Science Day
Activity Guide
What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering Math.
Many careers require the knowledge of all four subjects. Here are some
examples of jobs that use STEM:
Archeologist
Environmental Scientist
Forensic Pathologist
Marine Biologist
Video Game Designer
Check out the iON Future interactive website below to find out what
STEM career may be in your future! ionfuture.org
How is STEM used at Zoombezi Bay?
Here are just a few ways our technicians use STEM in their everyday jobs:
Science: Testing water quality for pH, chlorine and other chemicals
Technology: Installing and maintaining the latest digital pumps and filters
for each water ride
Engineering: Designing fun and safe water rides for guests to enjoy
Math: Determining how much water pressure is need to power the rides
Drive a what?! An ROV or Remote Operated Vehicle is an underwater
robot that scientists use to explore parts of the ocean that are not
easily accessible to people.
Scientists can use the ROV to collect samples and take
pictures or videos in parts of the ocean that are too deep or dangerous
for humans to go.
Check out the Marine Technology Society website
(www.rov.org) for pictures and information about ROVs.
Visit the ROV station during Zoombezi Bay Science Day to see if you can
drive our underwater ROV!
What do you notice about the shape of these ocean animals?
Ocean predators are often shaped like torpedoes. This streamlined
body helps them swim fast to catch prey.
Many modern inventions were inspired by animal or plant shapes. This
is called biomimicry.
Can you match the designs with the animals or plants that inspired
them?
Check your answers on the last page.
At Zoombezi Bay, water in the rides and pools is tested four times a
day to ensure healthy levels of pH, chlorine and other chemicals. If
the pH of the water is too acidic, it can have a negative effect on
swimmers as well as on the equipment in the pools.
The pH level shows how acidic or basic a substance is. Alkaline is
another word for basic. Use the scale to determine if the following
items are basic, acidic, or neutral:
A
Lemon juice _____________________
B
Bleach ____________________
C
Milk __________________
D
Seawater _____________________
E
Battery acid ___________________
F
Tomato juice____________________
G
Pure water___________________
Check your answers on the last page.
Like our water at Zoombezi Bay, the water in our oceans needs to have a healthy
pH. As you learned on the previous page, ocean water should have pH level of 8
which is slightly basic.
Currently, our oceans are becoming more acidic as more carbon dioxide is released
into our atmosphere. The oceans naturally help absorb some of the carbon, but
when there is too much, the water becomes acidic.
Ocean animals such as shellfish and coral are made of a substance called calcium
carbonate. This substance breaks down if the water is too acidic, causing their
shells to weaken.
Try this experiment at home to see how this happens!
Materials
1 clear cup/jar 1/4 full of white vinegar
1 clear cup/jar 1/4 full of tap water
pH test strips
2 pieces of white chalkboard chalk or small sea shells
Spoon
Paper towels
Procedure
1) Label the vinegar and water jars. Compare the pH of both using the test strips.
Which one is more acidic?
2) Explore the properties of the chalk or shell (hardness, size, etc. ) before using
the spoon to drop one piece of each into both the vinegar and water jars.
Observe what happens.
3) After 5 minutes (or soaking overnight), remove the chalk or shell from each
container and place them on the paper towel. What are the properties like
now? (hardness, size, etc. )
4) How did the acidic solution affect the chalk or shell? How might an acidic ocean
affect shellfish or corals?
Source: Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography www.rhfleet.org
Biomimicry
Biomimicry Institute- http://biomimicry.net/
TED Talk: Janine Benyushttp://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html
Ocean Acidification
National Geographic Oceanshttp://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/
Channel Island Sanctuary- http://cisanctuary.org/acidocean/index.html
Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs)
PBS Kids-http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/rov.html
One World One Ocean- http://www.oneworldoneocean.com/ -Search ‘ROV’
Biomimicry Match Answers:
The Kingfisher inspired the
shape of the bullet train
Burrs inspired the
creation of Velcro
The bumpy edge of the
Sperm whale fin inspired
an aerodynamic wind
turbine blade
Sharkskin inspired swimwear
to reduce friction in the water
pH Level Answers:
A) acidic (2)
E) very acidic (0)
B) basic (13)
C) slightly acidic (6)
F) acidic (4)
G) neutral (7)
D) slightly basic (8)