NOAA Teacher at Sea
Anne Mortimer
Onboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
July 4 — 22, 2011
Mission: Pollock Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Gulf of Alaska
Date: June 30, 2011
Welcome to my Teacher at Sea blog!
Hi, my name is Anne Mortimer and I am very fortunate to be a 2011 Teacher at Sea on the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson. On this trip, I’ll be working with researchers on a Pollock fisheries survey. Pollock are mid-water fish that are a very important food resource. The research I will be participating in will help to manage the fish populations in the North Pacific and Bering Sea.
Currently, I live in Bellingham, WA and teach science at Mount Vernon High School. Next year, I will be teaching Biology, Sheltered Biology (for English-language learners), and Physical Science (a freshmen science course). I grew up in dry, sunny eastern Washington but have always loved everything about the ocean and coastal areas. I even worked on Catalina Island, CA for 3 years as a marine science instructor. This will be my first trip to Alaska, and hopefully not my last!
I’m very excited to be a Teacher at Sea, living and working with a research team and the ship crew. So far, I’m most looking forward to seeing Alaska’s beautiful waters and the life found there, and bringing my new experiences to my students in Mount Vernon.
Anne, my sister, Becky Moylan (8th grade science teacher in Honolulu) is on a Teacher at Sea program off of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii right now where I live with my disabled husband and our 15 year old Australian Cattle dog, Bubby. By the way, Cedar is pretty cute! You can check out her blog that she has started. We grew up in Alaska and I really want to go back for a visit. Last time I was there was in 2003. My brother-in-law and his wife left Homer, Alaska a couple of weeks ago on their ship the Right Whale, which they built, and are on their way to Kodiak. They assist with marine mammal rescue and research. I really like your writing style. Lots of enthusiasm! Can’t wait to see more of your blog. Robbin St. Amand in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (Big Island)