Agassiz research vessel to offer free scientific excursions during Strawberry Fest July 11

HOUGHTON -- How do we know if Lake Superior is healthy? The public is invited to sign up for FREE 45-minute scientific excursions aboard Michigan Tech's research vessel Agassiz from 1 p.m. -4 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, at the Chassell Strawberry Festival.

The Agassiz, a Michigan Tech research vessel, docked in Chassell at a previous Strawberry Festival scientific excursion event. (File photos by Keweenaw Now)

A Great Lakes scientist will demonstrate the use of sampling equipment to collect plankton, sediment and other water quality data. Microscopes will be on board so participants can view the organisms. Participants will investigate the connection between land uses and the health of the Great Lakes.

A young passenger on the Agassiz observes specimens from Portage Lake during a previous Strawberry Festival excursion.

Scientific excursions are scheduled to depart from the Chassell marina dock at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eighteen persons may participate on each excursion (must be 7 years of age or older). Life jackets are available for all passengers. Displays and educational materials will be available for public viewing onshore.

"Residents and visitors are encouraged to learn how scientists study the Great Lakes and what factors contribute to a healthy lake," explains Joan Chadde, program coordinator. "These scientific excursions have been offered for the past three summers and have been extremely well attended. Youth and adults enjoy the opportunity to interact with Great Lakes scientists and ask questions."

The event is coordinated by the Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education with funding from the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Coastal Management Program, Chassell Lions Club, the Wege Foundation, Michigan Tech Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry and the MTU Remote Sensing Institute.

For more information contact Joan Chadde, Education Program coordinator, at chadde@mtu.edu.

Visit michiganenvironmentaled.org to learn about the MAEOE annual conference on Urban Environmental Education Oct. 8-10, 2009, at University of Michigan Dearborn.

The Western U.P. Center is a partnership of Copper Country and Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School Districts and Michigan Technological University, serving 19 school districts and the communities in Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic, Ontonagon and Keweenaw Counties. Center programs reach more than 10,000 students, teachers and community members in the Upper Great Lakes region annually. Find out more at: http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/.