#MarineScience - Three Transition Year students recently completed placements hosted by INFOMAR at the Marine Institute.
Jack Lillis, Aoife Muldoon and Emily Egan learned how seabed mapping can improve safety at sea, how it relates to the fishing industry, and how it can help the development of sectors like ocean energy.
Each student spent a week visiting the various Marine Institute facilities and learning about the different activities of the institute.
At the end of their experience, each created a 'story map' and PowerPoint presentation to show what they achieved during their placements.
"We really enjoyed our week at the Marine Institute and we now know a lot more about what a career in marine science really means," said Muldoon and Egan, from St Brigid's Vocational School in Loughrea. "It's a hugely interesting area of science that we don't learn about in school.
"We especially enjoyed our visit to the Celtic Explorer, seeing the multibeam system, learning about seabed mapping and how this information improves the admiralty charts so that vessels like the Celtic Explorer can safely visit ports. We also learnt about how seabed mapping relates to the fishing industry and helps sectors like ccean energy, this was of particular interest to us.
"We would like to thank Vera and all the Advanced Mapping Services and Marine Institute staff for teaching us so much about seabed mapping, fisheries, the laboratories and how all the different areas interlink. We now have a much better idea of what subjects to pick for the Leaving Cert."
Lillis, of Gort Community School, also had "a fantastic week, all the areas I worked in were really enjoyable. I was particularly interested with the laboratory work. Everybody knew what they were talking about and nobody shied away from any questions in fact they encouraged them. Everybody had something lined up for me to do so I was kept really busy, which was great.
"Overall I really enjoyed my week in the Marine Institute and I'm a glad I chose it for my first week of work experience. It was both a good way to see a working environment but also has encouraged me to pursue a career in marine related chemistry. Thanks so much to Tommy, Vera, the Advanced Mapping Services team and staff at the Marine Institute for taking time out of their busy day to facilitate me."
The Marine Institute will run its Transition Year course placements on a pilot basis at the end of April for up to 20 students.