COSEE-NE News
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Interview with a Director of Science You may have heard of them, and some public school districts are lucky enough to have them, but what does a Director of Science actually do? Read the interview with Barbara Plonski, Director of Science for the Milton (MA) Public Schools and COSEE-NE program participant. |
Reports, Publications and Announcements
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Acid Rain Impact on Near-Shore Ocean Waters The release of sulfur and nitrogen into the atmosphere by power plants and agricultural activities - commonly referred to as acid rain - plays a minor role in making the ocean more acidic on a global scale, but the impact is greatly amplified in the shallower waters of the coastal oceans, according to new research. The most heavily affected areas tend to be downwind of power plants (particularly coal-fired plants) and predominantly on the eastern edges of North America, Europe, and south and east of Asia. The findings were recently published in the online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read the NSF summary for more information.
Rhode Island Sea Grant Ecosystem Based Management White Papers The Evolution of Ecosystem Based Management: From Theory to Practice, the 2006 Marine Law Symposium held at Roger Williams University School of Law, provided analysis of ecosystem based management (EBM). The Symposium emphasized the management and protection of the marine environment, with discussion of challenges, lessons and solutions related to socio-economic and political factors influencing implementation of EBM within the terrestrial environment and the goods and services required by user populations. Papers submitted by conference speakers are now available and may be accessed here.
Informal Education Institutions Invited to Host Speakers Ridge
2000 (R2K) is an interdisciplinary research program focused on studies
of the deep-sea mid-ocean ridge and hydrothermal vent communities. The
R2K program provides an annual Distinguished Lecturer Series (DLS),
which is designed to share the excitement of Ridge 2000 research with
audiences not familiar with this kind of research, and to attract
diverse students into future ocean sciences careers. Institutions of
informal learning (aquaria, science centers, museums) across the U.S.
are invited to apply as hosts for the DLS speakers. Speakers deliver
presentations that are tailored to either scientific or non-scientific
audiences, and can provide up to two presentations per site visit. Site
visits are expected to occur between Fall 2007 and Spring 2008. Visit online for
more information, including the DLS application, speaker profiles, and
presentation descriptions. Online applications for host sites will be
accepted through October 1, 2007.
PKAL Facilities Planning Resource Review the PKAL Facilities Resource, materials in the PKAL archives relevant to planning spaces and structures that serve 21st century undergraduate learning in STEM fields. This resource includes a PKAL Facilities Portfolio, which incorporates interviews, essays, and presentations from the community of academics and design professionals with expertise and experience in STEM facilities planning. It also includes a list of contemporary projects.
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Online Ocean Education Resources
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Educational Programs at New England Aquarium The New England Aquarium's 2007-2008
Educational Programming Guide, Schooling,
is now available online. Schooling will help teachers take advantage of the Aquarium's programs and services, including information about hosting outreach programs, maximizing the learning experience during field trips, professional development opportunities, and more. Pulse of the Planet
is a lecture series that brings Rutgers University scientists to
Liberty Science Center, focusing on the ocean with topics ranging from
microscopic organisms to weather and changing climate. The first
program will be presented this Saturday, September 22, and is titled Stormin and Warmin: Weather and Changing Climate. Graduate credit for an online course is also available and the lectures will be video recorded and posted to the Pulse website. For more information contact Janice McDonnell. There will be a special screening and teacher workshop at WHOI on September 22. See Events below for more information.
Aquarius Underwater Habitat Live Join the Aquarius Team live through September 23 as they listen to the secrets the reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have to tell. Viewers can watch the expedition live 24/7, with special shows each day at noon EST based on specific topics related to the mission goals and objectives. Visit the Aquarius Mission website.
