MARTIN DE RUYTER
Richard de Hamel, University of Otago, Marine Educator with Hampden Street School pupils and the new Port Nelson sponsored Fifish V6 underwater drone, at the school’s pool.
What it’s like to be a sea creature off the coast of Nelson is something local school children are soon to experience firsthand.
They are due to explore the ocean around Port Nelson down to depths of 100 metres, without getting wet.
It is part of a programme being lined up by marine educator, Richard de Hamel.
De Hamel said taking groups of school children diving would be „a health and safety minefield“.
So he was arranging the next best thing; a marine drone.
„We’re involving kids in real science, that will be useful and interesting to real scientists.
„And kids will be part of the team in doing it.“
MARTIN DE RUYTER
Sophie Vincent, wearing virtual reality goggles with Richard de Hamel, centre, University of Otago, Marine Educator with Hampden Street School pupils and the new Port Nelson sponsored Fifish V6 underwater drone, at the school’s pool.
The programme, for intermediate and senior primary school students, will involve lowering plastic plates into the sea on ropes at several locations around the Nelson Haven.
The drone could then be dropped into the water to examine by video camera what collected on the plates, and relay the images to a child above the surface via a face mask.
The student wearing the headset could change the drone’s direction by moving their head.
Children at Nelson city’s Hampden Street primary school tried out the virtual reality technology at the school pool.
„We want the kids to be able to actually experience the environment where these plates are,“ de Hamel said.
„So much science comes from a book.
„I want kids to go no, this is science, science is all around us.“
MARTIN DE RUYTER
A Fifish V6 underwater drone, bought by Port Nelson Ltd, will help school children take part in a programme run by marine educator, Richard de Hamel, allowing them to explore marine life around the Nelson Haven
De Hamel is based in the Nelson region doing Marine-based education with schools, through the NZ Marine Science Centre at the University of Otago.
The idea for the programme came from discussion with scientists during high school visits to the Cawthron Aquaculture Park earlier this year.
„I was approached by some of the scientists there suggesting we should come up with a programme that involved younger students in real, useful science.
„We thought that something that was local that included elements of climate change, ocean acidification, and foreign invading marine species would be good.“
MARTIN DE RUYTER
Richard de Hamel, centre, University of Otago, Marine Educator with a new Port Nelson sponsored Fifish V6 underwater drone, at Nelson’s Hampden Street School pool.
Port Nelson Ltd, the company that operates the port, donated the drone – a FiFish V6, which cost around $3000.
While the company, Cawthron and Nelson City Council were already carrying out this type of work, this project would be pitched at a lower level of accuracy, and the analysis in the classroom done with the help of real experts, de Hamel said.
„As the ocean environment changes due to climate or pH changes, one would expect the species that settle [on the plates] might change too over time.
„We would certainly [be] keeping a look out for any invading critters.“
The drone could also be used for activities like trips out by boat, to relay what was on the seafloor, de Hamel suggested.
The programme is expected to kick off next year.
Quelle:
https://vrroom.buzz/vr-news/trends/virtual-dive-prepares-children-marine-research
