Learners have fun with marine animals at Ma-Re outreach

Captivated: Grade four learners from Sun Valley Primary School were fascinated by the marine animals and activities at a recent school outreach by the Marine Research Institute.

Grade four learners from Sun Valley Primary near Noordhoek enthusiastically interacted with exhibitions and marine animals which formed part of the UCT Marine Research Institute's (Ma-Re) School Outreach in early September. The school is one of many hosted by Ma-Re throughout the year.

The aim of the outreach is to illustrate the vital importance of the oceans and open learners' minds to the possibility of a career in marine science.

According to the organiser, Pavs Pillay, Ma-Re, zoology, oceanography and botany postgraduate students are recruited to man the exhibition stations and usher the 130 learners around the venue.

"(The learners) were in awe of the ocean animals and the shark videos. I was amazed at how keen they were to touch the dissections and handle the live animals, and with such care and consideration," added Pillay.

The outreach was such a success that the school requested that it be considered for another outreach in 2013.