EVS – 485 makes a big splash with UNCW marine science students.
The third annual course, “Introduction to Research Diving” was offered
during Summer Session I through the Environmental Studies Program at UNCW.
Dr. Jack Hall, Director of the EVS Program arranged for this course to be
offered as an EVS special topic elective. The
2 credit hour course lasted for ten (10) consecutive days in May and provided
UNCW graduate and undergraduate students advanced instruction in the use of
scuba diving as a research tool for scientific investigation. Each student was
required to complete a minimum, 12 open water training dives during organized
and supervised field trips to popular research diving sites in Onslow Bay, NC.
“Introduction to Research Diving” followed the minimum standards of
100 hours for scientific diver training as outlined by the American Academy of
Underwater Sciences (AAUS) and is also endorsed by the Carolina Consortium for
Scientific Diving. The course was
crossed listed as a GLY 592 in Earth Sciences for Graduate students in Marine
Geology. In future years, this
course will have a permanent listing as EVS 479 for 2002 and beyond. Doug Kesling, Training and Safety Coordinator for
NURC/UNCW designed and implemented the first course four years ago after it was
suggested that the course be offered through the UNCW Summer School Program.
Dr. David Miller, Director of Summer School has been a strong supporter
of this course from the beginning and felt that it fit in well with the overall
objectives and diversification of the Summer School Program offerings.
The timing of the course is perfect for marine science students who wish
to continue scientific diving activities during UNCW’s summer research diving
season. 27 students participating from UNCW,
UNC-CH, UNC-Charlotte and Duke University have completed the diving course over
the past four years. Visiting
students from outside institutions can receive transfer of credit from UNCW
after completion of the course.
Photo by unnamed Research Vessel Captain
(Pictured L to R: Students, Candy Troutman,
Steve Hall, Stefanie Wells, Adam Knierim, Allison White and Megan Hear
http://www.uncwil.edu/nurc/contact.htm