In this week's Ask Asta blog, we will fight our way through the fluffy spume to get to the bottom of the mystery of how sea foam is formed!!
 Check out the article in our Marine Science Blog!

April 22nd is Earth Day!

But what is earth day, and why is it important? What can you do to celebrate this occasion in your own life? 

Find out in today's blog post!!

Aren't they all just smart fish?

 Just kidding! Check out the Marine Science Blog to learn the main differences between these amazing ocean predators!!

Photo from Quickmeme.com

"Slow" marine life is particularly mysterious. As colorful, bizarre-looking, and environmentally important as we know corals and sponges are, their simple day-to-day life is hidden. 

We know some bits about their biochemistry, corals’ interaction with zooxanthella algae, their life cycles, and systematics. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell what we don’t know about the rest, and particularly when it comes to interaction with other organisms happening over long periods of time.

Time lapse cinematography reveals a whole different world full of hypnotic motion and my idea was to make coral reef life more spectacular and thus closer to our awareness.

- An excerpt fromDaniel Stoupin's amazing website "Microworlds" 

This month Asta and Andrew were stoked to start work at Sailing Educational Adventure Programs (a.k.a Sea Programs!).
As Mate aboard the SEA Programs’ 52’ wooden ketch A Fine Madness this Spring, we will be taking turns at being responsible for shipboard programming for5-day sailing trips with groups of up to 15 grade 9 and 10 students. In fact, SEA programs runs two vessels; we will also get the chance to be crew aboard their other ship, The Duen, a 22m traditional wooden gaff rigged ketch (shown on the left). Working aboard with fellow biologists, we hope to expand our ocean literacy curriculum and learn new ways in which to integrate it into the high school math and science curriculum. 

Check Andrew's Blog to see some photos from the latest trip from Sidney through the Gulf Islands! 

It was back to school for Asta and Andrew as they completed their Small Vessel Operator's Proficiency (SVOP) and Radio Operator's Certification (ROC-MC). Being back on the other side of the desk gave us some interesting perspectives on teaching, and some cool ideas to incorporate into the classroom! 

Asta loves exploring and studying the exciting world under the sea. Each week, she will attempt to learn and answer her reader's most burning marine science questions, and provide some resources that help turn the question into a lesson plan!
This week, she delves into the world of the prickly pinnipeds, to answer a reader's question:


"Why do Seals need Whiskers? What do they do with them?"  -Sam, Age 10


Click on the Seal's whiskers or go to our Marine Science Blog to view Asta's newest blog entry! 

I've recently come across an outstanding resource for teachers! Author Jaime Bastedo has written a book called "On thin ice: Polar Bears in a Climate of Change". The book is a novel for teens which weaves mystery and Inuit culture with the spirituality of a fearsome top predator against the backdrop of a changing Arctic landscape. The murder mystery delves into the spiritual realm and also highlights the challenges and realities of global climate change. 

The most interesting (and useful) aspects of Jaime's work are the teacher resources that accompany the book; there are lesson plans including pre-reading and post-reading activities and an excellent resource list. The resource list includes over 20 different websites for teachers that are would be an great starting point for an entire unit on climate change, regardless of the subject that you teach! 

I would highly recommend checking out the website: www.onthinice.ca and having a look at the lessons and comprehensive resource list!