Educators: Take a free tour of marine studies campus in Lewes

The University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) offers free guided tours of its Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes to schools throughout the region. At this world-class research institution, middle and high school students can get a firsthand look at science in action and learn about potential careers in marine science.

Tours typically begin with a 15-minute video that showcases some of the many ways CEOE researchers and students explore the coastal environment. The video highlights projects in which scientists study topics such as wind energy, invasive species, the use of marsh plants for biodiesel fuel, and emissions from oceangoing ships.

Following the video presentation, knowledgeable guides take students on a walking tour of the facilities that house Delaware Sea Grant College Program scientists and where the majority of the research in the college’s marine biosciences and oceanography programs is conducted.

Students will find many exhibits showing how UD scientists study extreme marine environments such as the frigid, ice-covered seas of the Antarctic and the super-heated hydrothermal vents found more than a mile below the sea surface. Students also will see how scientists are working to address local issues, such as the impacts of land development on Delaware water quality and wildlife.

In one stop on the tour, students visit a large greenhouse where UD scientists are investigating salt marsh plants that can withstand rising sea levels and filter water pollution.

A favorite stop on the tour is a tropical reef tank, which introduces students to one of the most diverse communities on Earth. With the rapid deterioration of coral reefs worldwide, the tank provides a springboard for discussions about the causes of and solutions to this global crisis.

“We are mindful of educators’ needs to align student field experiences with grade-appropriate science standards and are prepared to customize the tours accordingly,” said Rosalind Troupin, a retired physician and program director. “Based on an educator's needs, we may, for instance, help coordinate a tour with a field biology or environmental education lesson involving naturalists in nearby Cape Henlopen State Park.”

The free tours may be scheduled for middle and high school classes of five or more people, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Requests should be made at least one week in advance by calling 302-645-4346, by e-mailing Michelle Scorziello at mkscorzi@udel.edu, or by writing to the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, University of Delaware, CEOE, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958-1298. The Hugh R. Sharp Campus is accessible to people with disabilities.

To learn more about the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, visit www.deseagrant.org. For more about CEOE, visit www.ceoe.udel.edu.