The Outreach team of the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO) visited Coihueco on May 31 and June 1 bringing two of its emblematic activities: the Travelling Scientific Audiovisual Exhibit (MACI), which this time was seen by about 200 children from rural schools in the area, and the “IMO at School” workshop entitled “Marine Biogeography”, which was held at the Liceo Polivalente Claudio Arraú León school and attended by first year high school students.
On the first day, May 31, a team of IMO monitors formed by marine biologists Francisca Olivares, Pamela Fierro, Estrella Bello and Constanza Meriño presented MACI, which is becoming more and more popular, to children in the area. They enjoyed a number of episodes of the TV show “The Adventures of Ruka” and then considered some characteristics of the ocean. Where is the Pacific Ocean located? What are the percentages of fresh and salt water on the planet? What organisms inhabit the shores and where are they specifically? These were some of the questions the young students managed to answer before closing the activity with amazing zooplankton samples and a series of questions aimed at enhancing their acquired knowledge.
Belén Franco, member of IMO’s Outreach team, explained: “The event in Coihueco turned out to be highly rewarding. We worked with little one-room schools near the mountains, where the surroundings are completely different from the marine environment that we want to make known to them. This was a significant challenge for us, and it’s immensely satisfying to see the marvelous reaction to our activity from children and teachers in the commune, clear from the interest and affection shown, and the real exchange of scientific knowledge.”
Marisol Haro, member of Coihueco’s Department of Education Administration (DAEM), highlighted the importance of meaningful learning. “This activity brings children closer to the sea, which is perceived by them as remote, because we are located near the mountains. This is the second year we have worked with IMO: last year we focused on city students, but today we worked with children from rural schools, for whom the sea is a distant reality. We are very happy about the professional way in which MACI was presented,” said Haro. She also valued its practical nature, which allows for more effective learning.
On the second day, June 1, a practical workshop on the topic “Marine Biogeography” was attended by 180 first year high school students, who were required to design and build a scale model of the seafloor with its corresponding features and zones, indicating which organisms inhabit it and where they are located. An IMO team formed by Monserrat Aldunate, Belén Franco, Bárbara Léniz, Laura Latorre and Johanna Medellín took part in the activity.
These two events were carried out in the context of the project “A Sea of Wonders”, which seeks to bring all children in the Biobío Region closer to marine sciences, an objective that becomes vitally important in the light of the fact that 2017 is the “Year of the Oceans”.
