Angela - Tracking Pellets

As mentioned during last week's class, I plan to collect sediment samples and survey beaches for plastic pellets on Florida's West and East coast. For easy comparison of the amount of pellets found at each beach and on each coast, I am thinking of having several graphs such as the ones below.

One bar graph for each coast to identify if a specific area on one coast has more pellets than the others:

A pie chart that compares the two coasts in order to identify if one coast has more pellets than the other:

As you can see, I am trying to decide between using amount of pellets versus overall percentage of pellets found. What do you think is better?

In addition to pondering what graphs to use, I've been trying to figure out what type of containers I should use for my samples. In the event that I find enough pellets at one location (100 pellets are required), I'd like to mail them to a laboratory to be tested for pollutants. In order to not cross-contaminate the plastic pellets with chemicals from a plastic container, I searched the isles of my local stores and came across wooden boxes, cotton bags, glass Tupperware, and finally found this awesome set of quart-sized jars:

The nice thing about these jars is that along the side of them they have measurements like a measuring cup. I need to decide by Saturday if I want to end up filtering through 12+ quarts of sand or if I only want to take 2 cup samples.

Microsoft Office Software

Hi Everyone!

In class the other day there were a few of us who were talking about not having access to Microsoft Software on our computers via our school email. I did some research and found this on our website

1. Office Web Apps are, currently, only available on Skydrive. While Skydrive is not new to Daytona State, it has changed significantly with the recent upgrade. SkyDrive is now managed completely by Microsoft. Daytona State personnel cannot perform any account management on SkyDrive accounts.
2. If you are currently using SkyDrive, your email and your skydrive are now 2 (two) separate accounts. Your skydrive account can be logged into by using your email address and your OLD password.  If you need access to SkyDrive after the upgrade please use https://skydrive.live.com and sign in using your email address and password.  Once you have successfully logged in the first time you will be asked to rename your account and then you will be allowed access your files. Daytona State College will no longer be able to reset your login for this service. 

I will tell you though, I tried to use my old email and password and it did not work. I created a new account name and I now have access to all of the online versions of Microsoft Office software we had last year through live.com. If you have any questions feel free to comment or email me!

Introduction: Michelle LaComb

Hello everyone! My name is Michelle LaComb. I love basically any form of science. In high school, I was in the Academy of Science and Medicine. I was also on my schools Science Olympiad team. I got to explore many different areas of science but marine science was always the subject that interested me the most. My love for marine science started way before high school though!

I've been fascinated with the ocean and marine biology for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, my grandma had this 20 volume book set called The Ocean World of Jacques Cousteau. I remember when I was bored I would always pick one of the books randomly and start reading it. I was so fascinated with everything that I read about the ocean and the creatures in it that I decided right then that I wanted to have a job involving the ocean when I grew up.

There are so many things about the ocean that fascinate me. The fact that so much of the ocean is unexplored and unknown makes it all the more interesting to me. My favorite animals in the ocean are jellyfish and nudibranchs (sea slugs). I think that they are both such unique and beautiful creatures. I'm also fascinated by ocean bioluminescence. The way that different animals utilize the adaptation is intriguing. As much as these things interest me though, ultimately I would love to work in the field of marine mammal rehabilitation. 

In my free time, I like to be outdoors. I love to hike, canoe, camp, and go to the beach. I also volunteer at the ARNI Foundation in Daytona. I'm a sucker for animals, especially cats. I can't see a stray and not feel the need to feed it and bring it into my home!

I hope this class will give me some great experience in the field. I'm excited to see what I learn!

Ryan Dail

Hi my name is Ryan Dail and my passion lies with marine life. Marine biology interests me the most because I want to study living organisms in the ocean and in brackish waters. I have always spent most my time on the beaches of Florida or the complex estuaries back throughout the rivers. I signed up for this lab course because I want to further my education in this career path. I love learning of the new behaviors and habitats of living vertebrates beneath the saltwater. I hope to not only learn the biological aspect of marine life, but the geologic aspect of where I could find these animals. It would be nice to learn new ways to help the conservation of these important animals that have such an enormous effect on our human growth. Another aspect that draws me towards marine biology is the unknown. The tremendous amount of water on earth has so much to left to be discovered. With the growing amount of technology, discoveries are bound to happen and I want to be a part of that.

