Teaching the Pelagic Ecosystem: Hands-On Learning for SAMOS Students
During the week of 16–19 March, AOS-SAMOS students participated in an intensive program focused on the pelagic marine ecosystem.
Dr David Walker from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), together with Prof Mark Gibbons (University of the Western Cape) and Dr Mfundo Bizani (SAEON), led the students through a combination of lectures, fieldwork, and laboratory analysis.
The week began with detailed lectures on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and the broader pelagic environment. This was followed by a field expedition aboard the Research Vessel Observer in Algoa Bay, where students collected samples and conducted oceanographic measurements.
In the laboratory, students analysed their samples and prepared presentations, which served as the assessment for the week. This immersive experience allowed them to gain practical skills in sampling, analysing, and interpreting data from pelagic ecosystems, effectively bridging theoretical knowledge with hands-on scientific practice.