Films for the Classroom Oceanic Research Group, Inc. is a non-profit environmental organization whose mission is the production of educational films and products designed to increase awareness of marine environments and species. The Group produces several series of films based on classroom curricula as well as specific topics in ocean studies, and their films have won over a dozen awards. Their newest series is Jonathan Bird's Blue World, a host-driven marine exploration program. The Streaming Video Project is now making many of their films available for free. |
| Policy Updates |
Congress Releases Draft of No Child Left Behind Congressional leaders released a discussion draft of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, including a number of substantive changes which are of interest to science and math educators: performance pay bonuses; changes to the Math and Science Partnership, most notably requiring that partnership activities be modeled after effective NSF programs with demonstrated success; increased coordination between NSF and the U.S. Department of Education; and more assistance from NSF to state departments of education administering the grants. The draft includes science proficiency as one of multiple measures of student achievement that schools can choose to be evaluated on. Read a summary of the draft. |
Grants, Awards, Fellowships and Funding Opportunities
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Multicultural Initiative in the Marine Sciences Undergraduate Participation (MIMSUP) The Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC) at Western Washington University in Anacortes, Washington invites applications for MIMSUP, an innovative program designed to increase diversity within the next generation of marine scientists. Participants receive hands-on training in the marine sciences and in the professional opportunities available to those who choose this career path. Applications are encouraged, in particular, from U.S. citizens belonging to groups currently underrepresented in the marine sciences. Applicants must be in an academic program leading to a bachelor's degree. More information is available online. Questions can be addressed to Dr. Brian Bingham. |
Jobs in New England (and beyond)
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Environmental Educator Stamford Connecticut SoundWaters has an immediate opening for an Environmental Educator at the Coastal Center in Stamford, CT. SoundWaters' mission is to protect Long Island Sound through education. For more information about SoundWaters visit online. For questions about the position contact Kathy Rhodes.
CSO Seeks Policy Advisor The Coastal States Organization (CSO) is now accepting applications for Policy Advisor. CSO is a small D.C. non-profit association that represents the interests of the Governors of the thirty-five coastal states and territories. This position entails working with Congress and federal agencies on legislation, regulations, and other initiatives related to the nation's coasts, oceans, and Great Lake. A full position description can be found online.
URI Assistant Professor Marine Life Sciences The Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) of the University of Rhode Island invites applications from outstanding scientists for a calendar-year, tenure-track position with 8 months of hard money per year. There is particular interest in scientists who address one or more interdisciplinary topics in marine life sciences. Special attention will be given to applicants with skills in advanced technologies such as: genomics, proteomics, remote sensing, data assimilation and numerical modeling. Visit the website for full requirements.
Marketing Communications Director The North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Inc. (NSRWA) is seeking a Marketing Communications Director. The Director will work to create and implement an innovative communications and marketing plan for the North and South Rivers Watershed's organizational expansion, including new and existing campaigns, upgrading the website and email communications, and working with major donors/sponsors to seek funding for the NSRWA and its events. To find out more visit the website.
Salish Sea Expeditions Education Director
Now celebrating their 10th year of science-under-sail programs in Puget
Sound, Salish is seeking a leader to both continue the educational
traditions as well as to consider the
development of an innovative boat-based summer program. Details can be
found on the website. Closing date is October 22, 2007
Executive Director Tybee Island Marine Science Center The Tybee Island Marine Science Center (TIMSC) is a non-profit marine science education facility located on Tybee Island, GA, the northernmost barrier island on the Georgia coast, approximately 16 miles from downtown Savannah. The Center is currently seaching for a new Executive Director. Responsibilities include program and infrastructure development, oversight of the daily operations of the Center, supervision of staff, liaison with the community, managing Center finances including budget preparation, and fundraising/grantwriting. For more informaton contact Debbie Kearney.
Louisiana Senior Marine Educator LUMCON Marine
Center in Cocodrie LA, located at the upper end of
Terrebonne Bay in the Mississippi River deltaic plain, approximately 80 miles SW of
New Orleans, is seeking a Senior Marine Educator, to direct and develop environmental education programs in the marine sciences for a broad audience of K-12 students, educators, and public groups. For more information visit the website or contact Dr. Nancy N. Rebalais, Executive Director.
