Reports, Publications and Announcements
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RealOceans The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions' Ocean Program offers the website, RealOceans.org, to provide straightforward and concise information on ocean issues that can be used by policy makers, activists, researchers, and educators. The first project is the Ocean Ecosystem Based Management Knowledge Base. In addition, the website hosts the "First Person" section, in which marine researchers share their thoughts on current ocean issues, and "On the Waterfront," where people working directly in the field can talk about the challenges of ocean management in the real world. Visit online.
Spring 2008 NSF Regional Grants Conference The second National Science Foundation Regional Grants Conference of fiscal year 2008 will be held in Providence, RI and hosted by the University of Rhode Island on April 7-8, 2008, with optional FastLane/Grants.gov sessions on April 6th. Key representatives from the National Science Foundation as well as faculty, researchers and grant administrators representing colleges and universities from around the US will participate. NSF program officers representing each NSF directorate will be on hand to provide up-to-date information about specific funding opportunities and answer your questions. Additional conference details including registration information will be posted shortly on the NSF Policy Office website. Check here for further updates.
Bentham Open Bentham Publishers is launching more than 200 peer-reviewed open access journals during this year, under the banner of Bentham OPEN. The journals will cover all major disciplines and are exclusively open access publications. Each article will become freely and permanently available upon publication and may be downloaded and distributed with no permission needed. For more information visit online.
Explorations Magazine The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has created a new monthly online magazine, Explorations, that covers ocean and earth science news. Its intent is to inform and educate the public, alumni, the scientific community, and Scripps' friends and supporters about ongoing research and events. Read Explorations.
National Ocean Sciences Bowl The upcoming National Ocean Sciences Bowl regional competitions will be held on February 9, and February 23, 2008. The national competition will be held in Seward, Alaska, April 25-27, 2008. This year, the materials distributed for the national competition will highlight the International Polar Year. More than 200 research projects are planned, involving more than 50,000 people and 60 nations. More information online.
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Online Ocean Education Resources
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Bridge Data Analysis Teaching Activities The Bridge - a clearinghouse of ocean science education materials available online - offers Bridge-authored Data Analysis Teaching Activities (DATAs), which utilize real online scientific data from research projects all over the country. They present data in an organized, controlled format, which allows for easier analysis and comprehension. By working with real data, students better understand basic scientific concepts and learn about the issues most prevalent in today's lakes, rivers, and oceans. Educators are welcome to submit ideas for new DATAs or submit their own data-based activities to the Bridge for inclusion in the series. Visit online.
Coralpedia Coralpedia is an identification guide to corals, octocorals, and sponges of Caribbean Reefs, developed through the Overseas Territories Environment Programme fund of the UK government, to assist conservation work in the UK Overseas Territories. Version 1 contains images and descriptions of 64 Caribbean stony corals, 74 reef sponges and 41 octocorals, along with a few other groups; altogether over 1000 images are included. The information is available on the website and on CD. Visit online.
Reef Survey Report with Links in Google Earth The Australian Institute of Marine Science long term monitoring survey updates can now be viewed in Google Earth (Version 4), allowing you to zoom to each surveyed reef and view geo-referenced underwater photos and information from previous surveys. Using links to the reef pages, you can also view enlarged photos and a description of the reef habitat. Visit online.
VentureDeepOcean VentureDeepOcean supports, and is supported by, the National Science Foundation's Ridge 2000 research program. The website shares mid-ocean ridge and hydrothermal vent exploration with audiences around the world. Designed as an information portal, the site features current scientific research and cruises, deep-sea news, background information, images, and more. Visit online.
Health Policy Communications A free online tutorial about communicating with media and policy-makers is available. In this narrated slide tutorial (about 12 or 13 minutes of your time), Jackie Judd, vice president and senior advisor for communications at the Kaiser Family Foundation, provides information and guidance on how to effectively communicate with the media. She also provides suggestions for how to frame key messages for print, broadcast and radio interview settings as well as other policy audiences. Visit online.
