Welcome to the World Wide Web excursion through the Math and Marine Science program here at the University of New Hampshire. We are a group of twenty-four incoming tenth graders from Maine and New Hampshire.
We all came to the M & M program thinking that we had an interest in math, marine science, computers, and volleyball. We left with an interest only in volleyball! Just kidding, everyone left with an even stronger interest in all four areas.
The M & M program is a three week course that allows us to explore statistical mathematics, the rocky intertidal shore, the scientific methods for research, the Isles of Shoals and computers.
During the first week of the course, we faced many new experiences. In marine science, we composed group experiments concerning different types of marine life, we learned how to setup hypotheses, conduct experiments, and analyze data. In math however, we were introduced to the world of statistics. We did many activities on random and transect sampling. In computers we wrote resumes and cover letters to the professor, Petr Brym. The class also used e-mail and each individual received their own account. Field trips were also taken to Fort Stark and Newcastle Commons.
The second week was less stressful and more relaxing. We learned of the eight-hundred gallon oil spill that took place on the Piscataqua River. We could see the effects the next day on our field trip to Hilton Park. On the last two days of the week we traveled to the Isles of Shoals on the Gulf Challenger and did hydro-transects on the way there. We stayed overnight and took an early bird walk, which turned into a rock climbing adventure led by Gregg. All of us did our last transect (yeah!) and tide pool investigations. Most of the free time was spent beating Gregg's volleyball team four times in a row! The boat ride back was short and sweet. This concludes our second week of the M&M program.
The third week was probably the best, but went by the quickest. All twenty - four of us stayed in a mini dorm with the dorm dragons (Bette and Gregg). Most of the classes we spent working on our final group projects. Only one field trip was taken and that was for a colloquium at the Sandy Point Interpretive Center. In computers we analyzed all of our data from the transects and looked to see if there were any patterns, and worked on reports for our final projects. On Saturday we presented our group projects and had an awards ceremony in front of our family, counselors, and mentors.
Overall, this program was a great experience for everyone and hopefully we will continue these studies in the future. At first some things were struggles, but in the end they came out pretty well! We all definitely encourage you to participate in this program if you have the chance to. We hope you enjoy looking through this web page and see just some of our accomplishments. Enjoy! (Written by Jennifer Roy, Amy Cybart, and David Estes)
Sincerely,
The 1996 M&Mers.