Saving the World

By

We the Students

Saving the World, by We the Students Page 1 of 11 Saving the World, by We the Students

This project will enable the real-time interaction of students in grades 6 – 12 with a major scientific expedition carrying out research on an extremely isolated oceanic island. The expedition will be investigating invasive species and processes that can, and historically have, resulted in catastrophic disruption of the ecosystem. Follow-up from the project will enable the interacting students to create a book-length compendium of essays, to be called Saving the World, by We the Students.

The expedition is the 2013 Cordell Expedition to , Territory of , in the eastern Pacific west of Central America. The project will put a team of up to 28 persons on the island for almost 2 weeks. Complete details about the expedition are available on the website www.Cordell.org/CI ("DOCUMENTS"). For convenience, maps and photographs of Clipperton Island are shown on the following pages, and the full project description document is enclosed with this application.

A unique aspect of the expedition is that the team can implement a real-time connection to the Internet, enabling students to interact directly with the team members as the research proceeds, and to share the work on the island through two-way video. The connection will be open to any students anywhere, although individuals or classes who arrange for preplanned projects would have priority. After the conclusion of the expedition, the students, as individuals or classes, will write documents describing their particular subject of interest, their interaction with the expedition, their contributions to it, their feelings about it, and their ideas for future research. These contributions will be edited and assembled into a book-length document, to be cast in a format most useful to other teachers and students, and to other expedition leaders who might develop a similar component for future projects.

The plans call for the following specific projects on the island:

 Search for alien ants  Search for cryptic marine algae  Search for undiscovered meiofauna (foraminifera, tardigrades, isopods)  Collection of nocturnal and windborne insects  Documentation of foraging by deformed birds  Documentation of foraging by invasive rats  Observation of vortex winds  Removal of plastic debris.

Students will be able to interact with the scientists as they carry out these projects, and will be able to offer suggestions as the work proceeds.

Please note that the compendium of essays does not constitute publication of the scientific results of the expedition. The scientific results, including observations, data, and specimens, will be obtained and processed by the team in the field, and the results will be published in appropriate scientific journals. Saving the World, by We the Students, will be written by the students at the student level, for the purpose of exciting other students’ interest in environmental science, protection, conservation, and long-term sustainability.

The project is under the direction of Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit research group based in Walnut Creek California that has carried out scientific expeditions to remote sites since 1977. Among other results, the group is responsible for the creation of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, seven full-length books based on more than 15 major expeditions, and more than 1000 new records and new species.

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The budget for this project is:

Budget: "Saving the World, By We the Students"

EXPENSES Satellite phone $2000 Satellite phone data time $105 Satellite phone voice time $1000 Satellite phone video time $7200 Media, software, data processing $500 Document production and distribution $6000 Communications $200 Materials and supplies $300 TOTAL $17,305

By far the greatest expense is the satellite communications and the production and distribution of the document, in electronic and/or printed format. These items are, of course, the core of this proposal. Funds for this activity are not provided in the general expedition budget, which is shown here:

Budget: 2013 Clipperton Island Expedition

EXPENSES Transportation $157,000 Logistics $1,300 Facilities $16,060 Equipment $12,440 Consumables $8,335 Special equipment $3,810 Special purchases $26,400 Overhead $9,605 TOTAL $234,950

In spite of the relatively low budget for the "Save the World" activity, we wish to emphasize the extraordinary value it brings to the Expedition. While the primary goals of the Expedition are the scientific results, we believe that world-wide interest in the project through the real-time interactive capability and the central role played by the students will serve to greatly extend the project in bringing about the long-term objectives.

