Displaying items by tag: MiniBoat
Galway School Pupils' Mini-Boat Sets Sail in South Atlantic
A mini-boat named Spiorad na Gaillimhe has been deployed from the icebreaker R/V Polarstern on passage between Germany and South Africa this week.
Spiorad na Gaillimhe (Spirit of Galway) was built and decorated by students from Scoil Bhríde, Lackagh, in Co Galway.
It is one of four mini-boats – the others being from schools in Spain, Germany and South Africa - that were deployed from the Alfred-Wegener Institute’s ship into the South Atlantic.
These four new vessels will join 18 “educational passages” boats currently sailing around the world’s oceans.
The project was funded by the Nippon Foundation (NF) and POGO (Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean).
Students from Scoil Bhríde, Lackagh, in Co Galway with the completed Spiorad na Gaillimhe (Spirit of Galway) mini boat
It has provided the students in Galway with an opportunity to learn more about oceanography and ocean technology, according to Professor Peter Croot and senior oceanography technician Sheena Fennell of the University of Galway.
“The students in Scoil Bhríde, Lackagh were responsible for constructing the boat, deciding on a name, decorating the sail and hull and, most importantly, had to decide what treasures to place in the hold for any lucky finder if it comes ashore,” Croot said.
Spiorad na Gaillimhe (Spirit of Galway) mini boat on passage
“Once Spiorad na Gaillimhe sets sail it will regularly send its GPS location and values of sea and air temperature. The students will be working to predict where it will sail in the ocean by looking at weather and ocean current maps, thereby learning about our oceans,” he said.
School principal Shane O’Connor and teacher Tomás Higgins supported the project, which Higgins described as “cross curricular in nature incorporating many skills and subjects such as science, maths, art and geography”.
It “ gave us the opportunity to bring the theme of the ocean and ocean literacy into the classroom in a fun and interesting way,”Higgins said, thanking Fennell, the POGO and Educational Passages programmes for their support.
Updates from Spioirad na Gallimhe can be found here
To follow all four miniboats involved in this international NF-POGO project visit here
