Mark Twain Elementary School fifth grade teacher Chris Henricksen is about to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will benefit both his students and colleagues. Henricksen has been selected as one of 26 teachers from across the United States to participate in the 2014 field season of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Teacher at Sea program.
On April 29, he will take off from Boston aboard the Henry B. Bigelow for a 21-day “critter cruise.” The mission of the endeavor will be to conduct a fisheries survey. Working alongside research scientists, Henricksen will be expected to maintain a daily blog, reporting the important scientific findings and other aspects of life and work aboard ship. As part of his obligation, he is expected to plan and conduct a professional learning opportunity for his colleagues, as well as develop and submit to NOAA two lesson plans related to his experience at sea.
The Henry B. Bigelow is a state-of-the-art research ship with multiple science mission capabilities. It was built for NOAA by VT Halter Marine, Inc., in Moss Point, Mississippi. The ship supports NOAA’s mission to protect, restore and manage the use of living marine, coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem-based management. Its primary objective is to study, monitor and collect data on a wide range of sea life and ocean conditions, primarily in U.S. waters from Maine to North Carolina.