TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Despite growing up in land-locked Oklahoma, Jeff Lawrence has always loved oceanography.

Lawrence, a fifth- through eighth-grade science teacher at Lowrey School, devotes a good deal of his off time pursuing his passion. Most recently, he spent five weeks on board the ship R/V Roger Revelle, conducting scientific research off the coast of Argentina.

Lawrence was among 10 teachers from across the country selected to participate in the National Science Foundation’s Armada Project in 2008-2009.

The project allows teachers the opportunity to actively experience ocean, polar and environmental research and peer mentoring.

Previously, Lawrence attended the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Teacher at Sea Program, as well as the Maury Project at the Annapolis Naval Academy.

“In becoming active in these sorts of things, you tend to run into the same group of teachers again and again,” said Lawrence. “A couple of them told me about the Armada Project, so I applied.”

ARMADA Master Teachers are paired with leading scientists, and participate in lab, field, or shipboard research, with all expenses paid. Past experiences include taking part in the largest North Pacific humpback whale study in the waters off the coast of Alaska; investigating the impacts of global change in the Arctic and Antarctic; monitoring and assessing tidal creeks in South Carolina; studying the impact of human activity on dusky dolphins in New Zealand; and exploring the sea floor off the coast of Sumatra to better understand the forces that lead to the 2004 Asian tsunami.

Lawrence learned last March that he had been selected, and would be working with scientists to determine the “factors controlling coccolithophore calcification in the ocean” on the Patagonian Shelf, off the coast of Argentina.

But first, he was required to participate in some intense training.

“In June, they took us to Rhode Island and matched us up with scientists,” said Lawrence. “I was one of the few teachers who could be gone during the school year, so I received the assignment for the December trip. I was very fortunate to work with a group of international scientists.”

In addition to assisting the scientists, Lawrence wrote daily in an online journal, which was read by his students here at home.

“Every day I was gone, they read the journal, tracked the ship’s location and made presentations on PowerPoint,” said Lawrence. “We got to interface via computer a couple of times, which made it more meaningful for the kids. Usually, I take these trips in the summer, and while the pictures and stories benefit the students, this seemed to have more meaning.”

Lawrence spent the holidays on board the ship, and admitted it was a little unsettling, as evidenced by his journal entry for Dec. 25:

“Science doesn’t take holidays or recognize the significance of the day as we do. Although science will continue at a steady pace aboard the ship today, time will be taken for a great dinner and to embellish in the significance of this special day that we all celebrate each year in our own ways. Decorations have been hung and preparations for the meal were made well in advance of the day arriving. The remoteness of the area we are in allows us all to find a quiet place on the ship maybe on the deck somewhere to ponder our thoughts about this day, each other, and especially our families whom we love and miss. Tonight we will only be 8 miles off shore of the Falklands and hope to see land. Even though we will not go ashore, land will be a welcome sight since we have not seen any in over three weeks.”

As a result of the experience, Lawrence will be giving a presentation at the National Science Teachers Association national convention in New Orleans this spring.

“I’ll be taking Mary Bell, a second-year, third-grade teacher with me,” said Lawrence. “I’ve been mentoring her as a part of this program and she’ll be helping with the presentation.”

ARMADA master teachers serve as mentors to colleagues in their home school district who are new to teaching science. During the two academic years following their research experience, ARMADA master teachers and mentees work together to integrate the research experience into the classroom and identify related standards-based resources and curricula.

“It’s something I’m glad I did,” said Lawrence. “I hope I can motivate other teachers to participate in similar programs in the future.”