Throughout the fall semester, eighth graders at The Learning Community, a public charter school in Central Falls, RI, study diversity of life in science, engineering opportunities in a newly built I Lab, and the impact of industry on the environment in social studies.

Their classes and activities are all part of a curriculum teachers have built to teach students through real-world problems, hands-on learning and the scientific method of hypothesis and experimentation.

Guided by that mission, Rhode Island NSF EPSCoR teamed up with scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to connect students with the marine life and ecosystems, ocean exploration, and scientists and engineers at the world-renowned WHOI facility situated on the Massachusetts coast.

“It gave students a glimpse into what real science looks like and feels like outside of the classroom,” said Carey Bledsoe, middle grade coordinator and instructional coach, of the recent school day trip. “The WHOI experience was amazing for the students and teachers alike.”

Divided into three groups, about 60 students rotated through three stations arranged by Catalina Martinez, a physical scientist with the NOAA Office of Exploration and Research, and WHOI.

A regular collaborator on outreach events with RI NSF EPSCoR, Martinez explained, “It’s important to develop opportunities such as this for students underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields to provide exposure and access to worlds they may never experience otherwise.”

At the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, the oldest in the country and owned and operated by NOAA, in partnership with the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, students learned about the history of Woods Hole and animals native to the Northeast and Middle Atlantic waters. The Woods Hole Exhibit Center provided students the chance to experience life inside a replica of the Alvin submersible and engage with interactive exhibits.

Students also visited with Alvin pilot and group manager Bruce Strickrott as the U.S. Navy-owned vehicle operated by WHOI towered beside them. To help demonstrate the pressure of going so deep below the surface, he distributed Styrofoam cups that had descended along with the vehicle and shrunken to one and a half inches tall.

“With enough determination and aptitude, some education, and a bit of luck, anyone can do what I do,” Strickrott told the students, encouraging them to see possibilities instead of limitations.

The Alvin, recently overhauled, serves as WHOI’s only human-occupied submersible dedicated to deep-sea research. As they learned about the Alvin’s capabilities, the students marveled at the idea of an engineer and two scientists holed up for eight hours in the sphere, which is 6.5 feet in diameter.

“This part of the experience really answered the question, how can we explore our oceans?” Bledsoe said. “Students saw how elaborate ocean exploration really is and got a better understanding of how important exploring our oceans are. They also gained a better understanding of jobs associated with ocean exploration and how to work their way up at WHOI.”

For 14-year-old Guadalupe, the trip set the stage for discovery rather than what she had anticipated might be a more museum-like experience.

“We walked all around Woods Hole and had a chance to explore inside and outside,” she said. “This trip had me thinking of careers I might want to explore when I’m older — I can see myself as a photographer, taking pictures of the beautiful world around us.”

Daiel, 14, a classmate, said learning about the Alvin made a big impact on him, particularly the role it played in discovering the Titanic. Although, he said, he was surprised to hear the Alvin only made one trip to the submerged vessel.

Asked what field he might be interested in pursuing, Daiel said, “I see myself being an electrician. If I had to pick a specific topic, it might be electronics because I love fixing problems and putting stuff together.”

The trip, he added, “Is an opportunity for young kids like myself to explore what great and fun jobs there are in the world.”

His friend, Alex, 14, also found the Alvin intriguing: “Something that surprised me was how they made Alvin and the technology that’s put in it. Students should go on this trip because you learn about different things that are under the water and how people go under deep water.”

Sabina, 13, said she had expected that the seaside village of Woods Hole would smell more like fish than it actually did. And, she, too, found the Alvin submersible an exciting subject.

“I think we should learn more about the Alvin in school,” she said. “It’s a good learning experience to learn about life under the sea and facts like the tallest mountain in the world is not Mount Everest. It is a mountain that starts at the bottom of the ocean and turns into a volcano.”

Bledsoe said having the students see science in action was important, particularly given the expectation that many of the jobs available to their generation will be in the STEM plus Arts (STEAM) fields. In addition to the school’s new I Lab for middle grade students, Bledsoe said The Learning Community also offers green engineering classes for students who want to learn more about STEAM careers.

“It is our job as educators to provide the students with experiences that will enable them to see the possibilities and know what type of careers are out there,” said Bledsoe.

Story, photos & Vimeo by Amy Dunkle