Students at Lewisburg High School in Lewisburg, Pa., will learn about marine science in an exciting new way this year, through the eyes and perceptions of their own biology teacher Geoff Goodenow, who is participating in the NOAA Teacher at Sea program of the Commerce Department s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Goodenow, a resident of Mifflinburg, Pa., is sailing aboard the 224-ft. NOAA research ship Oscar Elton Sette May 2-25 from Honolulu, Hawaii, to work with scientists conducting swordfish assessment surveys using longline gear in waters west of the Island of Hawaii. The primary objective of the mission is to capture large spawning-size swordfish and attach pop-up satellite archival tags to them for tracking.

While on board, Goodenow will take pictures and write daily logs that include information about the latitude, longitude, sea temperatures and other data, research of the day, and interviews with scientists. The logs will be emailed to his school, where students can follow his activities. Students and others can also email questions about the voyage to him.

“I’m really looking forward to getting research experience with NOAA, and giving my students an inside look at what it’s like to do science at sea,” Goodenow said.

The enthusiasm for learning generated between teachers and students is the biggest payoff of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program, where teachers from kindergarten through college go aboard NOAA hydrographic, oceanographic and fisheries research vessels to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Now in its 13th year, the program has enabled more than 380 teachers to gain first hand experience in science at sea. Teachers can enrich their classroom curricula with a depth of understanding made possible by living and working side-by-side, day and night, with those who contribute to the world’s body of scientific knowledge.

“The NOAA Teacher at Sea program continues to be an effective way to introduce teachers to NOAA science in an ‘up close and personal’ way that helps them bring science alive for their students,” said Rear Admiral Nicholas A Prahl, NOAA Corps, deputy director of NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations. “The program has been so successful, we’re expanding it to make sure more teachers have an opportunity to participate and improve their research skills. It benefits NOAA as well. Enthusiastic teachers make great assistants and tend to boost the morale of everyone on board. After spending a couple of weeks on a ship, they also are able to offer career information to their students about the various shipboard jobs. We are always looking for good NOAA recruits! All around, it’s a win-win situation.”

The NOAA Teacher at Sea program is administered by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations (NMAO). NMAO is responsible for operating, managing and maintaining NOAA’s fleet of research and survey ships and aircraft, and is composed both of civilians and officers of the NOAA Commissioned Corps, the nation s seventh and smallest uniformed service.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.

For more information about the Teacher at Sea program, please visit: http://www.tas.noaa.gov.