COSEE-NE News
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OSEI at Northeastern For
three days in July, teachers from the Swampscott and Nahant (MA) school
districts scrambled over rocks and seaweed as researchers introduced
concepts and experiments that can be used in the classroom. Read more about OSEI at Northeastern.
Ocean Science Literacy PowerPoint A PowerPoint presentation on the development and principles of Ocean Science Literacy is now available on the COSEE-NE website. Developed by the COSEE network, this short program can be downloaded and used by you in presentations to classrooms, informal education groups, or family gatherings! Help spread the word about Ocean Science Literacy!
COSEE-NE at NMEA COSEE-NE gave two presentations at NMEA last week. The first, Scientists and Educators: Partners in Ocean Sciences Education, demonstrated the power of having ocean researchers work directly with teachers, based on the model used at the COSEE-NE POSE conference. In a short presentation, scientist Charlie Mazel spoke about his work on marine fluorescence and how it can be connected to OSL principles and translated to the classroom. Educator Cory Logan
then discussed participatory curricular lessons relative to Charlie's research and OSL. Finally, facilitator Barbara Plonski, science director for Milton (MA) Public Schools, discussed how to form productive researcher-educator teams. Later in the day, Harold McWilliams and Nick Haddad gave a presentation on Telling Your Story, a COSEE-NE project which helps prepare ocean researchers for making a successful classroom visit. Both presentations were well-attended and well-received.
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Reports, Publications and Announcements
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Frequency of Atlantic Hurricanes Doubled During Last Century About twice as many hurricanes form each year on average in the Atlantic Ocean compared to a century ago, states a new statistical study of hurricanes and tropical storms in the north Atlantic. The study concludes that warmer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and altered wind patterns associated with global climate change are fueling much of the increase. The study, by Greg Holland of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., and Peter Webster of Georgia Institute of Technology, is published online in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Read the NSF summaryReport on the Effect of Climate Change in the Northeast The Northeast Climate Impact Assessment (NECIA), a collaboration between the Union of Concerned Scientists and a team of independent climate experts, just published a new report: Confronting Climate Change in the U.S Northeast: Science, Impacts and Solutions. This fully illustrated report considers the future Northeast climate under a high and low global greenhouse gas emissions scenario and provides matter-of-fact details on the resulting impacts to the region's freshwater supply, agricultural activity, winter recreation, human health, and coastal, marine, and forest ecosystems.
Student Results Show Benefits of Math and Science Partnerships The National Science Foundation is reporting that students' performance on annual math and science assessments improved in almost every age group when their schools were involved in a Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program. MSP-participating school districts found that a significantly higher proportion of students scored at the "proficient" level or higher on state math and science assessments in the 2004-2005 school year than they had in 2003-2004. Progress among elementary math students was particularly noteworthy, with student proficiency rising by more than 15 percentage points from one school year to the next. For more information visit online
Students Publish Book on San Diego Bay California Sea Grant and the Unified Port of San Diego have teamed up with High Tech High in Point Loma, California to publish a new book, San Diego Bay: A Story of Exploitation and Restoration. The book was researched, written, photographed and designed by 64 students at High Tech High under the direction of Dr. Jay Vavra, who recently received Amgen's Teaching Excellence Award. (View a video or Dr. Vavra in his classroom here) California Sea Grant and High Tech High are selling the book, and the proceeds will help fund future projects. It can be purchased in the online bookstore or by calling 1.800.994.8849.
Glaciers and Ice Caps to Dominate Sea Level Rise Through 21st Century Ice loss from glaciers and ice caps is expected to cause more global sea rise during this century than the massive Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, according to a new University of Colorado at Boulder study.
