The invasion of the lionfish will be one of the topics covered during the October 23 broadcast of “Classroom Under the Sea.” Lad Akins, director of special projects for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), shows a lionfish. (Submitted photo)
One of the most destructive forces in the ocean today is a fish. One of the most misunderstood fish in the ocean is known for its destructive force.
The lionfish and the shark will be the topics of the next episode of “Classroom Under the Sea,” an online lecture series hosted by two educators living underwater for 73 days.
The live program start at 1 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, October 23. Viewers can watch at roanestate.edu/classroomunderthesea and on youtube.com/classroomunderthesea.
Biology professor Bruce Cantrell and adjunct professor Jessica Fain from Roane State Community College in East Tennessee are living and working in an underwater habitat—Jules’ Undersea Lodge on Key Largo in the Florida Keys—for 73 days. While in the habitat, Fain and Cantrell are hosting “Classroom Under the Sea,” presented by Roane State and the Marine Resources Development Foundation on Key Largo.
Guests visiting the habitat for the October 23 episode are Lad Akins, director of special projects for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), and Jose Castro with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Akins will discuss the devastating lionfish invasion, and Castro will share his expertise on sharks.
Viewers are invited to tweet questions for Cantrell, Fain, or the guests to @ClassUnderSea or by using #ClassroomUndertheSea.
Laboratory lesson plans for each episode of Classroom Under the Sea can be downloaded free from roanestate.edu/classroomunderthesea. Teachers and parents are encouraged to download the lesson plans and conduct experiments with students.
Classroom Under the Sea episodes continue each Thursday—excluding Thanksgiving—through December 11. Upcoming episodes include:
- Thursday, October 30, 1 p.m. EDT—The World of Art and Its Impact on Ocean Conservation
- Thursday, November 6, 1 p.m. EST—Marine Archaeology
- Thursday, November 20, 1 p.m. EST—Recreation Diving and Its Impact on Ocean Conservation
Recordings of each Classroom Under the Sea episode are available on youtube.com/classroomunderthesea.
In addition to hosting the weekly programs, Cantrell is teaching an online college-credit course—BIOL 2600: Living and Working Under the Sea—for Roane State students.
During their stay, which ends December 15, Cantrell and Fain will also set a world record for the longest time spent living underwater.
For more information about the Classroom Under the Sea, visit roanestate.edu/classroomunderthesea.
Located on Key Largo in the Florida Keys, the Marine Resources Development Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the goal of developing a better understanding of Earth’s marine resources. For more information, visit www.mrdf.org.
Jules’ Undersea Lodge was the undersea research habitat called “La Chalupa,” which Marine Resources Development Foundation operated from 1971-1976. Several missions were conducted in the habitat, including two at a depth of 100 feet. In 1986, the habitat started a new life as Jules’ Undersea Lodge, which is the only underwater hotel in the world and accessible to any recreational diver. Learn more at www.jul.com.