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Jobs in New England (and beyond)
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Environmental Comunications Providence RI The Ocean Project is undertaking a three-year initiative
to significantly increase understanding of how Americans relate to the
ocean in order to develop the most effective means for reaching them
for lasting long-term positive change. They are seeking an energetic and organized candidate to coordinate this three-year project. The Project Coordinator will report directly to
the Director and will work out of the main office in Rhode Island. For more information visit online or contact Bill Mott.
NSF Science Education Administrator (Program Director) NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE), within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), manages a range of grant programs that constitute a comprehensive approach to improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at two- and four-year colleges and universities and strengthening connections between those institutions and K-12 schools. These programs support the development of innovative educational materials, courses, curricula, pedagogical techniques, and assessment instruments and methods; the acquisition of modern laboratory instrumentation and equipment; professional development for faculty; the preparation of K-12 teachers; and scholarships for students.The person selected for this position will serve as a Program Director in DUE's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program and will also work in other DUE programs according to his or her areas of expertise. Complete job description online.
MIT Museum Workshop Instructor Teach in an established school workshops program, preparing for and teaching 120+ school workshops per academic year at MIT Museum for
middle school and high school students and occasional higher
education and adult groups. Estimated 15-18 hours per week, through June 30, 2008. For more information or to apply, contact MIT Museum Programs
Outreach/ Communications Specialist for NOAA Coral Program I.M. Systems Group, a contractor to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, MD, seeks an individual to serve as a Communications and Outreach Specialist to coordinate and promote coral reef program activities for NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). For more information visit online. |
Requests
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Whale Matrix Reviewers The North Atlantic Right Whale Education Committee announces that the NA right whale matrix is ready for review. The matrix is a web-based tool that aims to bring together all existing and conceptual resources on NA right whales. At present, there is a total of 106 entries in 11 categories, with hope to add to this existing pool of data. You can access the matrix on the following website. Email your comments and additions to Regina Asmutis-Silva by Dec. 31, 2007.
Questions Needed 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. Previous questions include, "What would a compass do on the Moon?" and "Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of its container?" In addition, the journal is always looking for experts from industry, research, and government to volunteer their time to answer questions. To submit questions or to volunteer as an expert, e-mail department editor Marc Rosner with your title and full contact information.
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Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses
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ARMADA Project - Research and Mentoring Experiences for Teachers The University of Rhode Island's Office of Marine Programs is now
accepting applications for the ARMADA Project - Research and Mentoring
Experiences for Teachers. The ARMADA Project provides K-12 teachers an opportunity to actively
participate in ocean, polar, and environmental science research and
peer mentoring. Selected Master Teachers (with five or more years
teaching experience) are paired with leading scientists and participate
in shipboard, field, or laboratory research with all expenses paid. For more information about teacher
qualifications, responsibilities, and to download an application, see
the ARMADA Project website or contact Andrea Kecskes.
Workshop on Microbes The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), with support from the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute (HHMI), is offering a professional development workshop in science education for high school teachers, Grades 9-12 - Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project, held april 11-13, 2008, for a three day workshop that integrates inquiry, discovery, and biology into classroom labs and lesson plans. For more information contact Sarah Bordenstein.
Register Today for IPY/NSTA Web Seminars on Arctic and Antarctic Living Systems Join NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association for three, free Web seminars on the topic of the International Polar Year. Designed for educators of grades 5-8, the seminars will focus on land and marine adaptations to extreme conditions, species migration, and the role of humans in polar ecosystems. The presenters will share their expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding Web sites that students can use in the classroom.
The Web seminars in this series are scheduled for Dec. 30, 2007, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, 2008. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Online registration for each is now open.
Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation
The Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) and the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point offer this online course, February 18-May 9, 2008, for students and professionals in the field of environmental education. Learn to evaluate environmental education and outreach programs by designing evaluation tools such as questionnaires, observation forms, and interview and focus group guides. This course is designed for environmental educators, natural resource professionals, and graduate students who can apply the tools they develop to a specific education program or research study. More information online.
Ocean Explorer Professional Development The Ocean Explorer professional development webpage has been updated for 2008. Workshops introduce educators to ocean scientists/explorers and their research and explorations, and at the same time, provide tools and resources to engage students in ocean exploration by bringing the classroom closer to the ocean than it has ever been before. Workshops are offered in many locations, including Georgia, California, Alabama, Illinois, Oregon, and elsewhere. More information online.
NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program Gain first-hand research experience on a government ocean research vessel. NOAA's Teacher at Sea program gives teachers a clearer insight into our ocean planet and a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and fosters an interdisciplinary educational experience that provides a unique environment for learning and teaching. The program is for currently employed K-16 teachers. The deadline for application is December 31, 2007. More information is available online.
Professional Development from the National Marine Sanctuary Program The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program aims to provide teachers with resources and training to support ocean literacy in America's classrooms. Check out the workshop and professional development opportunities for educators, from short courses in California to Georgia's Rivers to Reefs, from shipwreck archaeology to marine technology, and much more. More information online.
ACES Signals of Spring ACES online training will begin in January. ACES is a grades 7-12 (scaffolded) marine science curriculum program where students track live marine animals in real time. The program is standards-based and gives teachers a way to teach their regular topics in the context of the ocean. It is completely grant funded including teacher training, all materials, and support. For more information, contact Meghan Marrero or visit online
Courses at AMNH The American Museum of Natural History is offering online courses including The Ocean System and The Diversity of Fishes. Free sample resources for each course, including essays, videos, and interactive simulations, and registration information is available online. |
Conferences
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NSTA Regional Conferences Session proposals are still being accepted for 2008-2009 NSTA conferences. The deadline for submitting proposals is January 15, 2008. Share your experience! For more information visit online.
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Student Opportunities
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Davidson Fellows Scholarship Program The Davidson Fellows scholarship program recognizes exceptional students (under age 18) and supports them in the fulfillment of their potential. Scholarships will be awarded to recognize a significant piece of work in the categories of Science, Technology, Mathematics, Music, Literature, Philosophy, or Outside the Box. The deadline for application is March 26, 2008 More information available online.
Young Scientists Summer Program The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international research organization, based in Austria, conducting inter-disciplinary scientific studies on environmental, economic, technological, and social issues in the context of human dimensions of global change. IIASA's annual Young Scientists Summer Program is a three-month (June-August) research program for around fifty advanced students whose interests correspond with IIASA's ongoing research. The deadline for application is January 15, 2008. More information is available online.
Monomoy Wildlife Refuge Internships There are several internships available for Summer 2008 on Monomoy National Wildlfe Refuge on Cape Cod. For more information visit online.
SeaWeb Internships SeaWeb has openings for paid interns in their Washington DC office. Foe more information visit online.
Alaskan Internships The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies based in Homer, Alaska, is hiring seasonal naturalists, naturalist interns, and environmental education program support and coordinator positions for the spring (April-May) and summer (June - August) season. Part-time and full-time positions are available and are based in Homer and at the
semi-remote Peterson Bay Coastal Science Field Station across Kachemak Bay from Homer, and at the 140-acre Carl Wynn Nature Center on the bluff above Homer. Information on the organization and its programs and facilities can be
found online at online as well as job descriptions. For more information email jobs@akcoastalstudies.org.
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Events
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We are happy to include events from around the New England region. If you would like your organization's event published here, please send the information to the editor, Catherine Cramer. Thanks!
The National Marine Life Center Open House The National Marine Life Center, located at 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA, invites the public to a "Holiday Splash" Open House on Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 10 am to 5 pm. Come learn about the Center's work while enjoying holiday arts and crafts, carols, a basket drawing, and light refreshments. No admission fee, although donations are greatly appreciated and help support the marine animal rehabilitation and education programs. If you have questions email Joanne Nicholson or visit online.