The report, primarily funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA, concluded that glaciers and ice caps are currently contributing about 60 percent of the world's ice to the oceans and the rate has been markedly accelerating in the past decade, said Emeritus Professor Mark Meier of CU-Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, lead study author. The contribution is presently about 100 cubic miles of ice annually - a volume nearly equal to the water in Lake Erie - and is rising by about three cubic miles per year. Read the summary |
Online Ocean Education Resources
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Website of Note: Okeanos Explorer, A New Paradigm for Exploration Okeanos Explorer, A New Paradigm for Exploration is now available on NOAA's Ocean Explorer website. In 2008, NOAA will commission a ship of exploration, the Okeanos Explorer, which will operate with a new paradigm: most of the scientists will be ashore rather than on the ship. Exploration Command Centers in several locations in the United States will connect to the Okeanos Explorer and its sensors via satellite and high-speed Internet2 to transmit live images and other data from the seafloor. Internet coverage for this mission includes content essays written by the mission explorers, a special Education essay written for educators, and links to content-related educational materials for teachers of students in grades 5-12.
Marine Debris Powerpoint A powerpoint presentation on marine debris in the Gulf of Mexico - what it is, what effects it has on marine life, and what's being done to mitigate it - is available from NOAA here.
Of Sand and Sea: Teachings from the Southeastern Shoreline The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium now offers the marine science text, Of Sand and Sea: Teachings from the Southeastern Shoreline, (Paula Keener-Chavis and Leslie Sautter, 2002) online in pdf format. Although the book was written primarily as a resource for marine educators, the text has been used successfully in high school marine science classes, and as supplemental reading in introductory college-level marine science classes. Download here Tagging of Pacific Predators Tagging of Pacific Predators is a project of Hopkins Marine Station, Long Marine Lab, and NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Center in Pacific Grove that is putting satellite tags on thousands of the Pacific Ocean's top predators. The website features animated maps of migrating animals; ask-a-researcher; background and links to resources about featured species and tagging technology, with more resources coming this fall.
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Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses
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Seminars on Science with AMNH The American Museum of Natural History offers
Seminars on Science online courses this fall. Courses include The Ocean System, running October 22-December 2, 2007; the registration deadline
is October 8, 2007. Designed for K-12 educators, each online six-week course
is led by an experienced classroom teacher and a scientist affiliated
with the American Museum of Natural History. More information
available online
The National Teachers Enhancement Network (NTEN)
is offering online science courses this fall and registration is now
open. Teachers can choose among 10 online courses in eight disciplines,
including astronomy, evolution, Earth science, environmental science, oceanography, soil science, weather, and physics. See more.
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| Policy Updates |
No Child Left Inside Act Congressman John Sarbanes has introduced the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 to the House Committee on Education and Labor (House Bill 3036). This bill urges Congress to include critical environmental education measures in the No Child Left Behind law. Additionally, Representative George Miller, chair of the pertinent committee, will introduce his NCLB bill very soon, and it is expected that Senator Jack Reed will introduce a Senate bill similar to Representative Sarbanes'. The new bill includes professional development for teachers, similar to other federal efforts in math and science education; a grant program in which states develop standards for environmental education and creating public-private partnerships for financing it; and ways to share effective practices in environmental education. For more information on the amendment visit here
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Grants, Fellowships and Funding Opportunities
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Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms
NOAA's Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms program is seeking applications for studies that assess the socioeconomic impacts of harmful algal blooms on coastal communities and identify opportunities to mitigate these impacts. Anthropologists, risk communication specialists, economists, and others with an interest in the human dimensions of coastal resource management are encouraged to apply. The deadline for application is October 4, 2007. More information online
CICEET Releases FY 2008 Funding Opportunities The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET) invites proposals to its FY 2008 funding opportunity programs. Through these programs, CICEET makes strategic investments in the development, demonstration, and application of tools to detect, prevent, and reverse the impacts of coastal pollution and habitat degradation to coastal ecosystems and communities. Funding opportunities reflect CICEET's approach to RFP development, one that incorporates an analysis of the technical and non-technical factors that influence coastal management problems, and mandates the active participation of intended end users in technology development and demonstration. Learn more on CICEET's website.
