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Title
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Randy Watts
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Type
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Primary: Teacher Argonaut
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Operation
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Resilient Planet
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Mission:
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Mission 1: Invaders , Mission 5: The Rescue
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Created On
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3/10/2008
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From: Resilient Planet Mission 1: Invaders , Mission 5: The Rescue |
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Randy Watts Read more about Randy Watts, a Teacher Argonaut from Operation: Resilient Planet. |
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Randy Watts
Teacher Argonaut,
Jackson, WI
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Randy has taught at David Star Lutheran School in Wisconsin for 30 years and been part of The JASON Project for almost 16. One of the areas in students’ lives that he has changed is science and technology. He credits JASON with his early experiences using the computer, the internet, ROVs and later with using these technologies in science fieldwork on Lake Michigan and even at local nature centers and ponds near his school. Randy feels that the experience of being a Teacher Argonaut will take him in yet another direction: that of helping Student Argonauts become team members and experience real science and technology while doing the JASON Boot Camp and actual scientific missions. He also wants to bring his JASON experiences home to his school, especially in the area of technology.
In his own words
We had a long day at Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee just waiting. We got to meet the Student Argonauts for the first time! Chirag Pathre from Troy, Michigan arrived first. The Argonauts arrived one after another: Derek, Ada, Allison, Brittany, Bevan, Lewis, Austin and Conrad. After accompanying them to get their luggage at baggage claim, we rode in rented mini-vans to a restaurant to eat supper. Caleb Schutz, President of JASON, spoke to us about the awesome responsibility we had. What a first day with the Argos!
Thoughts on Dr. Russell Cuhel
Dr. Russell Cuhel from the Great Lakes WATER Institute was the JASON Host Researcher who was our Mission 1 scientist. I had a wonderful experience this week and enjoyed learning about the zebra mussel invasion from him. We learned from Dr. Cuhel that we had a surprise invasive species in Lake Michigan, the quagga mussel! His final presentation to us reminded us of the importance of taking take care of the scarce water we have on the Earth.
Thoughts on Dr. Leila Hatch
Sightseeing done for the day, we made our first visit to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary headquarters, located directly east of our motel, just across part of Scituate Harbor. In addition to meeting the Host Researcher, Dr. Leila Hatch, for the first time, we also met with Michael Thompson, an expert in GIS (Geographic Information Systems). Dr. Hatch spoke to us about her work with whales, their sounds, and briefly about how genetics related to whale sounds. I will never forget the pictures I saw in Dr. Leila Hatch’s presentation on whales. She spoke of her whale research and the impact people have had on the survival of whales, in this case the whales that come to feed at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS), an area of the Atlantic about 25 miles east of Boston.
What JASON means to me
My experiences as a Teacher Argonaut at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary have changed my life. I am more aware of what it takes to better communicate with and work with students and co-workers. I look forward to continued involvement with The JASON Project and its partner, the National Geographic Society, as a current Argonaut and future Argonaut Alumni. It is my wish that those Argonauts who follow after me have the same life-altering experience as I have had. Thank you!
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