Falmouth Hospital and its Department of Medical Education are inviting interested teachers and scientists to a winter course on molecular biology's role in modern medicine. It will be held Thursday evenings from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the first floor Board Room at Falmouth Hospital beginning January 3 and ending March 6. It will be taught by the molecular biology faculty from Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. Registration deadline is December 21. For more information contact Sarah Bordenstein.
Northeastern Lecture Northeastern University Marine Science Center Evening Lecture Series presents "Shell Disease: A Sad Lobster Tale?", a lecture given by Dr. Michael Tlusty, Senior Scientist at New England Aquarium, Tuesday, January 29th, 7:00pm.,430 Nahant Road, Nahant, MA 01908. For more information contact Tracy Hajduk
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NEwswave Schedule
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The next issue of NEwswave will be sent January 3, 2008. 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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Website of Note
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Science Daily
is a current science news site that covers everything from health and medicine to fossils and animal science, and is free to use. There are listservs available for receiving daily updates on top science headlines as well as images and videos.
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Interview of Note
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An interview about the Ocean Observatory Initiative in the Northwest aired November 29, 2007 on KUOW - Seattle's NPR radio station. Listen to the interview.
(Scroll down to Big Brother Ocean. Available in Real Audio or MP3 formats.)
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Videos of Note
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Blue World
Segments of the Blue World underwater adventure television series can now be viewed online. Each 8-10 minute segment also has a downloadable teacher's guide.
Watch online.
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Teaching about camoflage? Watch as this octopus sheds its disguise! (Video usable for educational purposes.) Watch here.
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New from Oceanus
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Robot Paints Stunning Map of Deep-sea Volcano
Sonar images reveal submerged Pacific Ocean volcano in glorious detail.
Submerged Autonomous Launch Platforms
Lying in wait deep beneath the sea surface, the innovative instrument is designed to detect when a swirling ocean eddy passes by and then release a float into it. A new SALP was deployed for the first time in the Labrador Sea in September on a research cruise that visually impaired students could join via a special Web site.
Plumbing the Plume That Created Samoa
Instead of shovels, Matt Jackson uses seismometers to see what is happening deep inside our planet, teasing out clues about the long plumes of magma rising from the mantle of the Earth beneath ocean island chains.
Fertilizing the Ocean With Iron
Scientists, policymakers, economists, and environmental
advocates gathered at a symposium at Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution to iron out the uncertainties of fertilizing the oceans
with iron as a means to mediate global warming.
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Marine Ecosystems and Management
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Marine Ecosystems and Management is a quarterly publication on marine ecosystem-based management published by Marine Affairs Research and Education in association with the University of Washington, School of Marine Affairs. The online publication serves the global resource management community with news, views, analysis, and tips gathered from experts around the world. The first edition is now available, and subscriptions can be requested on the website.
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Sea Grant Documents
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The Sea Grant acquisitions list for November 2007 is now available online. Copies of these documents are usually available from the originating Sea Grant program or may be borrowed from the National Sea Grant Library
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SeaWeb Reports
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SeaWeb produces reports, marine science reviews, a monthly newsletter Ocean Update, and other publications. Visit the SeaWeb website for more information.
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Marine Sanctuaries News
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National Marine Sanctuaries Online News
The National Marine Sanctuary Program offers a monthly e-newsletter to keep subscribers informed about the many program activities and accomplishments that take place within the national marine sanctuaries and marine national monument. To subscribe, visit the website. |
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Breaking Waves
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Breaking Waves is a daily digest of ocean news from more than 200 media sources around the world compiled by the World Ocean Observatory. To subscribe or read the current issue, visit online.
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NSTA Boston
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NSTA is coming to Boston in March. To register, visit here. For general information about the conference, visit here.
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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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