NEwswave from COSEE-New England

Estuaries SciGuide NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserve System and the National Science Teachers Association have developed The Estuaries SciGuide, a science guide and classroom resource for science teachers. This resource on estuaries has been pre-evaluated and aligned to the National Science Education Standards. The guide is free, but registration is required.

Explorations Magazine The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has created a new monthly online magazine, Explorations, which covers ocean and earth science news to inform and educate the public, alumni, and the scientific community about ongoing research and events.

New Ecosystem Based Management Tools Resource The Biodiversity Informatics Facility at the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation has released a new section of their web site on Species Distribution Modeling. The new Species Distribution Modeling site provides a comprehensive guide covering the theory of distribution modeling, how to develop and test a species' distribution model, how to interpret model output, and case studies. The new site also includes links to online resources that are freely available, including data sources and software tools. Visit the new site.

Adaptations from the Depths The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary offers its Adaptations from the Depths curriculum. The full curriculum text, including reproducibles, are downloadable. Additional materials for this curriculum include full color posters of animal camouflage and a DVD of an octopus moving about on the reef in the Sanctuary, which can be mailed to you upon request, at no charge. Send an email with your mailing address to flowergarden@noaa.gov to request the supplemental materials.

Broadcasts from Monterey Bay Dr. Robert Ballard's Immersion Presents will broadcast live from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California from March 2-7, 2008. Live video feeds and educational materials will be available on OceansLive.org as the expedition team explores many of Monterey Bay's ecosystems, including estuaries, kelp forests, and deep submarine canyons. Visit online.

Microbial Life The Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College offers Microbial Life, focusing on the ecology, diversity, and evolution of microorganisms. Learn about marine microbes and extremophile microbes that live in inhospitable environments, e.g. deep sea vents. Explore the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone and red tide through case studies. Find out about microbial observatories and extreme environments.

Our Environment and Ocean Literacy The National Geographic Society has expanded its Our Environment & Oceans for Life website. The website provides facts, news, and classroom activities for all teachers and their students. Some resources include a multimedia teacher's toolkit; tools and resources to instruct students on the importance of a healthy environment; actions to help preserve the environment; expert scientist reports; and more.

Jobs in New England (and beyond)

Outward Bound Facilitators, Wilderness Instructors Boston Thompson Island Outward Bound has openings for Spring Education Facilitators and Summer Wilderness Instructors. Visit online for more information.

Oceans Team Director New England Environmental Defense, a national nonprofit organization, is seeking a Program Director for the New England Region Oceans Team. Responsibilities include advancing work to restore the region's fishery resources and make sustainable fishing practices and conservation the most economically sound way of doing business. See the position announcement.

Summer Jobs on Cape Cod The Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Falmouth has numerous summer openings. For more information, visit online.

Marine Ecologist Boston The Nature Conservancy is seeking applicants for a Marine Ecologist in Boston. The Marine Ecologist will be working with the region's Marine Conservation Director to develop and implement the Eastern U.S. Region's Marine Conservation Program. The priority in the first year will be to work with Conservancy Chapters throughout the region to complete the marine ecoregional assessment. For more information, see the full job announcement.

NERRA Executive Director Washington DC The National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA) is seeking a new Executive Director. NERRA supports, advances, and represents the interests of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), a network of 27 protected areas established for long-term research, education, and stewardship. For more information on NERRA and a full job description, visit online.

Maryland Coastal Bays Program Openings The Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) seeks highly qualified candidates for the positions of Executive Director and Development Director. The MCBP, one of 28 National Estuary Programs across the country, is a partnership of federal, state and local governments, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the general public working together to restore and conserve the Maryland Coastal Bays. This full-time position is based in West Ocean City on Maryland's Atlantic Coast, and is responsible for directing the implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Coastal Bays and watershed. More information on the job opportunities is available online.

Grant Management Specialist Georgia The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Program is seeking a Grants Management Specialist to join its team in Brunswick, Georgia. The successful candidate will oversee the Coastal Incentive Grant Program that passes through $1.1 million annually, and will provide fiscal oversight for the Program's federal (NOAA and EPA) grants. For more information on this position, or to obtain an application, visit online. The deadline for application is February 12, 2008.

