ANGARI Foundation works with CARTHE and MetOcean Telematics to host its first Educator Professional Development Workshop on Ocean Currents and Drifter Technology

West Palm Beach, Florida (April 19, 2018) – On March 31, 2018 ANGARI Foundation hosted a professional development program for South Florida educators onboard its vessel, R/V ANGARI. This educational program is the first of its kind for the Foundation and designed to bring the study of ocean currents and drifter technology to K-12 teachers and their classrooms.

The day was focused on giving eight teachers from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties a full research and education experience. It started with an overview of ongoing research and the application of drifters to topics like understanding the movement of oil and marine debris in surface waters provided by Dr. Tamay Özgökmen, Director of the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) at the University of Miami. The day then continued with hands-on experience deploying a SVP (Surface Velocity Program) drifter buoy supplied by MetOcean Telematics into the Gulf Stream, and concluded with a discussion on drifter data access, available resources, and lesson plan ideas led by ANGARI Foundation’s Director of Science Education & Advancement Dr. Amanda Waite. The day’s participants left enthusiastic to use this in their education programs. “Every aspect was exemplary – all components were organized and relevant to classroom instruction. I can’t wait to share the information with my environmental club and other educators,” said Jennifer Briceno of Palm Beach Central High School. Additionally, the educators were given the opportunity to share ideas and network with one another. Stephanie Killingsworth, a seasoned teacher from Conniston Middle School, noted “I got valuable lesson and field trip ideas from the other teachers. We certainly have made connections that I am hopeful we can endure and build upon.”

The deployed drifter is expected to follow the surface currents of the Gulf Stream system into the North Atlantic over the next year. The drifter is GPS-enabled and reports location and sea surface temperature data via satellite, which can be accessed online. This information will be used to complement classroom lessons and extracurricular activities in marine and environmental science within the classroom and clubs at participating schools.

This professional development opportunity was made possible via partnerships between ANGARI Foundation, CARTHE, and MetOcean Telematics. Teachers participating in the program are affiliated with five public and private schools in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. The deployed drifter can be tracked publicly via NOAA’s Global Drifter Program at the Observing System Monitoring Center (osmc.noaa.gov/Monitor/OSMC/OSMC.html); WMO ID #4101559.

Drifter location as of April 17, 2018.

About ANGARI Foundation
ANGARI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation established in 2016 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a global community that is interested, knowledgeable and invested in marine and environmental sciences by directly supporting research initiatives that foster a greater trust and dialogue between scientists and the public. ANGARI Foundation uses innovative technology, film and other media to raise awareness and strengthen science education. Many of the Foundation’s primary initiatives involve R/V ANGARI, a 65-foot vessel that serves as an exceptional research and education platform. For more information visit www.angari.org.

About CARTHE
The Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) is a research team dedicated to predicting the fate of oil released into our environment to help inform and guide response teams, thereby protecting and minimizing damage to human health, the economy, and the environment. CARTHE research is funded in part by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect of hydrocarbon released on the environment. CARTHE developed the Bay Drift and Lagoon Drift studies in partnership with Vizcaya and ANGARI Foundation respectively, along with numerous other environmental organizations across South Florida, to engage the community in its research.

About MetOcean Telematics
MetOcean Telematics corporate headquarters, including the research and development and production facilities, are located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. The company develops and manufactures state-of-the-art data acquisition and end-to-end telematics solutions, with a focus on niche MetOcean solutions and custom Defence and Security products. As a prominent global Iridium Satellite Value-Added Reseller focused on hardware solutions, data services, and support, MetOcean Telematics is a leader in the satellite communications industry.

For media inquiries, or if you are a teacher interested in integrating this content into your classroom, please contact Dr. Amanda Waite, Director of Science Education & Advancement at [email protected].