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Research-Based Online Learning Event (ROLE) Model Webinar
Webinar Topic: Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystems
Wednesday, August 10, 2010
PRESENTATIONS and Q&A
Peter Girguis
Peter Girguis
Concept map
Louise McMinn
Louise McMinn
Concept map

About these Webinars:
The ROLE Model webinars provide scientists with the opportunity to interact with educators and present their research in a non-traditional format - through multimedia concept maps created with the Concept Map Builder and presented through the Ocean Climate Interactive. [more]

About this Scientist:
Peter Girguis works at Harvard University as an associate professor in deep sea biology with special interests in hydrothermal vent ecosystems and animal-microbe symbioses. His scientific training as a physiologist also cultivated a "gear head" instinct, which melds synergistically with his inquisitive nature. As a result, he enjoys collaborating with engineers and machinists to develop and test new scientific instrumentation for extreme environments and microbial fuel cell technologies.[more]

About this Educator:
Louise McMinn teaches environmental and earth sciences at Scofield Magnet Middle School in Stamford, CT. Among her many accomplishments, she is a veteran of the ARMADA project sponsored by URI that provides teacher field experiences with working scientists, and the School of Rock at Texas A&M sponsored by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Project. She participated in the COSEE-OS Educator-Scientist Collaborative Workshop at the University of Connecticut in October 2009. [more]
WEBINAR RECAP
Hydrothermal vent
Harvard scientist Peter Girguis shared some of the secrets of the deep and strange hydrothermal vent ecosystems found in the Juan de Fuca Ridge area (off the coast of Washington/Oregon) through a new concept map presentation at our second "ROLE Model" webinar. Peter had just returned from a month-long research voyage to the vent fields where he and his colleagues were conducting physiological experiments on tube worms. Using specialized equipment (including trips in the famous Deep Submergence Vehicle ALVIN), the scientists were able to gain more insight into an ecosystem which is dependent entirely on chemicals being spewed from geysers in the sea floor. No light reaches these depths, so the process called "chemosynthesis" (carried out by bacteria) forms the energy base for the food chain. Peter presented a concept map that outlined his study interests investigating the primary productivity of and symbiotic relationships between the giant tube worms and their small but powerful chemosynthetic "buddies".
VIEW CLIPS FROM SCIENTIST'S PRESENTATIONS
1 - What's a "Smoker?"   2 - Chemosynthesis
3 - Pressurized Aquaria

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Educator Louise McMinn shared her experiences implementing an interdisciplinary grant on water quality with her colleagues. By using concept maps to define the roles of the teachers and students involved in the project, she found it easier to get everyone "on the same page" about the project's execution. Students embraced their assigned "jobs" with enthusiasm, and fellow educators felt connected to the project, even across disciplines.
VIEW CLIPS FROM EDUCATOR'S PRESENTATIONS
1 - Multi-Faceted Project   2 - Student Roles
3 - Coming to Consensus

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Additional Resources
DISTRIBUTION OF WEBINAR PARTICIPANTS
Map showing distribution of webinar participants
In this pilot webinar, which was advertised to a limited audience, five participants joined in from five states. All of the participants said that the scientist presentation was "useful" or "very useful", and that they felt more comfortable with the topic than they had before. 80% reported they now feel the topic is more relevant to their own work.

View All Webinars in the ROLE Model Series
Concept map