Saving the World, by We the Students Page 5 of 11 Long-term objectives The Expedition science This application is a proposal for partial support of a research expedition and its greatly extended exposure via a student-generated book-length document. The research that provides the source material for the book comprises a variety of projects to study invasive alien species on an extremely small and isolated oceanic island and to better understand the conditions and processes which enable the immigration of potentially dangerous species. Clipperton Island is a prime example of a tiny ecosystem whose dynamics have been disrupted repeatedly by the intrusion of alien species, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Under normal circumstances, biological populations on small islands reach an equilibrium that depends on the competition between immigration of new species and their local extinction (this is the classic MacArthur-Wilson model of island biogeography). For an extremely small island such as Clipperton, the populations can fluctuate wildly. Indeed, the deliberate introduction of pigs on Clipperton, their subsequent eradication, and the inadvertent introduction of rats provide clear examples of wild swings in such small, unstable ecosystems.

Because of its very small size and location, Clipperton Island provides an exceptional laboratory for studying island biogeography. Clipperton lies at the boundary between two major biological provinces. The opposing winds and oceanic currents in the northern and southern hemispheres, following the coastlines of North and South America, collide and bend sharply west across the Pacific just as they encounter the area around Clipperton. At this location, even small changes in the prevailing winds and currents create large changes in the ecosystem, forcing it to be northern-like or southern-like. Clipperton Island therefore is a very sensitive indicator of the potential consequences of even very small changes in the climate; the expedition seeks to elaborate this sensitivity.

The compendium of student essays The content and format of the compendium are intentionally designed to appeal to other students at similar grade levels, enabling teachers to provide a real-life example of students participating in the business of Saving the World. In some sense, the document is a manifesto, in which a particular group of persons (here, students) declares by its actions and writing that it is actively involved in helping Save the World. The book provides a format for a potential series of such documents under the titles Saving the World, by We the (Group), thus providing a high-profile idea-rich advocacy forum for protection, conservation, and long-term sustainability. This is what we mean by "Saving the World."

Clipperton Island as a UNESCO World Heritage Site Because of its extraordinary value as an early warning climate indicator, we believe that Clipperton Island should be given more attention and protection than in the past. One mechanism for achieving this is by designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (whc.unesco.org). Such sites are of special cultural or physical significance, and are added to the list based on their importance to the common heritage of humanity. One of the criteria for addition to the list is:

(9) "…an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals."

Clearly, Clipperton Island satisfies this criterion, and we would support its addition to the UNESCO list. The research program to be carried out by the 2013 Cordell Expedition is directed precisely at elaborating those aspects of the ecosystem that make it a potentially valuable indicator of climate change. The "Saving the World" component of the expedition, to be completed by the writing and publication of the student-generated compendium, could be an important part of the preparation for this nomination.

Saving the World, by We the Students Page 6 of 11 Organizer, Expedition Leader Robert W. Schmieder, A.B., B.S., M.A., Ph.D., KK6EK Cordell Expeditions

Bob is the founder and Expedition Leader of Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit research group begun in 1977. The group is responsible for the creation of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and for numerous research expeditions to remote oceanic sites. Professionally he is a research physicist, with about 100 publications and four patents. He is the founder of NanoLogic Inc. He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club and former Chairman of its Northern California Chapter. In over 30 years he has been listed in almost every Who's Who in the world. He is the owner and operator of a research vessel, the Cordell Explorer. Licensed since 1962, he holds Extra Class amateur license KK6EK. His specialty has been very large and complicated scientific expeditions and developing new communications technology for remote expedition sites.

Expeditions Cordell Bank California 1977-1986 (Expedition Leader) Marine research Pt. Sur California 1987-1989 (Expedition Leader) Marine research North Farallon Islands California 1989 (Expedition Leader) Marine research Farallon Islands (Expedition Leader) Radio operations and environmental science (Expedition Leader) Radio operations and environmental science Roqueta Island (Expedition Leader) Radio operations Castle Rock Island (Expedition Leader) Radio operations Ventura Rocks (Expedition Leader) Radio operations Rocas Alijos Baja California 1990 and 1993 (Expedition Leader) Marine research Peter I Island (Antarctic) 1994 Radio operations (3YØPI) and natural history Easter Island/Salas y Gómez, 1995 (Co-organizer and Expedition Leader) Radio operations (XRØY/Z), marine research, communications technology for expeditions Heard Island (Antarctic) 1997 (Co-Expedition Leader) Radio operations (VKØIR) San Felix Island () 2002 (Participant) Radio operations (XRØX) and environmental research Kure Atoll (Hawaii) 2005 (Co-organizer and Expedition Leader) Radio operations (K7C) Clipperton Island (Pacific) 2013 (Organizer and Expedition Leader) Radio operations and environmental science

