After having been accepted to sail in 2020 and delayed by the pandemic, Oktay Ince sailed with NOAA TAS in 2022 on a hydrographic survey of Lake Erie. Later that year, he was fortunate that the ship he sailed on, NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, was docked close to home. He arranged to bring 23 students from Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School, where he is Assistant Principal of Academics, on a field trip to visit the ship and learn more about NOAA

Oktay recently had the privilege of mentoring a student on her independent research project in environmental science at the Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair (BSEF), a state level science fair in Columbus, OH. On March 1^st, Blessing Gyimah (11^th grade) presented her project, titled “The Effects of Reduced Indoor PM2.5, HCHO, TVOCs, and CO2 Levels on Lung Capacity and Oxygen Saturation” in the environmental science category. Blessing received NOAA’s “Taking the Pulse of the Planet” Award. Dr. John Means, Director of the Junior Academy Council at the Ohio Academy of Science, presented her with the award on behalf of NOAA.

Oktay has been dedicated to securing grants that enhance his students’ STEM education opportunities. A previous recipient of a NOAA Ocean Education Grant, Oktay utilized the grant funds to enhance ocean literacy within his community, and credits much of his and his students’ success to this support, as well as to his transformative experience with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program.

For example, in the summer of 2023, Oktay used this grant to bring a group of students to Costa Rica to participate in an Earthwatch project. Oktay’s Urban Citizen Scientists Support Preservation of Costa Rican Marine Ecosystem project brought 6 students (and an additional teacher) on a 10-day immersive  experience in Gulfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Under principal investigator Dr. Lenin Enrique Oviedo Correa, they conducted research on marine mammals and predators in the field. In addition to fostering a greater understanding of ocean literacy through performance of hands-on research to understand and protect marine ecosystems, the project aimed to simultaneously enlighten students about sustainable marine science programs and develop greater consciousness of future career options.

Continuing his scientific endeavors, Oktay has also been named a Courtney R. Wilson Fellow by Morpho Institute. As a fellow, he will be going to Peruvian Amazon (near the city of Iquitos) for 10 days during the summer to study climate change and conservation alongside scientists and indigenous people (Maijuna). Oktay’s project proposes that indigenous knowledge is a missing piece in STEM Education, which he plans to bring to his school community. Stay tuned for updates on Oktay’s experience in the Amazon rainforest later this year!

(Photo Credits: NOAA Teacher at Sea, Ohio Academy of Science, Oktay Ince)