The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides opportunities for overseas experience. The program is open to educators and administrators with responsibilities for curriculum development in fields related to humanities, languages, and area studies. Topics and host countries of the seminars vary from year to year. All seminars are in non-western European countries. Seminars are designed to provide a broad and introductory cultural orientation to a particular country (ies). The program is geared towards those educators with little or no experience in the host country (ies) who demonstrate the need to develop and enhance their curriculum through short-term study and travel abroad. There are ten seminars being offered for 2007 with 16 positions per seminar, subject to the availability of funds. Seminars take place from late June to mid-August for a duration of four to six weeks. For more information visit the program website. You may also apply online.
American Honda Foundation Grants The American Honda Foundation makes grants to K-12 schools, colleges, universities, trade schools, and others for programs that benefit youth and scientific education, and programs pertaining to academic or curriculum development that emphasize innovative educational methods and techniques. The foundation seeks programs that are scientific, creative, humanistic, innovative, and more. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis, with deadlines of November 1, February 1, May 1, and August 1 each year. More information online
Coral Reef Management Fellowships NOAA offers four, two-year fellowship positions under the Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program. The positions will be located in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Fellows spend two years working on specific projects determined by each island's coral reef management agencies. August 31, 2007 is the deadline for application. |
Jobs in New England (and beyond)
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New England Aquarium Camp Programs Coordinator New England Aquarium is looking for a Camp Programs Coordinator. The job entails overseeing the development of curriculum and logistical planning for the Harbor Discoveries summer Camp at New England Aquarium, a program serving approximately 300 students each summer, ages 9-13; managing day-to-day administration and execution of the summer camp season; and interaction with parents, campers, seasonal staff, partnering institutions, and colleagues from other departments in the New England Aquarium. For more information view the camp description online or contact Heather Deschenes
NOAA Seeks Regional IOOS Advisor NOAA' Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program is looking for an individual who has expertise in the implementation of coastal ocean resources management at regional, state and local levels to help inform the continued design and evolution of NOAA's contributions to the U.S. IOOS. This individual will be responsible for analyzing and advising management on the effectiveness of NOAA's strategy and investment in developing the regional coastal ocean component of the United States IOOS, and for conducting coordinated and effective outreach to Federal, regional and state partners involved in the development of the coastal component of IOOS. The position is for one year with possible renewal. The duty station is Silver Spring, MD. If you are interested please contact Timi Vann
National Marine Sanctuary Program Education Program Specialist to assist the National Education Coordinator in day-to-day sanctuary education and outreach to support national educational activities within the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program. This is a full-time temporary (~5 months) position. For more information, visit online or contact the career office.
NOAA Volunteers This new website encourages environmental stewardship through NOAA volunteerism. It includes nation-wide volunteer opportunities at NOAA Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, and National Weather Service. Volunteers, for example, can be coastal life samplers, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle guardians, divers, educators or critical eyes-on-the-ground storm spotters.
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Events
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Harwich Lecture Series Continues Join Nantucket Soundkeeper and the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society for a look at climate change and its effects on local marine wildlife as the five-week lecture series A Sea Of Change: Survival of Marine Wildlife in Today's Oceans - Impacts, Implications and Improvements continues. The free series will be presented at 7p.m. on Wednesdays through August 15th at the Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street in Harwich. For more information on the lecture series visit online
Evening Programs at the Scusset Beach Reservation Aug. 9: Shoreline Geology: Chris Weidman, Research
Coordinator, Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: Find out
how Scusset Beach and other coastal areas were formed and what
processes are still at work here. Learn about how scientists study
these shifting sands and how the geologic features we see today can
give us insight into the puzzles of the past.campground. Thursdays, 8 pm: Slide Show illustrated talks. Meet at the campground contact station. Program will be held outside under a tent. Some chairs available, bring a lawn chair if you have one. All programs are free and reservations are not required. For further information, contact Education Coordinator Joan Muller Save the Date for Oceans a la Carte On October 27, the University of Rhode Island Office of Marine Programs in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries will be offering Oceans à la Carte to celebrate NOAA's 200th Anniversary. This special day-long workshop for educators, students and the public will feature presentations by leading scientists, hand-on activities and content information sessions. More information will be available in August. |
NEwswave Schedule
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The next issue of NEwswave will be sent August 16, 2007. Please send announcements and news to the editor, Catherine Cramer.
