Troy High's Roshan Pathre Participates in Deep-Sea Expedition

This information was provided by the City of Troy.

Students and educators from around the world are embarking on Dr. Robert Ballard’s ship of exploration, E/V Nautilus, as it explores the waters of the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas off the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus. student Roshan Pathre, 17, has been selected as a JASON Project National Argonaut and has joined the expedition from Aug. 22–31.

Student and educator Argonauts join the ship’s Corps of Exploration—an international team of scientists, engineers, students and educators exploring geology, biology, archaeology and chemistry—and participate in live, interactive webcasts with shore-based audiences during the expedition. The 2012 expedition can be followed in real-time at www.nautiluslive.org and at the Nautilus Live Theater at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CN. The work of the Argonauts aboard Nautilus is featured through blogs, photos and live events at www.jason.org.

Pathre shared his excitement about the upcoming expedition.

“I feel extremely fortunate for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Pathre said. "I am inspired by how JASON takes the subjects of science and creates a new atmosphere for young people to learn in ways other than reading textbooks and memorizing facts.”   

The JASON Project, managed by Sea Research Foundation and National Geographic Society, was founded by Ballard and is an internationally acclaimed, exploration-based program that links students—inside the classroom and out—to real science and scientists through technology intensive, inquiry-based curricular experiences. Since 1990, JASON’s National Argonaut program has provided hands-on, scientific field work to over 450 competitively selected students and educators worldwide, many who have gone on to pursue degrees and careers in science. National Argonauts participate in scientific research with peers and scientists and return to their communities as mentors and role models.

“By joining this expedition and becoming part of JASON’s curricular experiences, Roshan will serve as a role model and science ambassador to millions of students and educators worldwide,” said Sea Research Foundation President & CEO Dr. Stephen M. Coan. “We are fortunate to have him join this year’s Corps of Exploration.”

The 2012 Nautilus Exploration Program consists of four separate cruise legs and began on July 7 off the coast of Turkey in the Black Sea. The second leg of the expedition brought Nautilus south to the submerged Anaximander Mountains off the southern coast of Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. After a brief port stop, the third leg will explore the Eratosthenes Seamount off the coast of Cyprus and then head north to conduct mapping operations in the Southeast Aegean Sea near Bodrum, Turkey.

In independent evaluations across the country, JASON and its Immersion Learning program have been shown to:

• Increase student interest, motivation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
• Increase student interest in and knowledge about careers in STEM
• Increase educators science content knowledge, confidence and ability to teach science effectively

JASON reaches 1.5 million students a year, and general audiences of over six million through content distributed by partner organizations. Its programs are used in every U.S. state and in over 170 countries. 

About the Nautilus Exploration Program

The Nautilus Exploration Program was founded in 2008 by Dr. Robert Ballard and is a joint ocean exploration initiative of the Ocean Exploration Trust, the Institute for Exploration and the URI Center for Ocean Exploration. This international program centers on scientific exploration of the seafloor launched from aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, a 64-meter research vessel currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition to conducting pure scientific research, the NautilusExploration Program offers ocean telepresence to explorers on shore via live video, audio and data feeds from the ship. The Program also includes an education component that brings educators and students on E/V Nautilus expeditions. The 2012 Nautilus Exploration Program is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Exploration Trust, Bechtel Corporation, Sea Research Foundation, National Geographic Society, Office of Naval Research, the University of Rhode Island, and additional private donors. 

About Sea Research Foundation

Based in Mystic, Connecticut, Sea Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and, in partnership with National Geographic Society, The JASON Project and its Immersion Learning program. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration. Sea Research receives major support from United Technologies Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company and Foxwoods Resort Casino. Learn more at www.searesearch.org. 

About The JASON Project

The JASON Project is an independent 501(c)(3) operated in association with National Geographic Society and managed by Sea Research Foundation. Named for the mythological Greek explorer, JASON is a nationally acclaimed, exploration-based program that links students—inside the classroom and out—to real science and scientists through technology intensive, inquiry-based curricular experiences. Learn more at www.jason.org.