Cable Installed for First Deep-Sea Observatory Oceanographers have completed an important step in constructing the first deep-sea observatory off the continental United States. Workers in the multi- institution effort laid 32 miles (52 kilometers) of cable along the Monterey Bay sea floor that will provide electrical power to scientific instruments, video cameras, and robots 3,000 feet (900 meters) below the ocean surface. The link will also carry data from the instruments back to shore, for use by scientists and engineers from around the world. The Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) observatory, due to be completed later this year, will provide ocean scientists with 24-hour-a-day access to instruments and experiments in the deep sea. The project is managed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Read the onli ne report for more information. The above illustration of the MARS undersea observatory shows its cabled links.

National Geographic magazine's latest issue includes a special focus on the global fish crisis. In addition to multimedia presentations, there are articles on fisheries and coastal reserves, among other topics.

Interview with NOAA Fisheries' Chief Scientist A recent interview with Dr. Steve Murawski is now posted online. Dr. Murawski is the chief scientific advisor to NOAA Fisheries and leader of NOAA's Ecosystem Goal Team.

Understanding Ocean Climates and Marine Ecosystems To understand how climate change affects marine ecosystems, including fisheries, NOAA conducts and sponsors research on global ocean ecosystem dynamics, through a program known as GLOBEC (GLOBal ECosystems). GLOBEC is an international program with studies underway in several nations, as well as a joint international program in the Southern Ocean off Antarctica. NOAA conducts studies in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for the U.S. component of GLOBEC. Results from these studies will be integrated with GLOBEC programs from other nations to give a global view of the effects of climate change on marine populations. Read NOAA's online article for more information on this program.

Ecosystem-Based Management Progress "Over the past decade, policymakers, management agencies, and academic scientists have shown increasing interest in ecosystem- based management (EBM). Yet, the extent that EBM principles, deemed important by scientists, are adopted by managers is still uncertain." So notes Katie K. Arkema, of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and colleagues, writing in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Environment. Part of the problem, they argue, is that there is no agreement on a precise definition of ecosystem-based management. Indeed, they reviewed 18 different definitions for the term. "One universal term for, and definition of, ecosystem-based management will clarify the concept and make it more accessible to managers," they write. They also note "...scientists characterize EBM differently than agencies planning to manage coastal and marine ecosystems. We found that management objectives and interventions tend to miss critical ecological and human factors emphasized in the academic literature." They recommend "...communication be improved among scientists, management agencies, and the public to highlight the parallels that exist between ecological and human perspectives and facilitate a better understanding of EBM." Source: Arkema, K.K., et al. 2006. Marine ecosystem-based management: from characterization to implementation. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 4(10): 525-532. Contact Katie K. Arkema Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara for more information.

Hydrothermal Vents Discovery An international expedition has found gushing hydrothermal vents for the first time on an ultraslow- spreading mid-ocean ridge, which were once thought to be hydrothermally inactive. An article in Oceanus Magazine describes the efforts of a joint team of WHOI and Chinese scientists during their expedition in the Indian Ocean.

PKAL Model of Ideal Learning Project Kaleidoscope's most recent publication defines the ideal model of learning. This ideal model, which emerged from and guided the work of early PKAL leaders, was distilled from the reflections and experiences of many pioneering agents of change in the late 20th century. From their work, it was clear that what works is when the classroom (and lab) is seen as a locus for activity and dialogue, for cooperative efforts engaging students, and students and faculty, and a place for students to construct their own knowledge.

Teaching Science in the 21st Century The eighth installment in NSTA Reports' series is titled "Research Reveals Bumps on All Roads to Certification". Written by Norman G. Lederman, Judith Sweeney Lederman, and Fouad-Abd-El-Khalick, the piece states "The literature on alternative programs and pathways clearly indicates that alternative routes to certification come in many shapes and sizes. More importantly, the research shows that graduates of such programs do as well as graduates of "traditional" programs in terms of student science achievement and instructional knowledge/skills. This finding was quite different than what our intuition had led us to believe. If there is a relative weakness of alternative programs and pathways, it is in the area of retention. That is, graduates of alternative programs are more likely to leave the teaching profession because it does not match the expectations they had of teaching as a career." This series offers opinion pieces by many of the leaders in science education today.

