NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jo Slavitz
Preparing to board NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
July 19th – August 10th
Mission: Summer Pollock Acoustic Survey, Leg 3
Geographic Area of Cruise: Bering Sea, Alaska
Date: July 11, 2026
Weather Data from Dover Middle School – Dover, NH
Latitude: 43° 10′ 42″ N
Longitude: 70° 52′ 59” W
Winds: NW at 7-10 mph
Air Temperature: 82° F (28° C)
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” — Jon Krakauer
Introduction
As I cram the last pair of socks, one more sweater and my field guide into my pack in preparation for my voyage on NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson next week, I think about how I got here and where I hope my journey helps to lead my students.
I was born a scientist, we all are; filled with questions and curiosity. As a child, I could often be found barefoot, traipsing about armed with a fishing net, a pair of binoculars, matches, a magnifying glass and the Little Golden Nature Guides. I grew up on an island and loved being out on the ocean and everything living within it. I took every biology class my high school offered because it meant weekly trips to the beach.
As a middle school teacher for over 30 years, my goal is to recreate not just that excitement of discovery, but the deep dive into problems when the answers don’t come easy. I encourage leaning into adventures and opportunities even when you feel out of your element or unsure of yourself. NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program has given me just such an enterprise to lead by example, so come follow me on my great adventure.
Science and Technology Log
All great adventures involve a quest, so who are we searching for? Check out this legendary beast, this is the Alaskan pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) aka the walleye pollock. That scientific name is like his code name: Gadus means “cod” and chalcogrammus “brass mark.” Check out his ID photo, see that golden brown line of spots, that’s our guy!
Pollock are a close relative of the cod fish we see here on the east coast. They typically grow to be between 12” – 20” in length and weigh from 1-3 lbs. It’s a fish eat fish world out there where, depending on their size and life stage, pollock eat everything from zooplankton to small fishes. In turn, pollock are a favorite meal for others including ocean mammals, such as sea lions, larger fish, sea birds and those of us who love a good Filet-O-Fish. Pollock, like middle schoolers, hang out with their buddies and family in large schools, spending their days on both the ocean bottom and the column of water above it. Although they live throughout the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the largest concentration of Alaskan pollock is in the Bering Sea, so that’s where we are headed. Up to the Alaskan coast starting out in the Aleutian Islands at Dutch Harbor.
Did You Know?
Alaskan pollock may seem new or unfamiliar to you but it has been hiding in plain sight all around you. Go on your own pollock hunt and see how many Bingo squares you can find in your home, school or community.