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TheMauryProject-July2015ReportbytheCanadianRepresentativeKaraLengyelNaicamSchool,NaicamSK

OnJuly12,2015,IarrivedinAnnapolis,MarylandtoattendTheMauryProject–aworkshopdesignedtogivescienceteachersanin-depthstudyofoceanographicandmeteorologicalsubjectsincludingwaves,tides,andocean-atmosphereinteractions.Theprogramhostedteachersfrom14differentstates,onefromGuamandonefromCanada(me!)Dr.DavidSmith,retiredprofessorandformerchairmanoftheNavalAcademyOceanographyDepartment,andDr.JimBrey,EducationDirectoroftheAmericanMeteorologicalSociety,wereco-directorsofthissummer’sMauryProjectWorkshop.FeaturedspeakersincludedoceanographersandseniorscientistsfromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA),theUniversityofMarylandatCollegeParkandtheUnitedStatesNavy.SpecialmentionmustbemadeofDonMcManus,aretirednavaloceanographerwhoprovidedmostofthehandsonactivitiesinaunique,humorousmanner.Wespenttwoweekstogetherlearningaboutoceanography.Iwoulddescribeitasintenseandfastpaced,butinterestinganddetailed.Wecoveredtopicssuchascoastalupwelling,oceanacoustics,densitydrivencirculation,waves,tidesandallfiveoceans.Eachteacherwasalsogivenademonstrationtopresenttotheclass–mypartnerandIpresentedonmeasuringsealevels.InbetweenlectureswewerefortunateenoughtotakepartinfieldtripstotheBaltimoreAquarium,NOAA,NationalCentreforEnvironmentalProtectionandNationalIceCentre.Wealsoparticipatedinacoastalsurveyandresearchcruise,whichmostagreedwasthehighlightofthecourse.Foraprairiegirl,Ifoundeverythingoceantobenewandinteresting.IespeciallyenjoyedthewaythattheNavylecturerstiedtheiroceanographylearningintoNavylife,beithidingsubmarinesindifferenttemperaturewaterorwalkingonunusualiceswhileonanarcticdeployment.Anunexpectedbonustothewholeprojectwasthelocation.Annapolisisabeautiful,historiccityandwewereabletowalkmostplacesthroughitscanopiedandbricklinedstreets.TheNavalAcademywasinspiringandimpressive–eachmorningweenteredthroughasecuregate,thenwereabletowatchtheplebes(freshmen)raisetheflagandlearntheirformationsinthecourtyard.WestayedoncampusatthelovelyStJohn’sCollege-oneoftheoldestcollegesintheUnitedStates.OnouronedayoffagroupofusrentedacarandwenttoGettysburg,siteoftheturningpointintheU.S.civilwar–whatanincredibleexperiencetowalkthefieldsandimaginethebattles.ThisyearSaskatchewanisimplementingnewcurriculuminourseniorsciencecourses,withafocusonphysicalandenvironmentalsciences.AllofthemodulesthatwestudiedwillfitnicelyintooneofthenewcoursesandIplantostartintroducingourteacherstotheminAugustatourfirstinserviceday.IwouldliketothanktheCanadianMeteorologicalandOceanographicSociety(CMOS)andtheCanadianNationalCommittee/ScientificCommitteeonOceanicResearch(CNC/SCOR),aswellasallthoseinvolvedacrosstheborder–theNavalMeteorologyandOceanographyCommand,theOfficeofNavalResearch,theNationalOceanographicandAtmosphericAdministration,theUnitedStatesNavalAcademy,theStateUniversityofNewYorkatBrockportandtheAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.ThiswasanamazingonceinalifetimeopportunityandIlookforwardtoconductingpeer-ledtrainingsessionstopassonwhatIlearnedfromTheMauryProject.

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Fig.1-Karaconductingabeachelevationstudy.

Fig.2-Thegrouponthefantailoftheresearchvessel