IB exam 2017

A new format this year for the Marine Science exam saw students writing paper 1 yesterday afternoon then they reconvened this morning for paper 2.

Congratulations marine scientists of year 42!!  I know marine science will always be in your heart and you all have a special place in my heart.

Link to more photos…

Orcas!!

This morning my plan for second year marine scientists was to go to Race Rocks to look at marine mammals (sea lions & seals) and birds. My plan went out the window, however, when Kyle spotted orcas as we were underway. We were totally distracted by these magical creatures. We didn’t made it to Race Rocks but we had a wonderful and transformative adventure.

Aurora, Orca, Andras

Orca in the distance

Aurora, Eskil, Andras

Axl, Martin, Aurora

Stefan, Jill, Navo, Zoli

We saw two females with a calf and two bulls. Although I don’t have any good photos of the whales, I did get many photos of the backs of students’ heads!

Digging into the mudflats

On Wednesday and Thursday mornings last week, second year Marine Science students travelled across Pedder Bay to explore a nearby mudflat.

While it is a challenging ecosystem to navigate around, marine scientists did very well –  not a single student was left behind, nor a single gumboot!

Racing across the mudflat

Getting some water for animals

Extracting a gumboot

Extracting Camila & her gumboots

Students learned that mudflats smell like rotten eggs due to hydrogen sulfide produced by anaerobic bacteria in the mud.

Sadly, there is not a lot of oxygen in the mud…

…but happily, there are several organisms that are well adapted to low oxygen and high hydrogen sulfide.

Axel digging in the mud

Kate and Maya digging deep to find a clam

Predatory ribbon worm ( Paranemertes peregrina)

Mara and Somchit

On Thursday we were fortunate enough to use the yellow voyageur canoe to travel across the bay.

Loaded up and ready to go

Heading home

The mudflat field trip is always one of the messiest in Marine Science, but also one that is great fun! (Right, Stefan?!)

Stefan making his way across the mudflat

Navoneel after his excursion to the mudflats

See Flickr album for more photos of the mudflats.

Field exam 2016

On Monday 9 May, 26 Marine Science students travelled to Race Rocks on Hyaku or the Discovery Shuttle (chartered from Ocean River Sports since ‘Second Nature’ is still in the shop) to write their first year field exam.

Do they look like they are off to write an exam?

Discovery shuttle to Race Rocks

Aurora and Adi on Hyaku

Upon arriving at Race Rocks, students received their exam papers and instructions to travel to six stations around the island of Great Race Rock.

Second group of students arrives

Laura gives instructions for station 3

Getting to work at station 3

Ploypailin

Maya

Somchit

Navoneel

Johnny

Ochuko

Mara

Andras

Camila

Zoli

Jill

Kate

Only two significant challenges on this morning:

1. The flies
   

   Ilana and flies

2. Being charged by an elephant seal while collecting data
   

   Ploypailin, Lauren, Xue Meng and Jill were all frightened from collecting data on the jetty by an elephant seal making its way to the water

All in all though a very successful morning. Thanks to Johannah, Malou and Steph for photos and invigilation! – see this link for more wonderful photos.  Thanks to Chris, Reuben (from Ocean River Sports) and Guy for transport to and from Race Rocks. And thanks to Riley and the elephant seals for their hospitality – see this link for Riley’s post on the Race Rocks log about the Marine Science field exam.