JULY 15, 2016--“This is LT Lyons with the USCG, Sector Puget Sound. There has been a ship collision off of Shilshole Bay resulting in an oil spill.”

So began the journey for NOAA Science camp participants exploring what Emergency Response Division (ERD) scientists do during a spill.

Campers spent time discovering how to respond to typical questions that ERD oceanographers, biologists, chemists, and physical scientists are expected to answer in the event of a spill. Questions included: Where will the oil go? How will it behave in and on the water and on different types of shorelines? What biological and human resources may be at risk during a spill? How might the oil adversely impact these resources?

As part of NOAA Science Camp, OR&R helps campers learn about pollutants from cars, homes, agriculture, and other types of land uses and the effects on the Puget Sound. Campers simulate the flow of water and pollutants in the environment, using table top watershed models and building groundwater models. Campers then brainstorm methods to clean up, contain, and prevent watershed pollution. In another session, campers roll up their sleeves, donning lab googles and gloves and become aquatic toxicologists for a day, testing samples for toxic chemicals and water quality parameters and learning how to interpret their data.

Later in the week, campers are presented with a science mystery to solve. They visit several NOAA offices to find out more about various aspect of the scenario and then apply what they learned to test their hypotheses. Campers present their findings and conclusions on the last day of camp each week and are evaluated by a scientist representative of each office.

OR&R staff will host approximately 90 campers over a total of ten, two hour sessions during the two weeks of Science Camp and also participate in the scenario exercise and project evaluations.

OR&R Science Camp instructors include: Marla Steinhoff, Dalina Thrift-Viveros, Dylan Righi, Chris Barker, Rachel Pyror, Gary Shigenaka, Nicolle Rutherford, and Amy MacFadyen.

For further information, contact Marla.Steinhoff@noaa.gov or Amy.MacFadyan@noaa.gov.

Go back to OR&R Weekly Report.