But that's when Ms. Bell, an environmental education specialist, is not busy collecting samples as part of the team on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research ship. Ms. Bell, who works for the Maryland State Department of Education, was selected as NOAA's Teacher at Sea, where she will spend two weeks working alongside scientists.

"Personally and professionally as a scientist, it's awesome for me. I love the ocean education stuff," Ms. Bell said a few days before leaving.

More than 250 educators from around the country apply each year for NOAA's Teacher at Sea program, and between 20 and 30 participants are selected, said Elizabeth McMahon, deputy program manager at NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

Ms. Bell's mission will be to help scientists collect samples and take measurements of the ecosystem of the northeast continental shelf.

"It's monitoring the long-term trends in the ecosystem. We look at the zooplankton and take measurements of hydrography, salinity and temperature," said Jerry Prezioso, NOAA's chief scientist for the cruise.

Between sampling, Ms. Bell wants to interview the other crew members - hydrologists, zoologists, engineers and even the cook - about their jobs so she can enlighten students back home about career options in the open ocean.

She also wants to tie some of her ocean research to the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the effects of area land use on the freshwater rivers. Ms. Bell even hopes to find time to write and to paint watercolors.

But above all, Ms. Bell, who works with environmental education coordinators in each of the state's county school systems, will take the experience back home to form a lesson plan based on the research.

"The hope is the teachers take all this newfound information and share it with their students and get their students excited about science or excited about life at sea," said Ms. McMahon.