The San Diego Oceans Foundation has been recognizing academic accomplishments for over a decade by awarding an annual $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Sea World.

Each year the Foundation selects the most outstanding marine science project at the Greater San Diego Science Fair. This year's scholarship winner is Ryan Johnson of Mt. Miguel High School.


Project Abstract: The focus of this experiment is to explore the possibility of a chemical sensory mechanism in purple sea urchins. Purple sea urchin's habitat is in the inter-tidal zone and they attach to a rock substrate to withstand the wave energy. The question is whether or not sea urchins leave a chemical mark that they can use when locating a rock. Furthermore, this investigation seeks to determine if the source of the rock (marine or terrestrial) will influence the effectiveness of the chemical mark. In all of the trials, two sea urchins were set into a tank approximately 28 cm from each end. A rock was placed at each end of the tank, one collected from the inter-tidal zone and one from an inland canyon. The sea urchins were then given 90 minuets to move toward either rock. In some cases, the urchins had been exposed to the rock for 24 hours where in other cases they had not been exposed to the rock at all. . The urchins were checked for progress every 15 minutes and their distance from the rock and the location in the tank were noted using a grid. Results show that the research hypothesis is supported by the urchins' ability to locate the rock substrate that they had been exposed to. The results also show that the source of the rock did not make a significant difference in their ability to find the rock that they had been exposed to previously.

Previous Scholarship Recipients

2005 Sara Nettleton, High Tech High
2004 Garen Checkley, Torrey Pines High School
2003 Marwa Kaisey, La Jolla High School
2002 Virginia Dick, Pt. Loma High School
2001 Joshua Emerick, Mt. Miguel High School
2000 Sean Rodriquez, Chula Vista High School
1999 Jessica Townsend, Mt. Miguel High School
1998 Arietta Flemming-Davis, Bonita Vista High School
1997 Erika Marambio, Mt. Miguel High School
1996 Bryn Ann Moser, Bell Junior High School
1995 Juanita Martinez, Memorial Academy
1994 Andrew Schatz, Torrey Pines High School
1993 Julieanne Grant, Torrey Pines High School
1992 Amy Ito, Morse High School
1991 Edgar Gutierrez, Chula Vista High School
1990 Allen Harker, Torrey Pines High School
1989 Sara Zedler, Hoover High School