Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2015 - (Page 16)

Diving into Marine Science by JD Langert M ALL PHOTOS ON THESE PAGES COURTESY OF PROECT SMART y interest in science was sparked by a unique person I met in my taekwondo class when I was 12 years old. Sensei Kathy Holcomb was a thirddegree black belt whose dedicated, no-nonsense personality appealed to me. Over time, I found that we shared many of the same opinions and interests. As a lab analyst for the City of Ketchikan Wastewater facility, Sensei works to ensure that the city stays in compliance with the Clean Water Act. Her job is essential to the city not only because of the health and environmental ramifications, but also because a violation could cost Ketchikan up to $37,500 a day in fines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. I loved Sensei's stories about going out on her boat to collect water samples that she would then analyze in the lab. Her enthusiasm for her work sparked an interest in me that I hadn't known existed. When I was 15, I signed up to take Chemistry I at school. My teacher, Mr. Powell, nurtured my curiosity by answering my questions on everything from chemical equations to molecular theory. With his encouragement, I quickly became immersed in the labs and the process of data collection. An Amazing Opportunity Around the same time, my guidance counselor told me about a summer science program at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). The fourweek program, Science and Mathematics Achievement through Research Training (Project SMART), offers three modules: Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Space Science, and-the one that got my attention-Marine and Environmental Science. The program focuses on environmental issues in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Students explore the ecology of estuaries and stream systems and learn about issues such as water resource management and global climate change. It sounded great, but there was one problem: funds. Without the necessary financial aid, no matter how much I wanted to go, it wouldn't be possible. I applied for a scholarship and was elated and grateful to receive the funding I needed to attend the program. In early July, my suitcase packed and anticipation filling me to the brim, I boarded the plane to begin my journey across the country. On arriving at UNH's Scott Hall dormitory, I met the other nine members of the Marine and Environmental Science (MES) group. With such a small 16 imagine number of participants, we soon knew each other's names, personalities, and preferences. And due to our identical schedule and homework requirements, we found ourselves spending most of our meals, study time, and free hours together. Take Me to Wonderland I've never been one for taking it easy, much preferring exploration over sitting in a classroom. So I loved it when Dr. Jim Haney, a professor of biological sciences who oversees the MES program, explained that our group would spend 90 percent of our time in the field and lab and only 10 percent in the classroom. On our first day of "class," we listened to a short lecture on using insects as indictors of water quality before hiking to a nearby stream to catch a variety of the very insects we had been discussing. Bringing them back to the refreshingly air-conditioned lab (New Hampshire was a very hot place for someone from Alaska), we came face to face with these creatures that-under the microscope- appeared to be from science fiction stories, with equally fantastic names like Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Tricoptera, and Megaloptera. Jan/Feb 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2015

Big Picture
In My Own Words
Land & Sea
Going Full Circle with Ocean Conservation
At Home in the Water
Diving into Marine Science
Ocean Views
Becoming a Steward of the Seas
Engineering for Ocean Health
Selected Opportunities and Resources
The Wonderful World of MOOCs
Super
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review: UC San Diego
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2015