Educator, Georgia Sea Turtle Center The Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education, located on Jekyll Island, a barrier island along Georgia's southeast coast. The GSTC is currently looking for a staff educator. For more information, contact Stefanie Ouellette. |
Requests
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Exemplary Science Programs (ESP) That Illustrate Inquiry The NSTA National Advisory Board (NAB) invites your help in identifying 15 programs for the 2008 Exemplary Science Program (ESP) Monograph. The 2008 ESP monograph will focus on teachers and programs that illustrate full (or open) inquiry. For more information contact Robert Yager, chair of NSTA's ESP efforts and editor of the ESP Monograph Series.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Volunteers Needed The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society(WDCS), an international research and conservation organization, is seeking volunteers for its North American (NA) office located in Plymouth, MA. WDCS is dedicated to providing volunteers with a learning experience that benefits the volunteer as well as advancing the WDCS mission of being the global voice for whales and dolphins. For further information on WDCS (NA) visit online. To volunteer contact Sue Rocca.
Needs Assessment on Afterschool Outreach Programs South
Carolina Aquarium is starting an interative afterschool program,
aimed at 4-7 year olds and themed around story
books. In an
effort to modify the program to be the best it can be, staff are collecting ideas about what has worked, or not, at other facilities. For more information or to send comments contact Tracy McMullen. |
Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses
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Professional Development for Informal Educators The Paleontological Research Institution, in conjunction with the
Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA), is offering an online graduate course for the informal Earth system science education community. This one credit course will be conducted entirely online, and there will be no fee. Upon completion, participating institutions wll receive a mini-grant to be used toward implementation of projects developed during the course. For more information and registration details, contact Carlyn Buckler. For further information on the ESSEA K-12 professional development, visit online.
Seminars on Science at AMNH
The American Museum of Natural History offers Seminars on Science, its
online teacher professional development program. The
program consists of eight online graduate courses in the life, Earth,
and physical sciences, including one on the ocean. Designed for K-12 educators, each six-week course
is led by an experienced classroom teacher and a scientist affiliated
with the American Museum of Natural History. Graduate credit is
available, and each participant will receive a CD of course resources
suitable for classroom use. Registration closes October 8 for
Fall Session Two (Oct. 22-Dec. 2). Sign up by September 24 and receive
a $50 early registration discount. For more information and to
register, visit online. |
Conferences
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AGU Session on Partnerships The upcoming AGU conference December 10-14 in San Fransisco includes a session on science education partnerships. Have you participated in a successful ocean science education partnership? If so, then share it with your colleagues. Abstracts are due by September 30. Contact Leslie Peart or Frank Rack for more information.
ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting The 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting, From the Watershed to the Global Ocean, will be held March 2-7, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. This bi-annual meeting will recognize the vital nature of the interconnections between land and sea. The deadline for abstract submission, including abstracts about education and outreach, is October 2, 2007. Learn more online.
Joint Assembly RFP The
2008 Joint Assembly, a partnership among American Geophysical Union and
many other organizations, will be held May 27-30, 2008 in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida. Members of the Earth and space sciences community
are invited to propose a session for the conference. Session proposals
may be submitted to any of the existing disciplines, including
education and human resources, ocean sciences, and many more. Proposals
must focus on scientific results and/or their applications. The
deadline for submission is October 31, 2007. Learn more online.
NSTA 2008-2009 Conferences Proposals are invited for NSTA's 2008-2009 conferences. Area conferences include Charlotte, North Carolina (Oct. 30-Nov. 1); Portland, Oregon (Nov. 20-22); and Cincinnati, Ohio (Dec. 4-6). In 2009 NSTA will hold its national conference in New Orleans, LA (March 19-22). Deadlines for submissions are January 15, 2008, for the 2008 area conferences, and April 15, 2008, for the New Orleans National Conference. For more information, visit the conferences area of the NSTA website.