CoML Lunchtime Seminar Series NOAA announces a Census of Marine Life's (CoML) Lunchtime Seminar Series, "Making Ocean Life Count." Researchers in more than 70 nations are engaged in a 10-year initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine life in the oceans - past, present, and future. All talks will take place from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM at NOAA in Silver Spring, MD. A live video webcast feed will be available for remote users. Details and schedule is available online. Seminars are sponsored by the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration. Contact Reginald Beach for more information.

International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Session Highlights The IOC's International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) was established in 1961 to enhance marine research, exploitation and development by facilitating the exchange of oceanographic data and information between participating Member States and by meeting the needs of users for data and information products. The Nineteenth Session of the IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE-XIX) was held at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy in March 2007. This NOAA seminar will describe highlights of this meeting, and will be held Thursday May 17, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM., at NOAA in Silver Spring, MD. The speaker will be Robert Gelfeld from NODC. VideoTeleConferencing /phone available upon request by contacting Cheryl Ingram at least a day before the seminar. Contact Hernan Garcia with any questions about this seminar.

Dine & Discuss: Using Local Data to Teach About the Ocean Learn about the Casco Bay Curriculum at a workshop for members of the Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association (GOMMEA) on Wednesday, April 25th from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street, Portland. The workshop is free for GOMMEA members, $15 for non-members, which includes a year membership to GOMMEA. Registration is limited to 15 participants. Contact Mary Cerullo to register, or for more information.

Montana State University Online Graduate Degree Montana State University Bozeman announces a revised tuition structure for the Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) degree for practicing science educators. Effective summer 2007, tuition for this 30-credit degree drops to $8,100. Eliminating the non-resident tuition surcharge decreases the overall cost of the degree program for out-of-state teachers. Over 40 classes are available this summer. Simple web registration makes it easier than ever to take a class online or in Bozeman, Montana. Teachers from 39 states and 11 foreign countries have successfully completed this degree with distance classes from the National Teachers Enhancement Network (NTEN). Contact Dr. Carol Thoresen for more information.

Advanced ROV Building for Classroom Projects The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in Monterey, California presents Advanced Remotely Operated Vehicle Building for classroom projects, to be held July 23-30. Throughout the week, educators will work in teams to design and build their own ROVs to complete a set of predetermined mission tasks. The workshop will start off with a representative from SolidWorks leading a tutorial to design a basic frame for their ROVs. The educators will then learn how to program a basic stamp to control sensors and motors on their ROVs. The participants will test their ROVs in a mini- competition with an International Polar Year focus at the end of the week. Educators will also have an opportunity to network with other educators who have similar interests and to share best teaching practices. There is no fee for participating in these institutes. Lunches and some dinners will be provided by the MATE Center as well as hotel accommodations for participants living more than 50 miles from Monterey. For more information, visit the MATE website or contact Lani Clough, MATE Faculty Development Coordinator.

NMEA Conference Registration Open Registration is now open for Downeast 2007, July 23- 27, 2007, in Portland, Maine. The full conference fee of $375 covers all costs (except field trips), including keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks and snacks, cocktail parties, auction, dance party, Downeast lobster bake, sunset cruise on Casco Bay, and entertainment, featuring a concert by Schooner Fare, stand-up comedy by Maine humorist Tim Sample, visual travelogue by underwater photographer Bill Curtsinger, and inspirational performance by actress Kaiulani Lee as Rachel Carson. Go to the conference website to register, reserve your field trip, and find information for recommended accommodations. The deadline for applying to NMEA for scholarship assistance to support your attendance is May 1st. For more information, go to http://www.marine-ed.org/ and click on Scholarships.

The Future of Coastal Management The first in a series of nationwide meetings designed to solicit innovative ideas that will shape the CZMA and other legislation being submitted to Congress later this year has been set for May 8, 2007 at Bentley College Conference Center in Waltham, Massachusetts. During the meeting, NOAA and the Coastal States Organization (CSO) will present the Visioning initiative, followed by facilitated comment sessions. Topics will include: Coastal issues - What are the most important challenges now and in the future? Current Policies and Programs - What is working well? What can be improved? Solutions - What new, innovative approaches will move coastal management forward? How can we improve the Coastal Zone Management Act? What tools are needed to build strong coastal communities and healthy coasts? Setting Goals and Measuring Success - Should goals be set? If so, what should they be? How can we ensure that management approaches are effective? Attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Register by April 27, 2007. There is no registration fee to attend and lunch will be provided. If you are unable to attend the meeting in Boston, submit your comments via the web or join one of the other stakeholder meetings soon to be scheduled in Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, or Honolulu.