Saving the World, by We the Students Page 7 of 11 Books Ecology of an Underwater Island (1991) 3YØPI Peter I Island 1994 DXpedition (1994) Rocas Alijos (1995) DX-Aku: Messages from the 1995 Easter Island DXpedition (1995) VKØIR Heard Island Expedition (1997) XRØX San Felix Island, Chile (2002) Great Adventures (Children's books) (2011) Edward Cordell and the Discovery of Cordell Bank (in press) Element: The Amazing Life and Work of Albert Ghiorso (in progress)

Honors Fellow, Explorers Club, 1986-present; Chairman, N. Calif. Chapter, 1996-98; Numerous flag expeditions Expedition of the Year (Peter I 1994, Easter Island 1995, Heard Island 1997) Honorary Life member, Central Arizona DX Association Environmental Enrichment Award, International Underwater Foundation, 1995 Certificate of Merit, Chiltern DX Club, 1997 Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, elected 2011 Schmieder Bank (a rocky bank in the eastern Pacific) Codium schmiederi (an alga) Erylus schmiederi (a sponge) Pharia pyramidata schmiederi (a starfish) Megalomphalus schmiederi (a gastropod)

Professional A.B. (Physics) Occidental College, 1963 B.S. (Physics) California Institute of Technology, 1963 M.A. (Physics) Columbia University, 1965 Ph.D. (Physics) Columbia University, 1969 Research Staff, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1969-74 Research Staff, Sandia National Laboratories, 1974-97 Founder, CEO, NanoLogic, 1997-present

Websites http://www.cordell.org (Cordell Expeditions) http://www.cordell.org/HI (Heard Island 1997) http://www.cordell.org/HD (Heard Island 2014) http://www.cordell.org/CI (Clipperton Island 2013) http://www.cordell.org/DXA (DXA) http://www.schmieder.com (personal) http://www.nanologic.com (company) http://www.ghiorso.org (biography in progress)

Contact 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 USA (925) 934-3735 [email protected] [email protected]

Saving the World, by We the Students Page 8 of 11 Cordell Expeditions

Cordell Expeditions (CE) is a nonprofit scientific educational association, formed in 1977 by Dr. Robert W. Schmieder. Its main activities are to carry out expeditions to remote oceanic sites to acquire scientific information that can contribute to rational management and protection of such sites. In addition the group owns and operates a research vessel, the Cordell Explorer, and maintains an ongoing schedule of educational cruises for students and other groups interested in oceanography and marine biology.

The work of Cordell Expeditions has resulted in the discovery of more than 20 new species, significant uncharted topographic features, and many first observations of environmental conditions. More than 1000 new species, new genera, first recorded observations, and range/depth extensions have resulted from Cordell Expeditions. A large collection of specimens, and photographic archive, and a large number of popular articles are additional results of the expeditions.

Cordell Expeditions organized and carried out the following expeditions:

Cordell Bank (California) 1977-1986 Marine research. First underwater exploration and description of Cordell bank, California. Over a 10-year period many diving expeditions were made, resulting in the first species list, new information about the topography and geology of the Bank, and the nomination to the U. S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for designation of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (done in 1989 by Act of Congress). Extensive collaboration with major institutions including U. S. National Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, etc. More than 200 contributors to the project. All the archival specimens, photographs, logs and other data were accessioned by the California Academy of Sciences. Numerous new species, range extensions, first observations. Monograph: Ecology of an Underwater Island.

