TURNER — Students in Greene, Leeds and Turner got a science lesson from their teacher Wednesday from a ship off Puerto Rico.

Cindy Duguay, a gifted and talented teacher for Regional School Unit 52, is on the Nautilus ship, participating in research and mapping the Puerto Rico Trench, a depression off the coast of San Juan between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

She’s among 47 teachers from around the world to be selected by the Ocean Exploration Trust to be part of a scientific expedition. The program is sponsored by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Ocean Exploration Trust, the Sea Research Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Office of Naval Research and the University of Rhode Island.

Through satellite links, students at Tripp Middle, Greene Central, Leeds Central and Turner Elementary schools had a live talk with Duguay.

In the Tripp Middle School library, technology coordinator Karen Potvin placed the call to the Nautilus. A smiling Duguay appeared on the screen.

“This is so exciting! I’ve been waiting for this all week,” Duguay said.

The Nautilus left port in San Juan on Friday, she said. Since then, scientists have conducted underwater dives through two remotely operated vehicles called Argus and Hercules.

The vehicles, which look like the ones that probed the sunken Titanic, could be seen on the deck of the ship.

“There’s a lot of cool science going on here,” Duguay said. “I’ve had a chance to work with different scientists on board.” The vehicles looked at landslide areas in the trench and took samples of rocks and sediment cores, she said.

Duguay invited questions.

“What is the prettiest view you’ve seen so far?” asked one student.

Sunsets with colors that change all the time, underwater corals, sponges and rocks, Duguay said.

Another asked about the biggest organism she’d seen underwater.

“It might have been the shark I caught a glimpse of, but there’s been some pretty large sponges,” Duguay said.

One student asked why exploring the Puerto Rico Trench was important.

It’s never been explored before, Duguay said. “One of the goals is to protect the people of this area,” she said, to know the ocean floor and be better prepared in case of a tsunami or earthquake. “Ninety-five percent of our oceans are unexplored.”

How many scientists were on board? Thirty-one.

What types of sponges and corals had they found? A tulip sponge and black coral.

What was her favorite part of the expedition so far? Immersing herself in a real science exploration.

When she gets back to school, her students will study more about the oceans. Duguay said she’ll share what it’s like to work alongside scientists and to explore remotely operated vehicle technology. She’ll return with “energy and enthusiasm, real learning in applied experiences.”

As she was saying goodbye, Duguay encouraged students to tune to the ship’s website, www.explorationnow.org where they could learn more and ask more questions. Duguay will be able to answer questions directly from research scientists on the ship. “This is an opportunity that doesn’t come but once in a lifetime,” she said.

After they signed off, Tripp Middle students said they were excited their teacher is part of a scientific expedition. She’ll be better able to tell them what it’s like underwater.

Heaven Russell, 12, said she was interested in sponges.

Zeke Smith, 13, said he was interested in underwater hydrothermal vents “that spew out hot water.”

Amos Grant, 12, said he’s impressed that Duguay applied for the exploration program a few years ago, didn’t make it, and applied again. “She kept on trying and made it on,” he said.

Now, “we have a connection to that,” Grant said. “When she comes back we can ask her. She has a better idea of it.”

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

Learn and see more:

For more information on the expedition RSU 52 teacher Cindy Duguay is part of, go to www.explorationnow.org

The website for live feed is: www.nautiluslive.org. Viewers can click the “participate” tab on the right corner and submit questions.