Introducing Grace Curtin

I love being in the water, whether its swimming in the ocean, kayaking down a river or life guarding in the lake. One goal in my life is to swim with dolphins, sharks, and whales. If I could take every opportunity the world offered me, I would. I enjoy learning, whether its calculus in order to become an environmental engineer, sciences to follow my interest in marine biology and chemistry, or psychology to understand the workings of the human brain.

I go to Universal Studios all the time with my friends, but my favorite part is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I have read all the books and seen every movie multiple times.

My name is Grace and I am here to discover just what path I want to pursue.

Hi, this is going to be a great opportunity this semester !

         Hello, my name is Richard, I'm originally from Buffalo N.Y., I know I'm in Dolphin territory now!, but you have to admit the games are always interesting! I spent alot of time on the shores of Lake Erie. I spent a year in California after attending Amherst Central High School and fell in love with the beach and ocean. I was in the military and stationed in Germany. I enjoyed travelling throughout the United States and have also been to Taiwan. I was an electrician for twenty eight years. I'm still learning how to use computers. Uploading a picture from the web cam and then onto the profile was a first time experience. The next project is learn to use the iPhone and/or digital camera for the lab (just letting you know in case my profile picture changes, I will be practicing!
         I was in Introduction to Oceanography last semester and was impressed with the cycle of life in the ocean, but I was also disturbed to learn about the negative aspects such as pollution, bycatch and such wasteful things such as shark fin soup. I'm looking forward to learning the proper way to explore and record my experience in the field. Florida is a great place and I am so encouraged to have so many students to learn from who voluntered for this lab.



Hi I'm Brittnie

    Hello, my name is Brittnie Hoyt. I was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire and lived there for eleven years, where I lived about two hours away from the ocean, so I would only get to go a couple times a year; but the times that I did go, I loved it. I would play with all the creatures in the tidal pools or jump in at Nubble Lighthouse and look at the starfish all along the rock wall.  Then in 2005, I moved to Florida with my mom and my brother. 


    I love to paddle board, kayak, snorkel, fish, hike, or just be outside; I've always loved nature and animals, and found them so interesting. That's why I want to be a marine ecologist, studying the interactions between the plants, animals, and environment. I find it so interesting how everything works together so well in nature.

    My main interest is coral reefs, I think that they are absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to start researching and studying them for my project.

    I hope to achieve a lot more knowledge about the ocean, and I'm extremely excited about being out on the rivers or at the beach doing research, and being out
of the classroom, learning hands on.  

Lizzy Lance

Hi there! My name is Lizzy Lance and I've just turned 18. I am majoring in Marine Biology for my AA transfer degree. You can usually find me at the beach and hanging out with friends when I'm not studying or in class. Some other loves of mine are dance and racing motocross. I've always had a great love for animals and I hope to one day be able to work hands on in rescuing and rehabilitating marine life.

For about the past year, my mom and I have volunteered at the Halifax Humane Society in Daytona. I have been able to take advantage of many opportunities the Humane Society gifted me with. Whether taking animals out to shows where the public can become more informed, or to be apart of the very first Halifax Humane Society summer camp for children. Currently my family and I are fostering two Chow mix puppies and it is truly a blessing! Each animal has their own kind of story and to me it is so amazing to be apart of the animal's growth and rehabilitation.

Since I was about 8, the ocean and marine life have always fascinated me. I don't know exactly what made me want to study in the field of Marine Biology so much, but I believe it was just an overwhelming love for the life in the water. I decided to sign-up for this course so I could get more experience in the field. I am truly a novice in this area and I jump at any chance to learn something new. I love learning from mistakes and focusing on how to do better in the future. I hope to learn more about each field in this class and to get some great hands on experience with new things. I am very enthusiastic about what is in store in this class!

D'Intro

Greetings!
My name is Deanna. This is my 5th year here at DSC. My hubby and I have been going to school together for the entire time. We graduated with our AA last December. I am going to be receiving my BAS in Business and may go on to get my MBA. My hubby and I have owned our own company for 7 years, and have been very lucky to have the same great clients for all 7 years.

Yay!!! Step one complete!!!

I love to travel! We went to Costa Rica and Panama the same day we received our AA. It was our graduation present for all our hard work and efforts. We loved it so much that we are going back this January.

The 3.5 km zipline in Boquete, Panama was beyond fun!!

