 | This user is a participant in WikiProject Limnology and Oceanography. |
I am currently a student in mechanical engineering with a massive interest in deep sea science and deep diving submersibles. I previously wrote a children's book on some of the ecosystems, trophic structures, ecological niches, and taxa of the bathyal and abyssal zones of the Pacific Ocean (sorry hadal fans--snailfish aren't cute enough to be the main character of a kid's book).
The story of the book follows a flapjack octopus as they go on a little journey, meeting different notable deep marine animals in the open water column, at hydrothermal vents, and at a seamount. Friends they meet along the way tell the flapjack about their defining characteristics and the most unique/interesting niches, processes, and biological functions that each of the organisms have.
I spent a little over a year doing the research, illustrating, and writing the book, and I'm proud to say that it's as scientifically accurate as possible (minus a few small things for creative liberty, like some of the interactions and how easily the flapjack finds so many widely distributed species'), thanks to an absurd amount of research publications and journals that I spent far too long reading for a book with less than 250 words in it.
My goal with this project was to explore options for introducing young children to deep ocean literacy, in order to address the large gap in understanding and compassion between the deep sea scientific community and the general public.
I joined Wikipedia because I like to edit, and after a few years of following deep ocean research within the field, I'd like to start contributing to the effort of changing public opinion about the depths and correcting the abundant misinformation and fear-mongering that is so commonly linked to discussions about the deep.