SIMON: Thanks to all of you for coming along today to hear about how the robotic float project is helping with ocean research.Well, first of all we'll look at what a robotic float does and its use.So let's start with the device itself.It looks a bit like a cigar and it's about one and a half metres long.More importantly it's full of equipment that's designed to collect data.So,it can help us building up a profile of different factors which work together within the world's oceans.

STUDENY 1: Sounds like a big project - isn't it too big for one country to undertake?

SIMON: That's quite true but this project is a really good example of international co-operation.Over the last five years scientists from thirteen countries have been taking part in the project and launching floats in their area of ocean control.And next year this number will rise to fourteen when Indonesia joins the project.

STUDENT 2: That's impressive.

SIMON: But let's move onto how floats work.