Liesl Hotaling

Complex real-time environmental monitoring of the Hudson river and estuary system

Multiparameter and multiscale real-time environmental monitoring of a river and estuary system will be realized through the River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON) for the Hudson River in New York. In this paper, we describe a system under development that provides a holistic view of this complex and dynamic natural environment for scientific research, education, management, and environmental policy-related applications. The system incorporates a complex array of sensor technologies encompassing the physical, chemical, and biological measurement domains. REON supports Lagrangian, Eulerian, and autonomous robot sensor deployments, as well as flexible telemetry options through an open and consistent middleware architecture with advanced device management capabilities. Multimodal data streams are ingested and analyzed by an intelligent distributed streaming data analysis system known as System S. The challenges of managing high volumes of complex heterogeneous data are addressed via a distributed network of intelligent computational nodes that incorporate both autonomic algorithms and active knowledge management including a temporal component. REON provides an adaptive computing environment that provides isotropy in terms of data access and collaborative computation in contrast to traditional hierarchical control systems for sensor environments. Also presented is the underlying information infrastructure that supports a robust and integrated data modeling, simulation, and visualization manifold.

A simple ROV project for the engineering classroom

Under water robotics projects offer an excellent medium for discovery based engineering and science learning. The challenge of building underwater robotic vehicles and manipulators engages and stimulates students while encompassing a very broad spectrum of engineering disciplines and scientific concepts. This paper describes the successful design and implementation of student projects, building wire guided remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) with motorized grabbers. This work is part of an ongoing effort to incorporate innovative, hands on projects into our freshman engineering curriculum. These projects help expose students to practical design issues in the freshman year, foster creative problem solving skills and may aid student retention on engineering programs. These projects have also been successfully piloted in pre-college programs, aimed at generating interest in engineering careers among high school students. We describe ongoing work to extend these projects to include computer control and sensory feedback, allowing students to develop autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Further, we outline ongoing work to assess the effectiveness of these modules

Using Observing System Data in STEM Education

The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) community is implementing several new observation systems that rely on sensor technology. With this revolution, the need to educate more science and engineering technicians to work (design, assemble, deploy, troubleshoot and communicate) with sensor networks and meet workforce demands will rise quickly in the near future. The incorporation of technology-enabled systems, tools and services into curricula is critical to addressing these training needs and improving STEM skills. This paper discusses a list of key factors that must be considered by scientists, in order to make their data suitable for public and educational consumption, and also by educators when considering the needs of teachers and classrooms in making use of this information.

Using real world data in education

The integration of real world data into classrooms is a powerful mechanism to increase student interest and understanding of concepts. An increasing number of sources of real world data are becoming available for use in education. It is important for the sources of reliable data to be accessible by nonexpert audiences. Teacher training opportunities will expand the use of these educational materials and data in classrooms. However more research and development is needed to improve methods of data display and visualizations to better facilitate the understanding of real world data by non-expert audiences, including teachers and students

The Gulf Stream Voyage: using real time data in the classroom

The Gulf Stream Voyage is an Internet-based multidisciplinary project which utilizes both real time data and primary source materials to help guide students to discover the science and history of the Gulf Stream. There are several advantages of using real time data in the classroom including: the infusion of inquiry-based learning, fostering problem solving skills, addressing several learning styles, and student relevance.

Evolution of biomineralization proteins in Cnidaria

Recently, the effects of ocean acidification on coral calcification have received significant interest. However, similar information is lacking for soft corals, which produce internal calcite sclerites. This poor understanding of the calcifying mechanisms makes it difficult to predict the response of soft corals to increased ocean acidification. In order to better understand the potential effects of increased atmospheric CO2, it is crucial that we expand and enhance our knowledge of soft coral calcification biomolecules. Toward this end, we use molecular biology techniques to understand the evolutionary history of a Cnidarian highly acidic protein, previously thought to be limited to stony corals. Coral acid rich protein (CARP) 4, is a coralspecific protein exhibiting a high proportion (>20%) of the acidic amino acids (aspartic and glutamic acids). Previously thought to be stony coral-specific, the partial sequence of a soft coral sclerite protein appears similar to CARP4. An alignment of homologues of four stony corals and CARP4 proteins with an N-terminal peptide from Lobophytum crassum sclerites suggests that soft corals possess a member of the CARP4 subfamily. Through a series of molecular biology techniques, the presence of CARP4 in soft corals can be verified. If L. crassum does indeed possess the CARP4 gene, phylogenetic comparison of soft versus stony coral CARP4 will be performed to trace the evolutionary track of this Cnidarian-specific biomineralization protein.

The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer : Continuing to Unfold the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration Recommendation for Ocean Literacy

Technology enables each advancement made in exploration, from the poles to the deepest reaches of the ocean, to the moon and beyond. Discovery of new life forms at hydrothermal vents was made possible by submersible vehicle technology, and continued enhancements in satellite sensor technologies provide ever-improving discoveries of planetary scale changes like those due to El Nino and those talking place in the deepest parts of the ocean. It is cutting-edge technology that enables us to expand the boundaries of the known world while engaging all who wish to be involved in these discoveries in real-time. At the same time, these ever-emerging technological capabilities provide compelling incentives for students to get close-up looks at scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics ocean-related careers. With the unprecedented advancements in all areas of technology, learning is no longer restricted to a place and time, and students are perhaps the most profoundly affected by this evolution in how they learn and where they learn than any other segment of our society.

Sense the Hudson - Student developed environmental sensors classroom project

Sense the Hudson is an innovative new project which integrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills into a robust interdisciplinary curricula and teacher development effort in which high school students design, build, test, deploy and interpret their own environmental sensors.

The Sensor Revolution: Benefits and Challenges for the Marine Technical Workforce

Sensors are revolutionizing the manner in which oceans are studied, explored, and utilized. The continued development, operation, and expansion of sensors and sensor networks will require a workforce well prepared in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills. Solid preparations in STEM skills are critical to the marine workforce and other sectors of the economy. National reports and international test scores indicate that these skills are currently lagging in U.S. students, which presents a challenge to the technical workplace. Using sensors and the data produced as an engaging mechanism to teach STEM skills is one way to meet this challenge. Students armed with STEM skills and motivation to apply those skills in careers that involve sensor development, operations, and data analysis will provide lasting benefits to society and the global economy.

Work in Progress: Eliciting Input for Transforming CSET Education via the NSF Collaborative Largescale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research (CLEANER)

The Collaborative Large-scale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research (CLEANER) Project Office has been established with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project office is coordinating the development of a strategic plan to establish a national environmental observatory and engineering analysis network that would encourage a more collaborative approach to addressing the challenges of large-scale human-stressed environmental systems by making environmental data and analysis tools more easily accessible to engineers, scientists, educators and policymakers. Planning for the proposed network will be completed July 2007 in order for the network to be in place in 2015. The intent of this paper is to inform the FIE community of the framework and guidelines being developed by the CLEANER Education Committee and to solicit input from the computer science, engineering, and technology (CSET) community on how the proposed education plan could best meet the future needs of students and educators