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Student Opportunities
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Alaska SeaLife Center Internships Alaska SeaLife Center is now recruiting for education internships. These are full time positions for sixteen weeks, February 25 - June 13 and May 12 - August 29. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or a recent
graduate of an accredited college or university with a primary area of
study in the field of Interpretation, Education, Environmental Studies,
Biology, Oceanography or related field.
For full job description and application form visit the website. |
Events
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Local Pulse of the Planet As part of Pulse of the Planet (see Online Resources above) a free program will take place this Saturday September 22 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. There will be a live link-up to the presentation Stormin' and Warmin': Weather and Changing Climate in New Jersey streamed from Liberty Science Center. David Robinson, New
Jersey 's State Climatologist, will describe how scientists use
observations in the ocean and atmosphere to understand and predict
coastal storms. Students are welcome, and teachers and students will be able to submit questions to be answered by Dr. Robinson as part of the presentation. An additional session for teachers, including lesson plans and teaching ideas, will be broadcast from 11:00 - 1:00. Contact Andrea Thorrold today to register or for more information. More information about Pulse of the Planet may be found online.
Maritime Heritage Celebration in Gloucester, MA On September 21-23, 2007, the NOAA 200th Celebration and the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center will come together to celebrate maritime heritage and NOAA products and services in Gloucester, MA. This free event is open to the public, and will feature activities and exhibits for all ages. On September 22, the official opening ceremony of the event takes place at 10 am, when a NOAA geodetic marker will be installed and dedicated. The event website is updated regularly.
Environmental Films at Coolidge Corner The
Muddy River environmental film series will be held at the Coolidge
Corner Theater in Brookline, MA September 23-25. Films shown September
25 will focus on the ocean. Visit the theater website for more information.
Marine Science Center Open House On Saturday October 6 the Northeastern University Marine Science Center in Nahant (MA) is hosting its annual Open House in association with CoastWeeks 2007. Come down and spend the day on guided tidepool and geology walks, handle marine animals in the touch tanks, and walk the grounds. Contact Tracy Hajduk for more information or visit online.
Marine Science Center Lecture Series The Northeastern University Marine Science Center presents Penguin Rescue with Dyan deNapoli on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00pm. This presentation chronicles the rescue and rehabilitation of 20,000 penguins that were caught in an oil spill off South Africa. This lecture is free to the public. Visit online.
Save the Date for Oceans a la Carte On October 27, 2007, the University of Rhode Island Office of Marine Programs in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries will be offering Oceans � 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 soon.
Ocean Motion Program for Families Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam and the Science of Ocean Motion will be presented at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 pm. Join author Loree Griffin Burn as she tells the story of scientists who track trash spilled into the ocean, such as sneakers and rubber ducks that have drifted thousands of miles, from the Pacific into the Atlantic. Find out what they've discovered and how they're using this science. For more information visit the museum website.
Ecosystem-Based Management Toolkit Training This training workshop, Sunday November 4, 1-5 PM in Providence, Rhode Island, is offered in conjunction with the Estuarine Research Federation Meeting. It will provide an overview,
including live demonstrations of technology tools that can be used to
help implement ecosystem-based management (EBM) in coastal-marine
environments and their watersheds. Registration for this training is free for Estuarine Research Federation Meeting registrants. Click here to learn more about the conference or contact Sarah Carr, the EBM Tools Network Coordinator. |
Free Resources
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NOAA Science Education Curriculum Materials In honor of NOAA's 200th anniversary, the NOAA Office of Education put
out an activity book, DVD, and CD-ROM, now available free to educators through the New England Aquarium Teacher Resource Center. Contact Jessica Soule for more information.
NOAA Materials The Education and Outreach Office at NOAA Fisheries/Northwest Fisheries Science Center is offering a film and curriculum booklet about oceanography and the study of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) to marine science educators. The 20-minute film, Science at Sea: The Hunt for Killer Algae, documents the work of a team of scientists aboard a month-long cruise in the fall of 2006. The film is aimed at a high school audience, but is appropriate for early college or junior high students as well. Accompanying the film is a 43-page curriculum booklet containing resources relevant to teaching basic oceanography and HAB research. To request a copy or for more information contact Lauren Kuehne.
