Through the CiTi BOCES Distance Learning initiative, students were able to virtually witness groundbreaking underwater exploration happening right in their own backyard: Lake Ontario.
The event featured a look inside a pioneering expedition led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the National Marine Sanctuary of Lake Ontario. Using “Rhody,” a state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle (ROV) developed by the University of Rhode Island, researchers are exploring and documenting historic shipwrecks on the lakebed.
“This is a first-of-its-kind expedition,” said Deputy Expedition Leader Holly Pettus, speaking during the session.
Rhody’s compact size, agility, and 360-degree rotation capabilities make it ideal for creating detailed 3D models of shipwrecks. Many of these wrecks are now deepwater ecosystems that offer scientists rich material to study. While Lake Ontario’s maximum depth is around 800 feet, Rhody can dive up to 900 feet.
“You don’t have to be a marine biologist to join an expedition like this,” said Expedition Photographer & Videographer Marley Parker. “The most important thing is a sense of adventure and curiosity about how the world works.”
Thanks to CiTi BOCES Distance Learning, that spirit of adventure was brought directly to the classroom.
To read more about the expedition, visit noaa.gov.
Photo Below: Allegedly the Philip Becker wreck, captured using “Rhody”.
