Are you Interested in learning more about earth science and the ocean? The new Oceanography class, taught by science teacher Megan Levas, is a class that might interest you. In this class students will learn about the ocean itself and everything that lives in it.

Senior Haley Farrington took Oceanography during the first semester and really enjoyed it. “We learned about the different species in the ocean as well as ocean types and water types.” Farrington said. “We did a lot of experiments with water and salinity of water. We also worked a lot with coral and coral reefs.” 

Levas is not only the Oceanography teacher but the creator as well. “One of my favorite classes in college was Oceanography, and it was fitting that I met my husband while taking that class (he was getting his PhD studying coral),” she said “He is now an aquatic biogeochemist and teaches at UW-Whitewater. Together we have been able to travel for his work and scuba dive in amazing locations, like Australia (the Great Barrier Reef), Mexico, Hawaii, and places around the Carribean. I love being able to explore the ocean from below the surface, and see all of the different organisms up close.  I am so passionate about ocean organisms (particularly coral) and its importance to the Earth and humans. Unfortunately, coral is dying worldwide and research is being done to try to save it.” 

Even though the class is new this year, many people recommend that students take it to get a better understanding of the ocean. Levas recommends it to students who want a better understanding of how the ocean is important to people. “Students should take Oceanography to gain an understanding about how the ocean is important to us, even though we live in Wisconsin,” she said “Specifically, students will get hands-on experience in actual research by experimenting with living coral and study a science that will hopefully have a lasting impact on them.”

Sophomore Norah Doyle also recommends this class to other students. “It is an amazing class to take, whether you like learning about the ocean or not.” Doyle said. “In Oceanography, we learn about so many cool things, not only animals but things like the different ocean zones and we do many different labs, like growing coral.” 

Senior Via Gannaway explains a little more about class. “The class is basically a marine class where you learn about the ocean and the animals and different aspects in the ocean,” Gannaway said. “I decided to take this class because we were supposed to make salt water tanks and I was really interested in that. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19 we never got to do that.” 

There are many interesting units that students will cover in Oceanography. “Some of the topics covered will be marine habitats, the importance of the ocean to humans and the Earth, marine organisms, pollution, and ocean dynamics (waves and water movement).  A large component of the class will be an experiment on living coral in saltwater tanks in the classroom,” she said.

While Doyle thinks the content is interesting, he really enjoys the class most because of Levas. “It is so interesting, and having Mrs. Levas as a teacher only makes it better,” Doyle said.