“Drifting in the Gulf” is an entertaining, educational video about the process of designing new scientific equipment for studying ocean surface currents. Co-created by Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) and Waterlust, the video features the CARTHE drifter designed by University of Miami scientists, who spent two years testing various structures and materials before finalizing the design for the first environmentally friendly drifter made from 85 percent seawater biodegradable components. “Drifting in the Gulf” was awarded first place in the Ocean 180 Video Challenge, judged by 21,000 middle school students in over 900 classrooms around the world.
“While the video is sometimes silly, it is packed with information about ocean currents, technology, and environmental sustainability. Most importantly, it has a message of dedication and perseverance.” — CARTHE Outreach Coordinator Laura Bracken
An open-access article recently published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology details the development process depicted in “Drifting in the Gulf.” The article information and PDF is available here.
Also available on Vimeo and YouTube.
The full winner’s list for the Ocean 180 Video Challenge is available here.