenas pesadas. Luego de lo que parecio una eternidad, la red fue traida a bordo y la pesca fue depositada en una rampa en la cubierta por una grua pesada. Yo fui adentro rapidamente y me vesti con guantes, poncho, pantalones, y botas de plastico y me puse las manos a la obra: a picar los pescados! Durante el proceso note que los estomagos de los pescados cambiaron de color rosado a color purpura. El contenido de los estomagos incluia un plankton-animal llamado Euphasiid o Krill, un artropodo (invertebrados parecidos al camaron y el cangrejo), asi como otro llamado Amphipods, los cuales constituyen la dieta primaria de especies de peces como el Pollock, y el Salmon, asi como de las ballenas jorobadas. El krill no solo es primordial para estas especies marinas sino para la raza humana, que depende de las reservas alimenticias del Estrecho de Bering como gran fuente de proteina. Es lamentable que este fragil recurso natural no sea celosamente cuidado, cuando vemos como el desastre del derrame de la Plataforma Petrolera Deep Horizon en el Golfo de Mexico, y en los 80's del Exxon Valdez en Alaska, puede facilmente hacer desaparecer la pesqueria. Pero el enemigo numero uno de este recurso natural es realmente la pesca desmedida por parte de flotas pequeras extranjeras que viene a las aguas del Estrecho de Bering, pescando indiscriminadamente. Estos barcos no solo pescan, si no que procesan y empaquetan todo a bordo sin dejar si quiera oportunidad a las comunidades locales de participar del beneficio sostenido. Tenemos que hacer eco de esta injusticia y autoanalizar nuestros habitos a fin de ver que podemos cambiar para poder hacer un impacto positivo.