Rhode Island Teacher-at-Sea (RITAS) Program

Cruise with an Oceanographic Research Team aboard the R/V Endeavor

Rhode Island Teachers Joyce Gauvin from Kevin Coleman School in Woonsocket and Kathleen Barden from Guiteras School in Bristol, participate in URI's Teacher at Sea Program.

The Rhode Island Teacher-at-Sea (RITAS) Program is designed to establish sustainable partnerships between ocean scientists, researchers and teachers who live and teach in Rhode Island. Teachers selected for the RITAS Program will become part of a scientific research team conducting ocean science research during a cruise aboard the R/V ENDEAVOR.

As an educational component of the Rhode Island ENDEAVOR Program (RIEP), the RITAS Program is dependent upon the continued support from the State of Rhode Island.

• There is no application deadline.
• Applications will be reviewed as received.
• Applications will be maintained through the duration of the program.
• All applications will be considered for placement through the duration of the program.

• All K-12 educators of science, technology, art, math, English, history are invited to apply.
• RITAS Program applicants must be:
• A Rhode Island resident and U.S. citizen (with a valid passport should research experience be outside U.S. waters)
• Presently employed in Rhode Island as a full time K-12 classroom teacher
• In good health (certain research experiences may require that applicants participate in physically challenging shipboard environments)
• Familiar with electronic networks and have an active email address accessible from home
• Agreeable to speaking to press and public audiences concerning their involvement in RITAS

• Meet with host researchers prior to the cruise
• Carry out training and shipboard responsibilities as requested by the host researchers. This may include preparing journals and daily cruise logs for posting on the R/V ENDEAVOR website during the cruise.
• Transfer their research experiences to their classroom
• Assist in promoting the RIEP by presenting their experiences to the public, by speaking with reporters, and presenting their experience at school committee meetings, or in any other venue that is deemed appropriate.

• The duration of research experiences will be three days to three weeks, depending on the nature and location of the research.
• Many of the cruises will cover more than one of the disciplines relevant to oceanography (biology, geology, chemistry, physics, archaeological oceanography)
• Specific information concerning the R/V Endeavor's facilities and emergency contact will be given to each cruise participant

Download a RITAS application.

Visit the R/V Endeavor website.

Where is the Endeavor now?