Pt. Sur (California) 1987-1989 Marine research. First underwater exploration and description of the bank offshore from Pt. Reyes, eventually resulting in the designation of Schmieder Bank and the inclusion of the area within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Farallon Islands (California) 1989 Marine research. First underwater exploration of the North Farallon Islands, resulting in major collections of algae and the discovery of a subsurface tunnel completely penetrating one of the islands. First collections of algae from the Southeast Farallon Island. First diving exploration of Middle Farallon.

Rocas Alijos (Baja California) 1990, 1993 Marine research. Two expeditions involving 40 persons to the large oceanic volcano lying 200 miles offshore from Baja California. First comprehensive underwater exploration, first ascent of the emerged rocks, first radio contacts from the site, first measurements of currents, water temperatures, etc. Monograph: Rocas Alijos: Scientific Results of the Cordell Expeditions, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Guadalupe Island (Baja California) 1990 Radio operations and marine research. Excursion on return from the Rocas Alijos expedition. First radio contacts from the island and collection of marine invertebrates for the California Academy of Sciences.

Roqueta Island () 1992 Radio operations. First radio contacts from the island.

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Castle Rock (California) 1992 Radio operations. First radio contacts from the island.

Ventura Rocks (California) 1993 Radio operations. First radio operation from the site.

Farallon Islands (California) 1993 Terrestrial invertebrates and radio operations. Investigation of avian mortality due to a dermestid-vectored botulism outbreak and the first radio operation from the island.

Peter I Island (Antarctic) 1994 Radio operations and environmental studies Radio operations from the #1 most-wanted remote site in the World and collections of samples of rocks and lichens for U. C. Berkeley. Book: 3Y0PI: Peter I Island Antarctica.

Easter Island/Salas y Gómez (Chile) 1995 Marine research and radio operations. Exploration of the last remaining unexplored subtidal areas of Easter Island, collection of marine specimens, extensive radio communications technology innovations (including first expedition website, online log uploads, etc.). Book: DX-AKU: Messages from the Easter Island Expeditions.

Heard Island (Antarctic) 1997 Radio operations. Radio operations from the #1 most-wanted remote site in the World. Extensive descriptions of the area around Atlas Cove. Book: VKØIR: Heard Island.

San Felix Island (Chile) 2002 Radio operations and environmental sampling. First amateur radio communications from the island. Collection of marine invertebrates for the L. A. Museum of Natural History. Re-discovery of the large plant Thamnoseris (formerly thought to be extinct) and subsequent molecular analysis of nuclear ribosomal DXA sequences, resolving its disputed phylogenetic classification. Book XR0X: San Felix Island, Chile.

Kure Atoll (Hawaii) 2005 Radio operations and environmental science. Amateur radio operations, development and first use of DXA, the satellite-linked online log server that enables near real-time updates from the expedition site (cf., www.cordell.org/DXA. Investigation of means for controlling the invasive pest ant Pheidole megacephala.

Clipperton Island (Pacific) 2013 Radio operations and environmental science. Amateur radio operations, including DXA version 2, real-time video, and other advanced communications modes. Search for Pheidole megacephala, collection of algal specimens for U. C. Berkeley.

Cordell Expeditions maintains collaborative relations with many organizations and institutions, including: University of California, Berkeley; Los Angeles Museum of Natural History; U. S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.; California Academy of Sciences; City of Berkeley; Mt. Diablo College; St. Mary’s College; Texas A&M University; Humboldt State University; Ocean Futures (J-M Cousteau); San Diego Museum of Natural History; and many others.

Cordell Expeditions has received numerous awards. Over 30 years the group has produced more than 1000 new species, new depth and range extensions, and first observations on site, numerous journal publications and seven books based on the expeditions. A full bibliography is available on the expedition website.

Cordell Expeditions can be reached at [email protected]. The website is www.cordell.org.

Saving the World, by We the Students Page 10 of 11 Contact Information

Dr. Robert Schmieder Cordell Expeditions 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 934-3735 [email protected] www.cordell.org

Credits Images pp. 1, 4: Chris Grossman, www.diver.net Maps p. 3: Prof. Christian Jost

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