Into the Deep: Science, Technology, and the Quest To Protect the Ocean

Gr 5-8–Passionate scientists across the world are engaged in epochal research to understand and find ways to mitigate the harmful effects of human activity on the oceans. The depletion of fish populations, the prevalence of microplastic pollution, and coral reef bleaching are challenges tied together by the fact that no more than 15 percent of the ocean floor has been mapped with high resolution. In this rich outline of current research, long text blocks are broken up by numerous sidebars that make connections to related topics (for example, outlining the process of chemosynthesis used by creatures living in extreme deep-sea thermal vents). Along with a colorful layout and numerous photos and diagrams, the presentation is inviting for reluctant readers without sacrificing contextual depth. Many of the sidebars offer insightful profiles of scientists working in the field, such as Eva Majerovà, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hawaii. Majerovà began her career as a cancer researcher in Belgium but later used her clinical biology skills to investigate coral bleaching at the molecular level. Several pages of source notes are included, as well as an extensive bibliography of print and online materials and suggestions for further inquiry.