Features

March 11-15, 2013

Students Explore Science On Spring Break

This month, college students from across the nation traveled to sunny destinations to enjoy spring break. But one group of young people came to Savannah for more than just fun in the sun - they came to help others learn about ocean science.

Depti Paudel, an undergraduate studying biochemistry at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, discusses the volunteer work she and her classmates did at the offices of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary during their spring break. Photo: Michael Jordan

The thirteen students from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro spent several days hammering, drilling, sawing, and assembling PVC pipe at the offices of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary on Skidaway Island. "We're here to learn more about underwater technology," said group co-leader Amanda Hipp. "I don't have a science background at all, so this is really interesting for me, and we thought it would be a fun and neat spring break trip to take." Added fellow student Sidney Fletcher, "this is, by far, one of the most exciting things I've ever done. This was an opportunity that I didn't want to miss out on."

Visiting college students submerge a prop they built for an upcoming underwater robotics competition hosted by Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Michael Jordan

The contraptions the students constructed will be used as props during an underwater robotics competition Gray's Reef hosts every April. Gray's Reef's volunteer coordinator Jody Patterson would normally spend several weeks building the props herself or with help from coworkers, so, needless to say, Patterson was grateful for all the extra help. "These guys are awesome!" Patterson exclaimed. "I'm really overwhelmed at the amount of work that they've gotten done in just a couple of days' time."

Tracy Wangui (l) and Amanda Hipp (r), students at the UNC at Greensboro, demonstrate a prop they helped construct for an upcoming underwater robotics competition. Photo: Michael Jordan

The annual robotics competition will take place at the Chatham County Aquatics Center, with teams from schools throughout the region competing to see whose robot can do the best job handling various simulated tasks in the pool. The aquatics competition takes place from 8am to 4pm on Saturday, April 13th, at the Chatham Aquatic Center, 7240 Sallie Mood Drive, Savannah, GA and the public is invited to attend at no charge.

University of North Carolina - Alternative Spring Break participants with Jody Patterson (front-row left), Gray's Reef NMS Volunteer Coordinator. Photo: Michael Jordan

Click here to view video of the University of North Carolina - Greensboro students exploring science on their spring break in Savannah.