Announcing our 2016 Nautilus Exploration Program participants

After reviewing a record number of competitive applications, the Ocean Exploration Trust is pleased to announce the selected students and educators who will join the 2016 Nautilus Expedition as Science Communication Fellows, Science & Engineering Interns, and Honors Research Program students. Bringing unique perspectives, varied professional experiences, and representing communities across the nation and around the world, these participants will join the Corps of Exploration as our team launches a new expedition in May 2016. Stay tuned for more announcements about the upcoming season and highlights on these ocean explorers!

Science Communication Fellows

The Science Communication Fellowship immerses formal and informal educators in the Corps of Exploration as expedition communicators, empowering them to bring ocean exploration - specifically in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) -  to a global audience via the Nautilus Live website. Fellows become ambassadors for exploration delivering accounts of exploration, expedition operations, and daily life at sea to varied audiences through live audio commentary online, ship-to-shore broadcasts, local events, and creative instruction within their home classrooms, schools, organizations and community.

Melissa Baffa — Girl Scouts- Central Coast — Ventura, CA

Jan Bautista — Everett Middle School — San Francisco, CA

Maggy Benson — Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — DC

David Cummins — Alpena Community College — Alpena, MI

Tim Dwyer — Spring Street International School — Friday Harbor, WA

Elizabeth Fahy — New River Middle School — Fort Lauderdale, FL

Jon Gain — John Paul II High School — Corpus Christi, TX

Amber Hale — McNeese State University — Lake Charles, LA

Lindsay Holladay — Seattle Aquarium — Seattle, WA

Dieuwerje Kast — University of Southern California Joint Education Project — Los Angeles, CA

Michael Koski — Windham Public Schools — Weare, NH

Paul Orbe — Union City Board of Education — Union City, NJ

DJ Pevey — eStem Public Charter School — Little Rock, AR

Rachel Rayner -- Discovery Science and Technology Centre -- Bendigo, AUS

Whitney Rogers — The Perot Museum of Nature and Science — Dallas, TX

Katelyn Standerfer — San Marcos High School — Santa Barbara, CA

Samantha Wishnak — Global Engineering & Exploration Counselors — Salinas, CA

Science & Engineering Interns

The Science and Engineering Internship Program trains undergraduate and graduate students studying ocean science, engineering, maritime science, and broadcast technology hands-on in the field of ocean exploration within the at-sea environment. Intern positions entail 3-5 week periods working aboard E/V Nautilus as Data Loggers, ROV Pilots, Navigators, or Video Engineers. In addition to their field-specific skills, all interns are mentored and trained in communications, leadership, and education outreach.

ROV Engineering

Jordan Caress — University of California at Davis — Davis, CA

Ali Trueworthy — Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, MA

Ocean Science

Kelsey Barnhill — University of North Carolina — Durham, NC

Aubrey Foulk — Iowa State University — Moline, IA

Ashley Marranzino — University of Rhode Island — Narragansett, RI

Kimberly Smith — NOVA Southeastern University — Plantation, FL

Video Engineering

Justin Carroll — Middle Tennessee State University — Murfeesboro, TN

Amber Giacone — University of Washington — Seattle, WA

Mikayla Kelley — College of Southern Maryland — LaPlatta, MD

Kyle Sidlik — University of Rhode Island — Narragansett, RI

Navigation

Olivia Czerewko — United States Naval Academy — Annapolis, MD

Alex Smith — United States Coast Guard Academy — New London, CT

Honors Research Program

This cohort of rising high school seniors will join the OET Team for a 5-week summer program at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and onboard E/V Nautilus. Students will study the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography working with Corps of Exploration experts in geology, biology, archaeology, engineering, and computer science. HRP students will collaborate on a capstone research project -- building GPS-enabled ocean drifters and analyzing drifter data sets -- to prepare to be active and contributing members of the science party on their expedition.  

Leslie Carrillo-Lorenza — Mountain View High School — Mountain View, CA

Ankush Joshi — Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology — Vienna, VA

Crista Kieley — Beaumont School — Cleveland, OH

Michael Li — Oxford Academy — Cypress, CA

Eric Lindheim-Marx — Dos Pueblos High School — Goleta, CA

Kendra Pew — Friday Harbor High School — Shaw Island, WA

Noah Reardon — Lyons Township High School — La Grange, IL

Emily Vierling — Animas High School — Durango, CO