URI Narragansett Bay Classroom to Host Free
JASON Project 2001 Teacher Training Sessions

NARRAGANSETT -- July 18, 2000 -- The 2001 JASON Project: Hawai'i: A Living Laboratory, which will take place from January 29 to February 9, will investigate volcanoes both on the land and in the sea and compare volcanic events here on Earth with others throughout the solar system.

To prepare teachers and group leaders to participate in JASON XII, they are encouraged to attend one of three free training sessions sponsored by the URI Office of Marine Programs. Teacher training will take place on Wednesday, July 26, Wednesday, August 16, and Saturday, September 30. Each training session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Coastal Institute Visitor Center on the URI Narragansett Bay Campus.

Teachers or group leaders who attend a training session will receive a free JASON Project video, a copy of the 2001 JASON curriculum, and special access to an Online Activity and Resource Center.

JASON XII, led by JASON Project founder and URI Graduate School of Oceanography alumnus Dr. Robert Ballard, will travel to Hawai'i, known for its awe-inspiring volcanoes, its unique terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and its rich cultural history. Ballard and a team of researchers and student Argonauts will explore this group of isolated islands, shaped by 30 million years of volcanism, which offer one of the best representations of Earth's geologic and biologic forces. They will also trace the migration paths of the diverse peoples who settled these islands, and explore the fascinating cultural tapestry that is modern Hawai'i. More information about the 2001 JASON Project can be found at www.jasonproject.org.

For information or to sign up for a training session, register a class or group, or purchase individual tickets, call the URI Office of Marine Programs at 401-874-6211.

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Visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography website: http://www.gso.uri.edu/

Contact: Lisa Cugini, 874-6642, lcugini@gso.uri.edu