Blog 5b: Science Fair Proposal

1.) What is your topic?

• Marine Conservation Biology

2.) What is the driving problem behind your experiment and the quote by an expert to support this problem?

• Pollution in the ocean is the driving problem behind my experiment.
• "You wouldn't think you could kill an ocean, would you? But we'll do it in one day. That's how negligent we are."- Ian Rankin

3.) What is your hypothesis?

• If the pollution of the boat launch increases due to the anthropogenic activity, then the amount of zooplankton found in a plankton-tow would be less than the outer beach, which doesn't have as much outside pollution acting upon it.

4.) Write a paragraph summary of how you will perform the experiment.

• I would be collecting samples from the docks, and the outer beach, and comparing their salinity levels and the amount of zooplankton that I find.
• First, I'd go out to boat launch and collect data by doing a plankton-tow for Day 1. Then, I would go to the outer beach and collect data for Day 1 by doing a plankton-tow. Lastly, I would bring my data back to the lab, and test the waters using a refractometer, and then use the microscope to compare the amount of zooplankton found in the two different sites.

5.) Project Category

• Chemistry/ Ecology and Environmental Management

SF Blog A: Problem Statement

1.) Topic: Marine Biology

2.) Problem: What will you do when you solve the problem?

• One of the biggest problems dealing with marine biology, is the pollution of the waters and beaches. Oil spills, and toxic waste are killing organisms and bleaching the beaches which makes it near to impossible for marine life to find safe places on the beach. The pollution is not only a problem to the fish, but to people as well. If I figure out how to solve the pollution problem, or just offer ideas to scientists, I would spread the word to different organizations that strive to protect the ocean and it's creatures.

3.) Problem: What will you do when you solve the problem?

• Another problem regarding marine biology is the oxygen capacity that divers and marine biologists can hold when going into the ocean. To solve this problem, I would have to study the devices that divers use right now and search any other devices from around the world to see  if any other countries have better equipment or techniques that would be helpful. If I do solve the problem, I would take my idea to major marine biology organizations and sell them the product idea.