NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jennifer Widdig
Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson
June 17 – June 30, 2026
Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario
Date: June 2, 2026
A New Adventure Begins
Welcome! My name is Jen, and I call the small town of Minford, Ohio, home. For the past decade, I have had the privilege of teaching a variety of life science courses at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. While environmental and animal sciences have been at the heart of my teaching career, I am now preparing for a brand-new chapter that is as exciting as it is unfamiliar.
This upcoming school year, I will be stepping into a role that is not only new to me but also new to our school. My focus will be supporting students through online coursework across multiple subject areas while helping ensure they earn the credentials necessary for graduation. It is a unique opportunity to combine education, technology, and student success in ways I have never experienced before, and I am eager to see where this path leads.
One thing I have learned throughout my career is to embrace opportunities that challenge me to grow. That mindset has taken me far beyond the walls of a classroom. Over the years, I have had the incredible opportunity to travel to Belize, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Peru. These experiences allowed me to collaborate with educators and researchers, participate in meaningful projects, volunteer in communities around the world, and gain perspectives that continue to influence both my personal and professional life.
Now, I am preparing for an entirely different kind of adventure.
For two weeks, I will be living and working aboard a research hydrography vessel on Lakes Erie and Ontario. Unlike my previous international experiences, this opportunity will immerse me in the daily life of a scientific research crew as they collect data, map underwater features, and contribute to our understanding of the Great Lakes. It is a chance to experience science in action, learn from experts in the field, and gain firsthand knowledge of the technology and research that support navigation, environmental monitoring, and resource management.
As someone who has spent years teaching science, I am excited to step into the role of learner once again. There is something humbling and inspiring about leaving your comfort zone and diving into an entirely new environment especially when that environment happens to be a research vessel floating across two of North America’s most significant freshwater ecosystems.
As I prepare to trade lesson plans for lake charts and classrooms for the deck of a research vessel, I am reminded that some of the best learning happens when we step into unfamiliar territory. This blog will serve as a real-time account of that experience. I’ll share the sights, the science, the challenges, and the unexpected moments that come with living aboard a hydrographic survey vessel. From learning the day-to-day operations of the crew to exploring the technology used to map the lake floor. I hope you’ll join me as I navigate life aboard the Thomas Jefferson, explore the science of the Great Lakes, and embrace this adventure one day at a time.
Mapping the Ocean with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
Before embarking on my adventure, I want to share some information about the agency, program and vessel.
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program is an exciting opportunity that allows educators to step out of their schools and onto research vessels to experience real-world science firsthand. The organization behind this adventure is NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that studies and protects our oceans, atmosphere, weather, climate, and coastal resources. From forecasting hurricanes and tracking marine life to mapping the ocean floor, NOAA’s mission is to better understand our planet and help keep people safe.
Since 1990, more than 850 teachers have participated in NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program, joining scientists aboard research vessels and bringing their experiences back to classrooms across the country. Teachers become part of the science team, helping collect data while sharing photos, blogs, and lessons that connect students to real scientific discoveries.
Teachers selected for the program observe and actively participate. Depending on the mission, they may deploy equipment, record scientific observations, monitor instruments, assist with data collection, and take part in safety drills. Research operations run 24 hours a day, and teachers often work alongside scientists during 12-hour shifts.
For my mission, I will be aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, a hydrographic survey vessel. The 208-foot ship can travel nearly 19,200 nautical miles and remain at sea for up to 45 days. The Thomas Jefferson is essentially a floating science laboratory. Its mission is to map the seafloor, support maritime commerce, improve coastal resilience, and provide data used to update the nation’s nautical charts. These charts help ships navigate safely through coastal waters and busy ports.
Hydrography is the study and measurement of underwater features and navigable waterways. Just as cartographers create maps of mountains and rivers on land, hydrographers map the hidden landscape beneath the water’s surface. Their work helps identify shallow areas, underwater hazards, shipwrecks, and other features important to safe navigation.
To “see” underwater, the Thomas Jefferson uses advanced technology. Side-scan sonar sends sound waves across the seafloor to create detailed images of underwater objects. Multibeam echo sounders measure water depths with incredible precision and create three-dimensional maps of the ocean floor. The ship also carries smaller survey boats that can reach shallow areas inaccessible to the larger vessel.
Hydrographic data has many uses beyond navigation. Scientists use it to study marine habitats, determine whether the seafloor consists of sand, mud, or rock, support dredging and construction projects, and assist with routing underwater cables and pipelines.
As I prepare to step aboard the Thomas Jefferson, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement, curiosity, and gratitude. This experience is so much more than a professional development opportunity. I get a chance to become a student again, learning directly from scientists and crew members who dedicate their lives to exploring and understanding our oceans. I’ll have the opportunity to see hydrography in action, witness cutting-edge technology mapping parts of the seafloor, and experience life aboard a NOAA research vessel firsthand. Most importantly, I’ll be able to bring these experiences back to my students, sharing not only the science but also the adventure, teamwork, and discovery that happen beyond the walls of a classroom.
