Stars and STEM Stories
Students Add to GLOBE Data While Learning About Ocean Science and Sailing from Japan to Palau!
"We arrived in Palau as leaders, sailors and marine scientists. Collaboration, lessons, and group discussions gave us the tools, knowledge, and skills to address complex ocean issues. We discovered ocean issues in our home countries are not just individual issues, but shared global problems. After working with an international group of leaders, I left MIRAIE feeling inspired and hopeful for a sustainable future." —Ashlee Wells
To celebrate World Oceans Day (8 June) and U.S. National Ocean Month this June, we are excited to share an inspiring story map, “Sailing for a Sustainable Ocean” by GLOBE alumna, Ashlee Wells.
In March 2024, Ashlee and a group of fellow students from around the world sailed on the tall ship MIRAIE across the western Pacific Ocean from Yokohama, Japan, to the Micronesian republic of Palau—a trip of approximately 2,000 nautical miles! The students were immersed in learning about, and doing, marine science with guidance from GLOBE’s Christi Buffington, a science and education specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and GLOBE’s Cheryl Williams, a teacher at Palmer High School, Palmer, Alaska.
T
his journey was supported by a program designed by the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) as part of the Japan–Palau Friendship Yacht Race. In addition to their GLOBE activities, the students learned how to sail the MIRAIE—a spectacular, three-masted schooner with an overall length of 52.16 meters (currently sailing under the Japanese flag)—and experienced the work involved to maintain and care for the ocean-going vessel.
The students’ hands-on science learning comprised collecting data and samples along the trip to contribute to GLOBE’s database. This included atmospheric observations (cloud, wind speed, direction, barometric pressure, relative humidity, and temperature) and ocean observations (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates). They also collected water samples to study the amounts of microplastics and plankton in the water using microscopes to identify what was in their samples.
Two middle school students, Sanetoki Matsuno and Miraz Hossain Chowdhury, went on to conduct a separate research project on the accuracy of the data they collected, and their research poster can be viewed on the GLOBE website.
Once on Palau, the students spent another three days learning from local experts, exploring, snorkeling, and sailing before heading home to different parts of the globe. Scroll down for more photos of their voyage.
Read Ashlee’s story about their amazing adventure.
LEARN MORE:
- Become a GLOBE observer.
- The 8th of June was officially designated as World Oceans Day by the United Nations General Assembly on 5 December 2008. Learn more.
- Learn more about the U.S. National Ocean month through the NASA website and the NOAA website.
Get ready to climb! On Day 1, GLOBE educators Cheryl Williams and Christi Buffington donned harnesses to climb the rigging and set sails. Along with 20 young people, they became certified Tall Ship Novice Crew Members by the International Sail and Power Academy.
After arriving in Palau, students present their ideas for sustainable solutions to address microplastic pollution, energy conservation and ocean literacy education. Photo by C.Buffington.
Land Ho! After arriving in the waters of Palau, students clip on their harness to ride on the bow net and take in the final moments of the 16-day journey on the Tall Ship MIRAIE. Photo by C.Buffington.
Students ages 12-24, GLOBE educators Cheryl Williams and Christi Buffington, and sponsor Dr. Hide Sakaguchi (Director of Ocean Research Development Program of Sasakawa Peace Foundation gather to celebrate their GLOBE investigation and voyage from Japan to Palau in March 2024. Photo by H.Tanaka.