OSIL Supplies Niskin Bottle for St Helena School
Prince Andrew School, St Helena has received a donation of a 5L Niskin bottle from Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) in the U.K. OSIL offered the sampling equipment to marine science teacher and marine enrichment leader Bev Tyson, who hoped to ensure the school could participate in different environmental investigations, including the ASC worldwide micro plastics project.
Measurements of salinity, temperature, pH and dissolved nutrients will be taken, and the data fed into several different investigations. Samples will also be taken at various depths and sent to the ASC worldwide micro plastics project, which analyses samples sent in from locations in oceans all over the world to assess plastic pollution.
The Niskin bottle will also be used for some of the practical elements of the newly introduced marine science courses that have started on the island, which are on offer to both students at the secondary school and to adults in an evening class. The hope is to generate sufficient interest to train a local Saint to assist the marine division on the island who work to monitor, manage and protect the local marine environment which supports several endemic species of fish as well as resident populations of dolphins and turtles and seasonal humpback whales and whale sharks.
OSIL provide a range of water sampling equipment from Niskin bottles, sample storage bottles and analysis services to Marine Snow Catchers and specialized ROV-based systems.