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| Tell Us Your Opinion! |
As always, we want to know
what you think! Please take a minute to fill out this short survey about this newsletter.
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COSEE-NE Curriculum Published in Science Scope
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COSEE-NE's program Ocean Science Education Institute (OSEI), now in its fifth year, helps ocean scientists and educators collaborate on developing classroom resources that use current ocean science research. Recently, curriculum on waves and tsunamis was published in the NSTA journal Science Scope. And it's available online for free!
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Monitor Online
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The Gulf of Maine Monitor is now available online.
Produced by the Coastal Ocean Observing Center at the University of New
Hampshire, the Gulf of Maine Monitor is a quarterly review of
observation and analysis in the Western Gulf of Maine. This issue
reports on data from this past winter with a focus on the warming Gulf
of Maine waters, the Great Bay sampling project, and nutrient sampling.
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Free DVD from WHOI SeaGrant
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Coastal Landforms, Coastal Processes and Erosion Control on Cape Cod & Southern Plymouth, Massachusetts
This tour of the shoreline of Cape Cod and southern Plymouth, Massachusetts includes
visits to 11 sites. Experts discuss the interactive coastal processes that created and allow for the continued existence of these important resources and examine a variety of coastal erosion control alternatives.
The DVD is free and available from Woods Hole Sea Grant. Contact Sheri DeRosa with your name and mailing address.
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Good Questions Needed
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The Science Teacher, NSTA's peer-reviewed journal for secondary science teachers, invites teachers to submit questions for the journal's "Ask the Experts" department. In addition, the journal is always looking for experts from industry, research, and government to volunteer their time to answer questions.
Contact Marc Rosner |
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Featured Interview
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Summer under Arctic Ice
A conversation with WHOI geophysicist Rob Reves-Sohn
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World Ocean Observatory News
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The World Ocean Observatory is pleased to announce the launch of Sea Turtles - a comprehensive examination of the plight of sea turtles in the world's oceans today.
Sea Turtles is the latest in the World Ocean Observatory's World Ocean Events, a catalogue of comprehensive websites on such key ocean issues as Ocean Acidification, High Seas Fisheries, Cities and Oceans, International Polar Year, and Exporting Pollution.
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Sea Stories
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The new issue of Sea Stories is now online.
Sea Stories, an online journal of creative writing and art about the world's
oceans sponsored by Blue Ocean Institute, features contributions by
ocean-lovers from all backgrounds and walks of life - writers, artists,
educators, students, scientists, fishers, conservationists, explorers, and
just regular people. Educators are invited to use Sea Stories in the
classroom or as a publishing opportunity for yourself or your students.
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NOAA Online Seminars
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''One NOAA" science discussion seminars are a joint effort to help share science across NOAA.
NOAA partners (so far): NODC, NOS, OHC, ARL, OHD, NMFS, NWS, NOAA Library, NCBO and the Office of Ocean Exploration
To join the seminar email list contact Hernan Garcia.
For on-line public access (no login/password required) go to GoogleCalendar
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Boston Harbor Educators' Conference
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The 2007 Boston Harbor Educators' Conference will be held on Saturday October 13 at UMass Boston. This will be a full day of hands-on workshops, exhibits and field trips. For registration information visit the Massachusetts Marine Educators website or contact Peg Collins.
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Include Your News in NEwswave!
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Send news and announcements of interest to the New England Ocean Science Education community to the editor, Catherine Cramer.
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