Project Seahorse
has created an educational poster about seahorses and marine
conservation, in collaboration with Oxford Cartographers of the UK. "Take
Action for Seahorses and the Seas" is targeted to 10-14 year olds. To request copies of the poster, email Heather Koldewey with name and contact email, address in full, and number of copies. |
NEwswave Schedule
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The next issue of NEwswave will be sent October 4, 2007. Please send announcements and news to the editor, Catherine Cramer.
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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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Real-Time Data Links
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Windows Around the World connects students with other participating elementary school classrooms around the world via real-time data gathered outside their windows. Visit Windows Around the World.
The COSEE-NE program OSEI is focusing this year on the use of real-time data in the classroom. Connect to real-time data links here! |
NOAA Smart Buoy The
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office has deployed its third "smart buoy" as part
of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The buoy
is positioned at the mouth of the Patapsco River, near Baltimore, MD,
and is the third observation platform to be launched this summer as
part of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System. The buoys collect
meteorological and water-quality data as well as information on waves
and currents, via a system of sensors, which then transmits the
information to the Web in real time via a high-speed data network.
These measurements, as well as historical and cultural information
about the bay, can be accessed online.
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SENEME Fall Conference
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SouthEastern New Engand Marine Educators (SENEME) is holding its fall conference and annual meeting on October 13, 2007, at Project Oceanology, at UConn, Groton Conecticut. For more information visit the SENEME website.
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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 year's conference wil focus on Stellwagen Bank and the 15th anniversary of the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary. For registration information visit the Massachusetts Marine Educators website or contact Peg Collins.
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Website of Note
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Visit this version of Google Ocean, a mashup of Google Maps and Google Earth.
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The purpose of this unofficial Google Ocean is to centralize links relating to marine data, visualized in Google Maps or Google Earth. The site is produced by Just Magic, a French software company, using their GeoGarage.
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New from Oceanus
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New Wrinkles in the Fabric of the Seafloor An
overlooked seafloor feature may have a key role in the formation of new
ocean crust. WHOI geophysicist Debbie Smith described how she was
looking to solve one puzzle, and may have serendipitously found clues
that shed light on an even larger mystery: how the ocean's crust forms
and evolves to shape the face of the planet. Read the whole story in Oceanus.
Interrogating the Great Ocean Conveyor
Is the Atlantic's circulation slowing down? Moorings in rough waters monitor the ocean's pulse. Read more in WHOI's Oceanus. |
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SeaWeb Marine Science Review
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SeaWeb's Marine Science Review has recently published issues focusing on pollution, aquaculture and fisheries. To subscribe, click here.
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Marine Photobank
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The Marine Photobank is a leading visual resource that encourages people from all over the planet to collect, share and download marine photos, images and graphics that shed light on how humans have affected life in the ocean. The Marine Photobank was founded in response to a lack of readily available, high quality underwater and above water ocean conservation images. These images are available at no cost for non-commercial purposes as well as for media use. Visit the photobank. |
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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Subscribe to the Gulf of Maine Monitor
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For access to ocean observing research and issues in the Gulf of Maine, read the Gulf of Maine Monitor, published quarterly by the UNH Coastal Ocean Observing Center and free of charge. Subscribe online.
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Save the Date for NMEA 2008
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| The 2008 NMEA conference is coming |
to the Savannah Riverfront Marriott, July 21-25, 2008. The Georgia Association of Marine Education (GAME) invites you to spend a week in coastal Georgia with marine education enthusiasts from around the nation, July 21-25, 2008.
One World, One Water: NMEA 2008 will team cutting-edge research with innovative education.
Visit online for more information.
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Include Your News in NEwswave
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| Send your news and announcements of interest to the New England ocean science education community to the editor, Catherine Cramer. |
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