Trips and Teaching

Teaching Cruise with RV Johan Ruud

Morgan led student cruises in the fjords of Northern Norway to recruit Norwegian Students to UiT. Learning to harvest cods tongues may have been the most valuable part!

The Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology

The Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology  (Bio 2013) is a bachelors course run by Assoc. Professor Jasmine Nahrgang and myself. Students join for collection of sediments, blue mussels and cod in the harbor around Tromsø, Norway. They dissect the organisms immediately in the lab for bio morphometrics and tissue collection for enzyme activity and body burden. Livers and digestive glands are analyzed for EROD activity, a proxy measurement for CYP1A, the phase I enzyme of pollutant metabolism. These enzyme activity levels are compared against body burden measurements, species, size, location data and further compared to long term sampling of the the Tromsø harbor to conclude on the environmental status of the organisms and environment around their home.

Outreach to High School Students in Northern Norway

With the intent to spread the word on Polar Cod plight in the changing Arctic, I took to the high schools of Northern Norway ; Skjervøy, Tromsdalen, Grønnåsen, Kongsbakken, Sommerlyst.

I even got to give a talk at Polaria! Hence the Seal Selfie:)

Chugach Children´s Forest Habitat Restoration Sea Kayak Expedition 2017

This was a 2 week opportunity for Alaskan teenagers to learn stewardship and backcountry skills in the pristine Prince William Sound. Students were collected invasive European Black slugs and mapping biogeography of this skunk cabbage loving mollusk, collecting marine debris along the beaches and restoring campsite damaged by humans. Themes along the way covered marine pollution, fish and invertebrate biology, mindfulness, and backcountry skills. Sea kayaking was the main mode of transport with initial and final transport by Lazy Otter Charters. Food was planned and prepared by students. Yumm! 

This trip was put on by cooperation with Alaska Geographic and the National Forest Service. Morgan Bender and William Melton led the trip.