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The Gulf of Mexico Region participated, with both an exhibit and presentations, in the Sixth Annual Science Symposium held at St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Entitled "Water Works--Aquatic Wonders," the symposium, held March 8-12, included Federal and State agency exhibitors, live demonstrations, field trips, and scientific presentations. The renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, was keynote speaker. Through the hard work of volunteer parents and the sponsorship of local community businesses, ten months of planning culminated in the transformation of the entire school into an underwater learning experience.
Over a three-day period the Region shared with students some of the ways we protect our Nation's fragile waters and resources. MMS marine archaeologist Dr. Rik Anuskiewicz spent the first day lecturing and giving hands-on demonstrations to the entire school, pre-K through 8^th grade, on MMS's protection and preservation of marine archaeological resources. Rik brought sidescan-sonar monitoring equipment, showed images of an underwater historic shipwreck, and had the students measure and record the location of a mock underwater archaeological site. The next day he gave a presentation and demonstration on the use of SCUBA in underwater archaeological research. Students had the opportunity actually to wear scuba gear. It was hard to select volunteers, as every hand was waving frantically in the air. MMS marine biologist Dagmar Fertl spent one day giving presentations to 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders on marine mammals in the Gulf. The students experienced the sounds (a tape of dolphin and whale whistles and clicks), the sights (numerous slides of whales and dolphins as spotted in the Gulf), and even the feel (as actual marine mammal bones, teeth, and baleen were passed around the class) of these amazing creatures.

MMS created a new exhibit, "Protecting Our Nation's Marine Resources," which complemented the subject matter covered by the MMS lecturers. The exhibit came to life through the use of an assortment of eye-catching, interesting 3-D photos. It was evident that the MMS exhibit was a real crowd pleaser as there always seemed to be kids swarming around it. Over 650 students and guests enjoyed viewing the exhibit with 3-D glasses, discussing the pictures that illustrated the lessons learned during the lectures, and playing the "Drilling for Oil" game. The visitors took away bags filled with posters, activity sheets, pencils, and bookmarks. Teachers received special bags with additional educational materials, including teachers' companions and the new chemosynthetic communities poster, which made its debut at the exhibit.

MMS staffers were on hand at the exhibit and wasted no time in diving right into the underwater adventure. Students kept them busy talking with them, handing out material, overseeing the drilling game, and answering questions. It was obvious by listening to the comments made by the students as they visited the exhibit, such as "Oh look, there is a picture of Dr. Rik dropping the sonar into the water, and look there are the artifacts he talked about," that this was a true learning experience for them. But, it was even more gratifying hearing an enthusiastic first grader, after he watched the fish "pop out" of the exhibit, drilled for oil and opened his bag of MMS goodies, exclaim with total abandon, "Oh boy, I loved that game! Wow, we get all this stuff for free? This is the bestest, funest day of my life!"