I am also a huge animal rights activist and help a lot of non-profit animal rescues. I love animals!! I have 16 cats, 1 dog, and 2 turtles. My husband and I have been president and vice president of the Environmental/Animal Welfare Club for the past few years so we can help save animals and our environment.

The horses and I at Stable Haven Horse Rescue in Samsula.

http://www.stablehaven.org/main.html

http://bigcatrescue.org/

https://www.soidog.org/Default.aspx

Another love of mine is dirt and plants. Dirt smells good and plants are medicine. I have been involved in a few archaeology finds, which only fueled my love of digging in the dirt.

This is an active dig that my Dad actually helped start. Now UW has students do their internship program there.

But, most of all, I love my family!! Most of my family is in Wyoming, and we just went there to see my 94 year Grandfather.

This is part of my family in WY.

My sweet Grandpa!

I hope all my classmates enjoy this class! 

Dr. Woodall is the best!!

Ryan Darcy

Hi, My name is Ryan Darcy and I have lived in South Daytona my entire life.  Since i was a toddler I have been fascinated with wild life and always found myself reading about the different animals here and or wandering the forest to see what I could find.  I started as a reptile lover but at sometime during childhood I became incredibly interested with life underwater, and this is what I've spent most my life studying.  I have been keeping aquariums since I was about nine years old and now work in an aquarium shop(Amazing Aquariums).  My main interest is in coral reefs and all the life associated with them.  I am lucky enough to be ably to work with these exotic animals everyday while working on a number of reef aquariums both at home and at work. My goal in life is to one day be able to study and conduct the research needed to help save the planets reefs, which are quickly dwindling.  I am now attempting to major in Marine Science and I chose to partake in this lab to hopefully gain some extra insight into the field I am working towards.  I am very excited about this course and I hope to learn quite a bit about how to conduct good research and see how science works in the great outdoors.

Rebecca Leahey

My name is Rebecca Leahey. This is my third year at Daytona State College. I am currently in the Bachelors program for Secondary Earth/Space Science Education. I also volunteer as a Student Ambassador with the Admissions Office.  I am the mother of two fantastic kids. My son Korben is 10 and my daughter Rain is 7.  I have been married for three years and have lived in Ormond Beach for the last five years. We enjoy playing video games, baking and going to theme parks. We've already seen the new penguin exhibit at Sea World three times since it opened this summer!!

                The reason I chose to teach Earth/Space science is because of the mystery surrounding it. The Earth is an amazing and terrifying place! There is still so much we don't understand about it. We all live on this crazy planet together and our children will live on it after us. It only makes sense that we do our best to protect and preserve what we can. It blows my mind when people don't understand (or don't care) how their actions will affect the future of our planet.  I hope when I am a teacher I can leave a lasting impression on my students about why it's important to understand the Earth and ways that we can improve life here for everyone, humans, penguins, turtles and even all the creepy crawly bugs. It's all part of a much larger picture that few take the time to see.

My Introduction: Zach Emerson

Hi! My name is Zach and I am 18. I spend a good amount of my time studying for school or reading Novels. The rest goes to my friends and my church youth group Pathfinders. I traveled quite a bit in my early childhood. Most of my traveling has been between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida. I have also been to England and Sin City. Thanks to them I have thirst to travel and a collection to start.

 I am currently majoring in Environmental Science Tech. If there is a freshman in every class it would be me. I have little to no knowledge  of oceanography or any of the fields related to it. I am taking the Oceanography class right now. I took this lab to help learn more about it, and to experience it for myself. I have a feeling though, that I will learn just as much from the class as I will from my classmates. In our first meeting I heard about quite a few cool ideas and interests. A more important reason I enrolled was to see If I had any special interest in any particular field. I want to learn as much as possible and hopefully make some pretty interesting friends. Below is a picture of me and some other Pathfinders.

   

                              (Don't mind the scowl, my group lost that day, wasn't very happy)

Jeffrey Hall

Hi everyone, I'm Jeff.

 My wife and I are currently the president and vice-president of the Environmental and Animal Welfare Club here at DSC. We also run Florida Econet on Facebook. My current studies are in engineering technologies. My end goal is to be self sustainable and live off the grid. Reducing our carbon footprint through reusing, repurposing and recycling is my motto. We have a container and vertical garden, and currently produce a weapon grade table pepper.

  We also vermiculture, and protaculture composte. I'm excited to be a part of this class.