Department of Marine Science professors and students in the East Sea, a huge textbook of oceanography with secrets and treasures of 2,000 meters deep and our heritage of green nature

Incheon National University's Department of Marine Science (Director: Kim Jang-kyun) announced that it conducted onboard training in Nara Lake with about 40 students, including second and third graders, under the guidance of Professor Kim Il-nam and Professor Jeong Chang-beom, for five days from October 14 (Mon) to 18 (Friday).

Participating students were given the opportunity to observe and participate in the seawater collection process, as well as CTD experiments that measure seawater information up to 2,000 meters deep in the East Sea, and gained vivid experimental experience by collecting seawater samples and driving underwater drones.

Park Ye-eun, a marine science student, said, "I was able to gain valuable experience in narrowing the gap between theory and practice by learning the operating principle of CTD equipment and the importance of collecting marine data."

As this practice has been conducted in real-time on the sea of the field, not in a school laboratory, students have actually experienced the process of collecting and experimenting with seawater themselves, and it has been an opportunity for professors, graduate students, and undergraduate students to enhance their understanding of the theory and field through free questions and answers, as well as to further stimulate academic curiosity.

In the Department of Marine Science, the on-board practice is not just a one-time practice, but will provide students with opportunities to go further academically. Based on CTD data (water temperature, salt, DO, nutritional salt) obtained during this year's practice, data from more than 20 years ago, and data from the East Sea recorded by marine professors in recent years, students will be able to compare and analyze directly and write a report in the form of a thesis. This is expected to serve as an opportunity for students entering senior and senior classes to understand the East Sea more in-depth and access maritime data in various ways.

In addition, the on-board research and practice were not just to deliver knowledge to students taking the class, but also to learn about the deep understanding of the ocean and the importance of sustainable marine resources and living things based on their experiences, so we had a time to look around places where we could enjoy the Blue East Sea, including Ulleungdo. Students who have captured Ulleungdo's clean sea, strange rocks, and mysterious ecosystem in person said that it was an important experience to build other memories with their motives, juniors, and seniors as well as time to think deeply about the importance of the ocean. 

In particular, the experience of entering Dokdo and climbing the steep cliffs of Dongdo remained a strong memory for marine science students, and even entering Dokdo should be a great luck, but the opportunity to climb Dokdo was an unforgettable experience for students. It may be the result of the constant student support and students' passion shown in the marine science department so far creating synergy.

"It was a special experience I had as a student of the Department of Marine Science, and it was a valuable time to cultivate pride and historical learning as a Korean." and "It was so touching and beautiful when I looked at the East Sea from the top of Dongdo Island, the easternmost land of our country," as the marine science students said. These experiences served as an opportunity to remind students of the vastness of the sea, the affection for numerous resources and living things that it will embrace, and the importance of oceanography.

Onboard practice in the Department of Marine science is a class that presents students with not only theories but also various perspectives on the ocean through practical field experience. This will not only serve as an important foothold in cultivating future marine researchers, but it is also expected that many students will face this practice as a new turning point in the new discipline in the future.

Based on the successful results of this practice, Incheon National University's Department of Marine Science said it will continue to provide opportunities for students to understand the marine environment and develop new possibilities.

Marine Science students are continuing their voyage into the middle of the mysterious and vast sea.