1. Find out about an ocean research cruise by using the internet or the library. What type of boat was used? What equipment was used for research? Length of trip? Destinations? What was the purpose and what results were obtained? What do you think would be interesting to investigate at sea? Plan your own research cruise.

2. Research a marine natural product chemical using the internet or the library. Try your local college or university library. Find out how the organism uses the compound(s) it produces. Is there a potential human use for the compound? Some possibilities is to learn about are : swinholide from marine sponges (has potential medicinal use), prostyglandins from nudibranchs and gorgonians (used in communication and defense), sapponins from starfish (protects starfish from sharks and other predators by causing their gills to bleed), and pukalide from soft coral (can make a predator puke!).

3. Design a demonstration for your chemisty or science class about a chemical or physical property of freshwater or saltwater. Compare fresh and salt water to see if there is a difference. Examples of concepts and properties that you could demonstrate are density, boiling/melting points, conductivity (be careful with that one), osmosis, bouyancy, etc.

This completes the Activities section.

Return to the beginning of the Ocean Chemistry unit.