Symposium on Vessel-Quieting Technology NOAA Fisheries will host an international symposium to consider the potential application of vessel-quieting technology on large commercial vessels. A detailed agenda and other meeting materials are now available online. This free symposium will take place on May 1-2, 2007, in Silver Spring, MD.

MME Conference The 31st annual Massachusetts Marine Educators conference at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will be held Saturday, May 5, 2007, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. This year's theme is Marine Technology: Tools to Study the Ocean. More registration information is available online or contact Pat Harcourt (508) 457-0495 x 106.

Oceans 2007 Call for Papers The annual Marine Technology Society/Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-Oceanic Engineering Society Conference Oceans 2007 will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, September 29 - October 4. This conference features a partnership of engineers / technologists, scientific researchers, and marine educators. Oceans 2007 is calling for papers in the area of marine education, among many other topics. The abstract deadline is April 30, 2007. Visit online for more information, including the online abstract form.

Estuarine Research Federation Conference Call for Abstracts On November 4-8, 2007, the 2007 Estuarine Research Federation Conference will be held in Providence, Rhode Island. The deadline for abstracts is May 23.

Project Kaleidoscope Summer Institute What resources are needed by and available for academic leaders intent on building and sustaining a robust 21st century STEM learning environment for undergraduates on American college and university campuses? This is one question driving the design of the 2007 PKAL Summer Institute. Institute participants, as individuals or members of an institutional/organization team, will examine a wide range of existing and emerging resources that can advance their work of agents of change at the campus and the national level.

Field Survey Scholarship An opportunity for two primary or secondary educators to attend a REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) Field Survey this summer on the Paul Humann's Dicsovery Tour, July 7-14 is available. All expenses will be covered to attend the one-week Field Survey. Application and other information is available online. The two candidates will also be invited to REEF's annual sustainers event immediately following the Field Survey.

Gulf of Maine Action Grants The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking applications from non-government organizations for grants that forward the goals of its new Action Plan. These grants fund local initiatives in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia that support the Council's priority goals of protecting and restoring coastal and marine habitat, protecting human health and ecosystem integrity, and encouraging sustainable maritime activities. For more information on the grant program, see the Council's website. Applications are due by May 15.

Northeastern University Summer Intern Opportunity Northeastern University's Marine Science Center has two summer college intern positions available. Interns work with the Outreach Program conducting programs aboard the research vessel Mysis, on-site at the Marine Science Center, and in various local coastal habitats. Responsibilities include leading K-12 outreach programs, summer science academies, and summer teacher workshops. Housing and a small stipend are available. The Marine Science Center (MSC) is a marine research and educational facility of Northeastern University (NU). Located on the peninsula of Nahant, MA jutting into the ocean just five miles NNE of the entrance to Boston Harbor, the MSC offers pristine New England rocky shore habitat in close proximity to Boston and a broad spectrum of learning opportunities for K-12 teachers and students. Email Emily Blume for more information.

Marine Mammal Science Careers The field of marine mammal science has a growing appeal. Yet, many students do not clearly understand what the field involves. This brochure addresses questions commonly asked by people seeking a career in marine mammal science in the United States and provides suggestions on how to plan education and work experience.

WhaleSail Scholarships Available to Cape & Islands Students The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) invites Cape and Islands students to WhaleSail aboard Spirit of Massachusetts, a 125-foot schooner. The WhaleSail program is open to students aged 13-17 who are interested in studying marine science for a week in July. Twelve $450 scholarships are currently available for the program through the PCCS educational endowment. Applications including a 500-word essay on the marine environment, and a scholastic letter of recommendation, are due May 15. Tuition for the weeklong learning adventure is $900 and includes instruction, materials, and room and board. For more information on MassSail and WhaleSail scholarships visit www.coastalstud ies.org, or call Joanne M. Jarzobski at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, 508.487.3623, ext. 107.

