STOCKBRIDGE STUDENTS HEADING TO AMERICAN SAMOA

The Stockbridge InvenTeam has been invited to conduct research, test equipment and conduct an educational outreach project in The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, November 21 to December 4, 2018.

Stockbridge InvenTeam members traveling to American Samoa include; Michelle Zemke, Katelyn Knieper, Chloe Miner, Kael Bunce, Baylee Heidrich, Sylvia Whitt, Chelsey Asquith, Molly Nichols, Julia Marhofer, Hailee Fraser-Gutting, Katie Miller, and Hailey Howard.  The team’s faculty mentor is Stockbridge Jr/Sr High School Teacher Bob Richards.

The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) is located in the cradle of Polynesia’s oldest culture and thought to support the greatest diversity of marine life in the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary protects extensive coral reefs, including some of the oldest and largest Porites coral heads in the world, deep water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities and rare marine archaeological resources.

The teams’ project aims to Inspire, Engage, and Educate students while providing a unique research experience in one of America’s underwater parks.  The project has three major goals: (1) to conduct a bottom fish study around Aunu'u Island (2) to conduct a study of Palolo worm spawning, and (3) to connect with a school in American Samoa to share knowledge and culture between students, and conduct a STEM program.

Students will spend the next 10 months building a new Remotely Operated Vehicle or ROV, a baited underwater camera system and a benthic lander in addition to raising funds for the project.