Jessica Fain

East Tennessee State University alumna Jessica Fain is enjoying the “opportunity of a lifetime” as one of two scientists who are teaching students from middle school to college and beyond about marine science through the Classroom Under the Sea.

The Roane State Community College biology instructor and her colleague, Professor Bruce Cantrell, recently embarked on what is expected to be a record-breaking 73-day stay in Jules’ Undersea Lodge, an underwater habitat in Key Largo, Fla.  The previous record of 69 days and 19 minutes was set in 1992 by Richard Presley.

While there, Cantrell is conducting an online lecture series with his Roane State students on Tuesdays, with Fain assisting with student communication and technical issues.  Wednesdays are spent preparing for the live “Classroom Under the Sea” broadcasts, which are shown Thursdays at 1 p.m. via both the Roane State website and the project’s YouTube channel, and then archived for later use.

These sessions are designed for use with science curricula at the middle and high school levels, although people of all ages may enjoy them.  Some of the topics include “History of Man and the Sea,” “Marine Archaeology,” “The Sea and Space Connection,” “Coral Restoration,” the impact on ocean conservation by such things as recreation diving and even art, and more.

“I want to really present the material in a way that’s different, that’s engaging, so students make those real-world connections … and that those connections last, so it’s not just something that they learn in a classroom, but it’s something they can carry on through life,” Fain said.  “I hope people will see that the ocean is something we need to be better stewards of.”

Fain points out that these lessons are free to anyone.  Teachers are encouraged to use them in the classroom, and they know of several schools that are doing so.  “One of the first classes we heard from was in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, and we’ve got a class in the UK that is planning on Skyping with us.”  Before leaving for Florida, Fain spoke in person to students at an elementary school in nearby Oak Ridge who would be participating in an after-school program tied in to the lessons. 

Fain and Cantrell are not isolated during their time at Jules’ Undersea Lodge, where they have only 300 square feet of lab and living space.  They have several folks scheduled to visit, including not only fellow scientists, family and friends, but also a group of middle school students and some Roane State administrators, including President Dr. Chris Whaley.

During the rest of their time, the two scientists are working outside the habitat within the lagoon and performing regular maintenance on the structure.

Several experiences in her life prepared Fain for this journey.  The Lenoir City native fondly recalls going out to do field research with her biology classes at ETSU, from where she graduated with honors in 2011 with a degree in biology.  She began teaching at Roane State shortly thereafter, and also earned her scuba certification.  She continued her diving training, and is now pursuing dive master certification.

She and Cantrell visited Jules’ Undersea Lodge during a trip to Key Largo and took a manned underwater lab specialist course. 

“What inspired me to do this is the beauty of the ocean, being involved with the ocean,” Fain said.  “Bruce and I have been down there a couple of years now, and every year we see something new, something more exciting.  And I love being in the water.  So, when this opportunity became available, we jumped on it, because it really is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, not only for us, but for the people who are involved and people who are watching.”

Fain says that she and Cantrell are thinking of ways they can “branch out” after they return to land and develop their experiences in the Classroom Under the Sea into further educational programming.  She also hopes the type of research she enjoys now will be part of her future.

“I really would like to go back to school and get my master’s degree in marine biology, and hopefully do something like this, some kind of research that I find near and dear to my heart.”

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Learn more about Classroom Under the Sea, watch the broadcasts and access lesson plans at http://www.roanestate.edu/classroomunderthesea/.  The YouTube channel is at http://www.youtube.com/user/classroomunderthesea.  Classroom Under the Sea sponsors include Diversity in Aquatics and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.