Dennis “DJ” Pevey, from Ponchatoula High School, is headed to sail aboard the Ocean Exploration Trust's exploration vessel Nautilus.
He will be a 2024 Lead Science Communication Fellow this fall when the Nautilus is part of a deep ocean exploration team and brings the excitement of exploration to learners in South Louisiana and worldwide.
Pevey previously sailed as an SCF with OET three other times. He is returning as a lead to mentor new fellows.
Pevey was selected from a worldwide pool of applicants and will join a cohort of 13 fellows from schools, science centers and nonprofit organizations across the Pacific and North America.
He will join OET in August-September as they conduct expeditions aboard E/V Nautilus to explore deep-sea habitats around American Samoa in collaboration with the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and other partners.
“People in Louisiana depend on the ocean in many ways- from industry and commercial use to fishing and recreational activities,” says Dennis Pevey. “Participating in this expedition will help bring awareness of the critical role the ocean plays in people’s lives as well as exposing students across the state to a fascinating world of STEM careers.”
While at sea, Pevey will have the opportunity to connect live with learners across Tangipahoa Parish and other communities across the state. Everyone can engage with these educators via NautilusLive.org, a 24-hour livestreaming web portal bringing expeditions from the field to explorers on shore via telepresence technology and social media.
Pevey will participate in live broadcast dive commentary and question-and-answer sessions through the Nautilus Live website while aboard the ship; he will also engage in events and activities upon their return.
Schools and community groups can also schedule free, live one-on-one Q&A sessions with explorers on the ship beginning in May.
“Science Communication Fellows work alongside scientists and engineers and help to convey the excitement of the ocean exploration experience across the NautilusLive livestream, social media, and outreach directly with classrooms. We are proud to elevate role models for learners, focusing on reaching communities historically marginalized from science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and ocean fields,” said Megan Cook, OET’s director of education and outreach.
The OET Science Communication Fellowship brings formal and informal educators onboard Nautilus to engage students and the public in the wonders of ocean exploration while sharing discoveries from the 2024 mission and aspects of daily life aboard a working exploration vessel.
Through the year, Fellows grow their science communication skills, attend in-person professional development training together with worldwide fellows, and spend several weeks as a crucial part of the team aboard E/V Nautilus. Fellows bring ocean exploration back to their home communities by incorporating their experience into classroom lesson plans, community presentation events and informal educational opportunities.
This will be Pevey’s fourth oceanographic expedition with OET. In the past, he has worked with researchers to study methane seeps in the Gulf of Mexico near the Louisiana coast, explored the vast biodiversity in the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary near Southern California, and aided in seafloor mapping of deep sea environments of the Northern US Pacific Coast.
Pevey was been named the 2024 Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year. As a state teacher of the year, Pevey continues to be an advocate for advanced STEM education in Louisiana.
Ocean Exploration Trust, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, operates with a mission to explore the unknown parts of the ocean, seeking out discoveries in geology, biology and hydrography while pushing the boundaries of STEAM education and technological innovation. OET promotes science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics education worldwide using the excitement of exploration and innovation to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.