Marine Art Contest Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary is partnering with the Massachusetts Marine Educators and the New England Aquarium to sponsor a marine art contest for grades K-12. For details, see the Stellwagen website. Entries are due by May 15.

Beach Clean-Up Update Due to the recent storm, the schedule for beach clean-ups sponsored by the New England Aquarium has changed. Check online for updates and directions.

Sharks in the Wild Presentation Underwater filmmaker, still photographer and author Marty Snyderman will present a journey into the world of sharks and their kin Monday April 23 at 7:00 PM at the New England Aquarium. He will provide an overview of the natural history of the world's more than 370 species of sharks and offer insight from a sport diver's point of view by describing some of his more memorable experiences from a 30-year-plus long diving career. The presentation will be held in the Harborside Learning Lab at the New England Aquarium and pre-registration.

The Celebrate Seafood Dinner Series at the New England Aquarium provides a fine dining experience that appeals to ocean and seafood-lovers alike. Three courses, each paired with wine, highlight three species of seafood that are ocean-friendly, meaning they are caught or farmed in environmentally responsible ways. The main course is a species featured by the New England Aquarium's Fish of the Month program, which helps identify ocean-friendly seafood choices. New England Aquarium expert chefs perform cooking demonstrations of each course, and Aquarium researchers from the Sustainable Fisheries Initiative discuss each seafood option and how you can make a difference through smart seafood choices. The dinner is on Tuesday, April 24. The cost is $70 for members, $75 for non-members. Visit the web page for registration.

Woods Hole Sea Grant's annual "Oceans Alive" lecture series continues on Tuesday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m., with Glen Gawarkiewicz, associate scientist in the WHOI Physical Oceanography Department, speaking on "A Costal Current in Winter: Exploring coastal ocean cooling with a REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle." The series will conclude on Tuesday, May 1, at 4:00 p.m., with "Young Scientists Present: winning science fair projects," which showcases the talents of the winners of local high school science fairs, students from Falmouth Academy and Falmouth High School. All presentations are in Redfield Auditorium on Water Street in Woods Hole, and are free and open to the public; families are especially encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. Parking for evening lectures is available in the parking lot opposite the auditorium, and parking for the May 1 afternoon lecture is available in on-street, metered spaces. For more information, contact the Woods Hole Sea Grant, 508-289-2398.

Cambridge Science Festival runs from April 21-29, 2007 with over 150 events during those 9 days. Check the events page for up to date information.

Spring Running Festival in Maine The second annual Spring Running festival is happening on the Kennebec River in Augusta on Saturday, June 2nd. The Spring Running is a festival that celebrates and promotes the historic, cultural and economic connections of Augusta to the spring herring run and the Kennebec River. Contact Dana Morse if you are an educator interested in setting up an education/outreach display or doing some hands-on water-based educational activities for visitors to the festival.

Gulf of Maine Council Administrative Assistant The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking applications for a one- year Administrative Assistant position to provide administrative support the Council, including meeting logistical support, tracking progress on Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan items, drafting the Council's quarterly and annual reports, and maintaining and updating the GOM Council website. For more information, see the Council's website. Applications are due by April 30.

Schooner Summer Employment Schooner Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and personal growth by providing educational experiences in marine science, sailing, and the history of Long Island Sound and its watershed. Summer programs include experiences in the coastal habitats of Long Island Sound, on the schooner Quinnipiack, and on a fleet of sailboats. Schooner Inc. is in the process of taking applications for 2007 summer staff positions. More information about the Schooner Inc. summer programs can be found on the website or contact Schooner Inc. via email or 203-865-1737 x14 for more information.

Public Education Coordinator The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is seeking applications for a full time Public Education Coordinator who will be running programming during public hours, facilitating birthday parties, and developing and teaching youth education programs. Apply through the website or contact Vicki Wawerchak for more information.

