Outreach

The Tucson Marine Phage Lab is committed to communicating effectively about our research not only to the scientific community, but also to the public and to the students that will become tomorrow's researchers and decision-makers.

Visitors to Biosphere 2 learn about marine phage at the Oceans exhibit during the Tara Oceans Expedition lauch celebration.

Visitors enjoy hands-on science activities at the Tara Oceans
launch celebration at Biosphere 2, September 5, 2009.

Biosphere 2:  where research meets outreach.

  • Tara Oceans 'Launch Party' (pictured at right): TMPL members presented talks and hands-on science activities. UA press release
  • UA undergraduate students (the 'B2 Fish Gang') are studying fish ecology, behavior and microbiology in the Biosphere 2 Ocean habitat under TMPL guidance. B2 Ocean project blog, Arizona Daily Star on B2 Fish Gang
  • A B2-Tara Oceans-TMPL exhibit at the B2 Visitor's Center showcases the role of marine viruses in global carbon cycling. Exhibit online
  • TMPL and marine cyanobacteria and cyanophage were the topic of a full-page B2 feature in the May 2011 Bear Essential News, a free tabloid paper by and for elementary- and middle-school age kids in southern Arizona. Download a pdf (516KB) of the page.
Students at Tucson Magnet High School study marine phage in the lab.

Tucson High students study marine phage.

K-12:  teaching students about the complexity and importance of the marine environment to inspire further education and scientific literacy.

  • 'Oceans' Curriculum development: TMPL and local teachers (Elena Martin, Tucson High Magnet School; Victoria Milani, retired) developed middle school and high school curriculum. The middle school lessons were used at Booth Fickett, La Cima, Doolen Middle Schools, and the high school lessons at Tucson High. Tara Oceans curriculum materials
  • In collaboration with award-winning Tucson High teacher Margaret Wilch, a laboratory course module, "Ocean viruses: From isolates to genomes", has been taught as part of Ms. Wilch's Biotechnology course over the past two years. High school lab course page

Middle school students' marine science projects.

"Layers of the ocean" from student projects at Booth Fickett Middle School.