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Growing up with a general love for animals, Sean Spratt decided to narrow his focus and get involved with marine biology.
Entering his junior year at Downers Grove North High School this fall, Spratt had wanted to volunteer abroad but then stumbled upon the Shedd Aquarium’s High School Marine Biology program.
“I just always liked animals,” Spratt said. “Up until last year, it was between zoology and marine biology. When I got scuba certified last year, it made me more interested in marine biology.”
Spratt enjoys the different life the animals have in the water as opposed to land-based mammals.
The Shedd Aquarium’s program started out in early July with five classes to prepare the students in the program for their trip to the Bahamas. The programs taught the students how to take video, give speeches and about different animals and fish in the water.
“They taught us about what is going on (in the Bahamas) where people fish but can only fish so much before they hurt the population,” Spratt said. “They taught us the local culture.”
Spratt was in the Bahamas, aboard the Shedd’s 80-foot research and collecting vessel, R/V Coral Reef II for a week. While in the Bahamas, Spratt snorkeled multiple times a day and worked on research projects.
“We are all working on five projects, and I am working on comparing different predators in an ecosystem,” Spratt said.
He hopes to study marine biology in college, preferably in Florida.
“I am (still) looking for other stuff to build up my resume,” Spratt said.
Notable
Certified scuba diver
Certified snorkeler
On the web
Visit the Shedd Aquarium’s blog on Spratt’s trip at www.hsmb2010.blogspot.com
Philosophy
“Step into the unknown and make it known,” Spratt said.
Favorite
BOOK “Angels and Demons”
MUSIC Train
MOVIE “The Patriot”
HOBBY Scuba diving
Growing up with a general love for animals, Sean Spratt decided to narrow his focus and get involved with marine biology.
Entering his junior year at Downers Grove North High School this fall, Spratt had wanted to volunteer abroad but then stumbled upon the Shedd Aquarium’s High School Marine Biology program.
“I just always liked animals,” Spratt said. “Up until last year, it was between zoology and marine biology. When I got scuba certified last year, it made me more interested in marine biology.”
Spratt enjoys the different life the animals have in the water as opposed to land-based mammals.
The Shedd Aquarium’s program started out in early July with five classes to prepare the students in the program for their trip to the Bahamas. The programs taught the students how to take video, give speeches and about different animals and fish in the water.
“They taught us about what is going on (in the Bahamas) where people fish but can only fish so much before they hurt the population,” Spratt said. “They taught us the local culture.”
Spratt was in the Bahamas, aboard the Shedd’s 80-foot research and collecting vessel, R/V Coral Reef II for a week. While in the Bahamas, Spratt snorkeled multiple times a day and worked on research projects.
“We are all working on five projects, and I am working on comparing different predators in an ecosystem,” Spratt said.
He hopes to study marine biology in college, preferably in Florida.
“I am (still) looking for other stuff to build up my resume,” Spratt said.
Notable
Certified scuba diver
Certified snorkeler
On the web
Visit the Shedd Aquarium’s blog on Spratt’s trip at www.hsmb2010.blogspot.com
Philosophy
“Step into the unknown and make it known,” Spratt said.
Favorite
BOOK “Angels and Demons”
MUSIC Train
MOVIE “The Patriot”
HOBBY Scuba diving
