Juneau high schoolers to unveil rebuilt sea otter skeleton

May 27, 2011

Marmian Grimes

Carin Stephens
907-322-8730
5/19/11

Seventeen Thunder Mountain High School students in a University of Alaska Fairbanks marine science class will unveil the reassembled skeleton of a sea otter this Friday, May 20, at the Thunder Mountain High School library, at noon.

The class is taught by UAF Professor Shannon Atkinson. Atkinson is an expert in marine mammals at the UAF Juneau Center of the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. The class is called DEM BONES, which stands for “Distinctive Education in Motion, Biodiversity of Nature and Environmental Stewardship”.

“I think we motivated students in so many ways,” said Atkinson. “It has been really rewarding.”

She adds that she hopes the students will continue their studies in science or math in college.

The course is worth two college credits at UAF. Subjects covered in the class range from biology and physiology to marine policy.

“I just can’t wait to see everyone’s face when they see what we have been working on all semester,” said student Kylee Henderson. “I am very proud of our class for accomplishing something we have never done before.”

About SFOS

The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences conducts world-class marine and fisheries research, education and outreach across Alaska, the Arctic and Antarctic. 60 faculty scientists and 150 students are engaged in building knowledge about Alaska and the world's coastal and marine ecosystems. SFOS is headquartered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and serves the state from facilities located in Seward, Juneau, Anchorage and Kodiak.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Shannon Atkinson, professor, 907-796-5453 or via e-mail at atkinson@sfos.uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.sfos.uaf.edu

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