Photos by Jim Thompson
PLRP-Spaceward Bound photographer
June 27, 2008
Click on photo to see larger version.
 This
year PLRP (Pavilion Lake Research Project) hosted 17 students,
2 teachers and a group of parent chaperones. This
group piloted a short project to better define how the Spaceward
Bound program could be incorporated into the PLRP.
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The mission of Spaceward Bound is to train the next generation
of space explorers by having students and teachers participate
in the exploration of scientifically interesting but remote
and extreme environments on Earth as analogs for human exploration
of the Moon and Mars.
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 Dr.
Chris McKay, Planetary Scientist from NASA Ames, let the instruction. Students
examined the microbialites in the lake, examined samples and looked
at specimans under the stereo-microscope. They discussed
what we are still investigating - why are the microbilates in this
lake and how did they grow here?
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 The
students also experienced the multiple technologies scientists
use to explore the lake. Alex Forrest and Weston Pike demonstrated
UBC-Gavia, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that has been
used to map the lake.
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 This
year the students snorkeled the very cold Pavilion Lake. Due
to the extreme cold of the lake - some 58 degrees - the activity
was optional. But every single student went in, some staying
for 30 minutes and outlasting the PLRP staff! |
 They looked as divers below them pointed out deeper mircobialite
structures. And learned about the unique structures of
the lake and the significance of those structures in understanding
early earth and for finding life signs on other planets.
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Students were encouraged to build their own robotics and given an autographed
copy of Harry Bohm's book 'Build Your Own Underwater Robot' and tested one
of the models descripted in the book. |
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