January 13, 2015 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Mallory Watson, COSEE Florida Scientist, 732-996-5312 

Email: mwatson@fit.edu 

Ten videos named 2015 Ocean 180 Video Challenge finalists 

Middle school students across 25 countries will judge scientists’ communication and video skills to determine the winners; $9,000 to be awarded to top films 

MELBOURNE, FL- For the second consecutive year, ocean scientists accepted the Ocean 180 Video Challenge and submitted three minute videos which explain their research. 

Submissions came in from around the world, each highlighting the significance and results of recently published peer-reviewed study. The top ten video abstracts, as selected by a panel of science and communication experts, will now go before a team of 50,000 highly critical student judges who will ultimately determine the winning entries. 

“I want my students to see that scientific inquiry does not stop at the classroom. It is ongoing and a viable way to earn a living,” explained John Nye, whose 7th grade classes at Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach, Maine will be participating as judges for the second year in a row. 

The finalists’ submissions take viewers far beyond the classroom and lab bench. From fishing in the Caribbean, to tracking ocean currents in the Gulf of Mexico, to exploring the depths of the Pacific Ocean, scientists show off the sides of research many outside the field never get to see. 

According to 2015 finalist Patrick Rynne of the University of Miami, the program offered his team an opportunity to inspire the next generation of potential scientists. “I fear that many students get turned off from science and mathematics too early in their academic careers for preventable reasons,” said Mr. Rynne. “We need to keep them engaged, excited and dreaming about what they can explore in their lives. I hope that this experience opens a door to that world.” 

The three minute time limit, though a significant challenge for many, pushed scientists to think carefully about how to summarize and present their research. Sharing research results effectively with different audiences has become a priority for scientists in all fields, including the ocean sciences. “Communicating findings to the public is equally as important as the 

research itself. Without an understanding of the significance of a discovery, we cannot effectively use that discovery to create change,” explained another 2015 finalist, Dr. Claire Simeone of The Marine Mammal Center. 

“The fact that scientists are forced to be as efficient as possible in their delivery is also an excellent model for my students,” commented Mr. Nye. “Discussing what made each presentation effective helps [students] in developing their own presentations.” 

While registered middle school classrooms are participating as judges, the videos are available to the public. The top 10 video abstracts, along with names of the team leaders and their institutional affiliations, are listed below. Visit http://ocean180.org for a full list of team members, participating classrooms, and to view the finalists’ videos. Winners will be announced in March. 

Questions regarding the Ocean 180 Video Challenge may be directed to mwatson@fit.edu 

2015 Ocean 180 Video Challenge Finalists 

Bob the Drifter: How do we know where spilled oil will go? 

Guillaume Novelli, University of Miami/ CARTHE 

Dolphin Research Center Blindfold Imitation Study 

Kelly Jaakkola, Dolphin Research Center 

Drones at the Beach 

Patrick Rynne, University of Miami 

How to Treat a Bruised Flipper: Developing Pain Medications for Dolphins 

Claire Simeone, The Marine Mammal Center 

Mahi Mahi Migration 

Wessley Merten, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez 

Mercury, Dolphins, Fish Consumption and Human Health 

Adam Schaefer, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University 

Microbial oceanography and the Hawaii Ocean Time-series programme 

Matthew Church, University of Hawaii 

Rescuing the Gentle Giants 

Charles Waters, University of Auckland, Institute of Marine Science 

The maid did it! The surprising case of the sponge-cleaning brittlestar 

Joseph Pawlik, The University of North Carolina, Wilmington 

Wiring an Underwater Volcano 

Debbie Kelley, University of Washington School of Oceanography 

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About COSEE Florida 

COSEE Florida's mission is to spark and nurture collaborations among scientists and educators to promote ocean discovery and literacy, and to enhance the public's understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the ocean. COSEE Florida is funded through a National Science Foundation Grant through the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) Program, COSEE Florida's partners include Indian River State College, Florida Institute of Technology, the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, and Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA). http://www.coseeflorida.org 

About Ocean 180 The Ocean 180 Video Challenge, Sponsored by the Florida Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE Florida) and funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation, was designed to inspire scientists to communicate the meaning and significance of scientific research with a broader audience. http://ocean180.org