Adjunct Instructors The Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA), a new early college initially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and sponsored by Everett Community College in Everett, Washington, is seeking qualified, innovative individuals to teach at the Academy. ORCA is the only early college in the nation that uses the local marine environment as the interdisciplinary connection to critical analysis in all disciplines. This program merges the last two years of high school with the first two years of college. The courses are designed to meet both high school and community college degree requirements while the students conduct authentic scientific research. Using an innovative, project-based approach in a learning community format, high school students earn up to two years of college credit for free while attending ORCA classes full-time at EvCC. More information is available online as well as by downloading a pdf announcement.

The Discovery of Sound in the Sea website (www.dosits.org) is one of the most comprehensive Internet resources on underwater sound. In addition to in- depth science content, there are galleries and education resources that provide a wealth of information. The Audio Gallery contains audio clips in QuickTime and MP3 formats of more than 60 underwater sounds generated by marine animals, human activities, and natural phenomena. There are also images accompanying each audio file in the gallery. The Scientist Gallery highlights the cutting edge research of five renowned scientists and provides biographies and video taped interviews for each. The Technology Gallery provides images and descriptions of the scientific and commercial equipment that employ underwater acoustic technologies. In addition to the Galleries, there is a Teac her Resources section containing classroom activities developed by K-12 educators along with a list of helpful classroom resources. All DOSITS content is exclusively from peer reviewed publications and has undergone a thorough external review by a team of experts.

A Shipboard Expedition to the Tropical Atlantic Follow a team of oceanographers to the western tropical Atlantic Ocean as they work to decode the complicated interactions among the ocean, atmosphere and global climate at 15°N, 51°W on Mission 1551. As they trek across the ocean you can peer into their world by reading their blog, scanning their images, asking questions and discovering what shipboard life is like hundreds of miles out to sea. Trace their voyage as they navigate offshore of the Caribbean islands from April 14th-28th. Email Karinna Sjo- Gaber with any questions.

Oceans for Life Series The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program, in collaboration with National Geographic Society, has launched a new series of marine education lesson plans highlighting cutting-edge research, maritime heritage, cultural resources and environmental issues in our national marine sanctuaries. Designed for K-12 teachers and marine educators, the Oceans for Life series of lessons and videos gives students an opportunity to explore the history, biology, and ecology of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Through a multi-media approach, the 12 Oceans for Life lesson plans and complimentary short videos will inspire ocean literacy and conservation through national marine sanctuaries and promote bringing the ocean and environment into your classroom.

CoastWatch Website Offers Animation of East Coast Sea Surface Temperatures The CoastWatch East Coast Node, located at the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, provides data and value- added products for Maine to Florida. A new feature has been added to the East Coast Node website to showcase sea surface temperature products derived from NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites. The sea surface temperature animation for the east coast may be viewed online. Images are updated every three hours; a composite is generated every 3 days and the animation plays the most recent 20 images. More information can be found on the CoastWatch Web site, or contact Shawna Karlson with any questions.

Real-Time Data Follows Chesapeake Voyage On March 30, 2007, the Sultana Project's Captain John Smith shallop was launched at Nauticus National Maritime Center in Norfolk, VA. The 28-foot wooden replica of Smith's shallop and its crew will journey for 121 days and 1500 miles to the headwaters of almost every tributary of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, retracing the 1608 exploratory voyages of Captain John Smith. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office has equipped the shallop with an automatic water-quality measuring instrument that will allow the public to follow the voyage online and see water conditions along the route. Real-time meteorological and water quality data will be available on the website as will historical information about sites along the trail.

AWARE Kids Project AWARE Foundation's AWARE Kids program is geared toward K-4th grade with extension activities for 5th-6th grades . The materials include an AWARE Kids activity book, Teacher's Guide and DVD (materials in English and Spanish). AWARE Kids is designed to introduce children to marine topics (coral reefs, sharks, kelp, sea turtles and more) and related conservation issues. It also encourages active participation in conservation activities through a set of AWARE Kids Missions - cleanups, recycling, water conservation, and threatened animals. Visit the AWARE Kids website for further information.

New Publications

NOAA 200th Anniversary Activity Guide

March 2007 Sea Grant documents

The next issue of Notes will be sent on May 3, 2007. If you have news or announcements of interest to members of the New England ocean science education community, please send to Catherine Cramer.

email: tjohnson@neaq.org

web: http://www.cosee-ne.net