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The journey to uncover the secrets of the ocean begins here, at Concepcion Bay.
The mini scientists get ready, learn about the instruments they will use,
the rules they will have to follow onboard, they meet each other,
but mostly they are motivated and they identify with the Carbon Footprint Project.
The ship is ready. It is time to sail.
One by one they get on board; some pensive, some enthusiastic.
The atmosphere is full of excitement and eagerness to enjoy this experience.
The young explorers from Chiguayante, Florida and Concepcion go deep into the
ocean to take measurements and collect sediments. They get to the first station.
They drop the dredger.
They did not get the results they were expecting, but they did collect some living beings.
After another attempt, they collect some seabed mud.
They observe its color, sense its smell and touch its texture.
Then, they take the sample, they seal it in an airtight bag and label it
with the day, date, time and location where it was obtained.
I have learned to know nature from a different point of view.
We were able to observe, use our senses, -
- and we learned it more clearly. And, and that is how it is.
But, I have also learned about nature in a different way.
But the process is not finished with sediment labeling.
After this, it will be taken to the laboratory for a second stage,
where its composition will be analyzed to determine the amount of carbon present.
The classroom will later reflect on the effects of climate change on the oceans acidification.
Therefore, what we want is for the students to be able to find clues,
footprints indicating what would happen if the oceans get acidified.
And this means, then, that these children collect
these samples from the seabed with organic material.
Organic material is related to living beings.
These living beings, some of them produce
And as the seasons change, ocean conditions also change.
And as ocean conditions change, what one can record from the seabed is also different.
So, that is our model: a seasonal ocean change that
is natural will also show changes on the seabed.
If the oceans become acidified, that will also show on the seabed.
Another simple device used during the expedition is the lead.
This iron weight tied to a rope, that is, a cord in nautical terms,
is used for a bathymetric survey of the sea to know the depths of the oceans.
This data is collected and this is how it can be determined, for example,
if the dredger will be dropped in this location. Everyone has a role on the ship.
Knowledge is formed among all the participants.
They learn as they go; they learn about the sea, the environment, and its principles.
I appreciate being able to participate in this project and, well,
It is a benefit for the students because they learn by doing.
That will give them the chance to learn, go to the sea with the instruments, take measurements.
And they learn what had not yet been possible.
Exploring the characteristics of the water is also essential during this onboard experience.
The AquaSendas Center, an institution participating in this project as
a representative of the Worldwide Water Monitoring Day in Chile,
provides the kits to monitor this resource on the surface of the oceans.
After the sample is extracted, it is possible to measure the temperature with the tape.
Also, the temperature can be determined with the digital thermometer.
Then, it is necessary to take oxygen measurements.
They clean the glass vial, they add the reactive agent and they stir it.
After a few minutes, a color will appear that will be compared against a value card.
This card will determine how much of the element is present.
A plastic vial is used to measure acidity.
Likewise, it is cleaned with the same water, and then the pH reactive agent is added.
After it is dissolved, a color will also appear,
and it can be compared to determine how acid or alkaline the water is.
Lastly, the kit will allow to measure turbidity using this contrast disc,
which is named after its creator, Seki.
Here, for example, transparency is complete, which corresponds to 0 NTU or turbidity units.
And if they want to know the amount of salts, this refractometer is the ideal instrument.
On the other hand, this phytoplankton net is used to catch the
small plants from the ocean to analyze them under a microscope.
But it is essential for every navigant to have a compass and an
anemometer to know the winds direction and speed.
As minutes passed by, the work was getting more intense.
Students as well as teachers were receptive and enthusiastic in all the activities.
And besides, we did many interesting things, like searching for sediments, searching,
knowing more things about where oxygen can be found in the oceans and in different areas.
It is great because -they should do more things like this
because one learns more and decides to participate in this.
It was wonderful to work with the children on this project because
they have another chance to see the world, to put aside their beliefs and see that,
that there are wonderful things in the oceans that they can do.
They enjoy, they enjoy seeing all this, touching.
I mean, it is wonderful for them to sail.
And well, It is a benefit for the entire school, for all the students,
and well, our school standing will be improved -not since It is a small school,
maybe we cannot do it there. I mean, even more so.
The measurements, the instruments and the sea environment have been
key for the educational community to value and understand its city from the sea.
These projects are extremely important for the children because they do not have
access to the sea. They are students who live in rural areas, far away, right?
And their parents do not usually include the study of the sea.
So, the student usually sees it on picture cards, on videos,
but having the experience with the sea is wonderful for them.
- is a, a very dry town. They bring the water from Chillan, Quillon.
And since they did not know how to use the water when it was available, they misused it,
and that is why many times in the summer we do not have, we do not have any water
and we have to bring it from other places in order to drink it.
The Carbon Footprint of the Seabed of Bays and Fjords Project,
which takes place in the regions of BioBio and Aysen,
has been an initiative of scholastic research of the Oceanographic Research Center,
Copas and its Copas Sur Austral Program, from Concepcion University.
This program as well as other innovative programs for sea science learning
that the Center has took part jointly with AquaSendas since 2005,
has the goal to promote and bring closer the knowledge of the oceans to the population,
mostly to the scholastic groups that lack opportunities or access.
Improving learning for everything related to sciences, nature, research methodology,
work in the field, uh, for them, the children in elementary and secondary school
can experience what researchers do in this case, in the sciences of the ocean.
I really liked the experience to navigate, to search for sediments,
and to be interested in the sea, which is anyway a
very important thing in our country and the world.
Well, the most important thing I could take was that, that, I learned a lot,
I learned a lot about the sea and everything within.
This initiative is very important and they should do it everywhere
because it helps the inclusion of every student.
It is a matter of equality where every child has the chance to work on sciences,
to feel like a small scientist.
They also improve their self-esteem; they improve, uh,
enthusiasm, the wish to be in the classroom, to, to work.
The ship returns and docks. It is time to come back.
However, this time, the journey back home will bring along
newly acquired knowledge, friends, experiences, wishes, and ideas.
And as you see it, now these youngsters will be able to see their
surroundings from a different perspective and keep on going after their dreams.