[PSUBS-MAILIST] Innerspace Science

[Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles]

Friends,

For a long time I've wished I could use my sub for something a little more
productive than test and recreational dives. On land I've occasionally
taken the sub to schools or science fairs and it works magic with the kids.
Schools organize field trips to my garage. On dives I can't carry paying
passengers because my sub is not classed, but that doesn't mean I couldn't
carry instruments or shoot video, or carry a non-paying scientist.

I've put together a website intended to be a matchmaker between owners of
private subs and people who might have an educational or scientific use for
them. The premise is simple. If someone like a teacher or scientist has a
research initiative that could benefit from the use of donated submersible
time, the website allows them to submit their idea for consideration by sub
owners, who may pick it up and organize an expedition if they wish. Such
expeditions will not have a profit motive, they are just private trips
aligned with a scientific purpose.

There is also a section for educational opportunities on land, such as
using a sub for after-school enrichment programs at schools. I've put
together an eight week program intended for middle schoolers and am in
conversations with several area schools to deliver it this winter. Once
I've refined it during the first cycle, my content will be shared with any
of you who may wish to do likewise. It includes some basic physics and
engineering, marine ecology, and marine conservation. Land-based programs
like this can provide a nominal income - not anything to make a living off,
but perhaps modest funding of your submarine habit or an expedition. And
the main thing for me is to spread the word about marine conservation
issues, even if on a tiny scale.

Some notable PSUBS members have joined up and are on the web site, so we
have quite a nice fleet of boats to start with. If you are interested in
doing the same, just let me know please. Otherwise, I would really
appreciate if you could spread awareness of this new website to contacts,
link from your websites, or mention on social media as appropriate.

https://www.innerspacescience.org/


Best,

Alec
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