Marine Science Instructor California The Ocean Institute seeks a marine science instructor. The Ocean Institute has become nationally known for its hands-on marine science, environmental education and maritime history programs. More than 78,000 K-12 students and 6,000 teachers annually participate in the Institute's 61 award-winning, immersion style programs. To learn oceanography and science, students voyage onto the ocean, sort through live specimens, observe migrating whales and collect scientific data. For more information visit online.

Curriculum Developer California The Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans (MERITO) program at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is expanding its education content on environmental emerging issues and resource protection strategies for 4th-8th grade level students to use in the classroom and in the field. They seek a curriculum developer to create educational curriculum for a module for the MERITO Academy curriculum/activity guide, to solidify student and teacher awareness of their personal connection to the ocean. This module will be used at both sanctuaries and will include lesson plans on the following topics: climate change, marine debris, habitat loss, overfishing and by-catch, and finding solutions. For more information on MERITO visit online. Interested applicants may contact Rocio.Lozano@noaa.gov.

Grants and Awards

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM)
The PAESMEM Program seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance the participation of groups (i.e., women, minorities, and persons with disabilities) that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the Nation's human resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This program provides educational opportunities for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Fellows, K-12 Educators. Individuals interested in applying for funding should see the program guidelines online.

Graduate Program in Diseases of Marine Organisms at the University of Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island is offering fellowships to support the training of 3 Ph.D. students in the area of Diseases of Marine Organisms (DIMO). This program is supported by the USDA CSREES National Needs Graduate Fellowship Program, the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station, Rhode Island Sea Grant, and the University of Rhode Island. The goal of this interdepartmental program is to generate experts able to apply the tools of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics to identify the molecular and ecological mechanisms of disease in the marine environment and capable of addressing the complex scientific, social, and economical issues related to the management of infectious diseases in a rapidly growing aquaculture industry. Applications are due April 15, 2008. For more information about the program, contact Dr. Marta Gomez-Ciarri.

Earthwatch Fellowships Earthwatch awards fellowships to K-12 educators and also high school students within public and independent schools. Educators and students will participate as team members on one of over 100 research expeditions studying anything from climate change to ocean sustainability, even anthropology. Applications submitted by February 15th will be given preference in the review process, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis thereafter. Inquiries can be sent to fellowshipawards@earthwatch.org. For the most up to date information and an application on Earthwatch's educator programs, visit the website. For information and applications for available student fellowships visit online.

Marine Policy Fellowships Your local Sea Grant is accepting applications for the 2009 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program. This one-year program is open to any student enrolled in a graduate or professional program in a marine or aquatic-related field at a U.S.-accredited institution of higher education. The program, sponsored by the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program, matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, DC area, for a one year paid fellowship. Applications are due by February 29, 2008.

Environmental Literacy Grants for K-12 Education
NOAA's Office of Education is requesting applications for environmental literacy projects in support of K-12 education. Funded projects will be between 1-5 years in duration and will promote changes in K-12 education to expand the amount of Earth System Science taught in the classroom and improve student learning and application of that subject. Successful projects will catalyze change in K-12 education through development of new programs and materials, by revision of existing programs and materials, by supporting transformative methods that expand or lead to the expansion of the use of Earth System Science in K-12 classrooms, and provide opportunities for the application of that knowledge to environmental issues relevant to the target audience. The deadline for pre-proposals is February 20, 2008; full proposals are due June 25, 2008. For more information visit online.

Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses

Ecosystem Management Tools Webinar The Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Tools Network and the Duke University Marine Ecosystem-Based Management Tool Innovation Fund are pleased to announce that they will host a live webinar presentation featuring the new Marxan Enhanced Users' Manual coordinated by the Pacific Marine Analysis and Research Organization (PacMARA); and Marxan's future: software developments and more - presented by Professor Hugh Possingham from The University of Queensland. The webinar will be held online Tuesday, February 12, at 4 pm Eastern Standard Time for the US and Canada. For more information about the presentation, contact Sarah Carr. To sign up for announcements of future EBM tool demonstrations, sign up for EBM Tools Network updates online.

Global and Environmental Change Course Register for the Global and Environmental Change Education course at the University of Rhode Island and receive 3 graduate credits. Course starts February 27 and will meet Wednesday evenings, 4-6:30 pm. Registration must be made through the Narragansett Bay Classroom Registrar (do not register through e-Campus). See the OMP website for more information.

Using the Atlas of Science Literacy Workshop AAAS Project 2061 is offering two sessions of its professional development workshop Using Atlas of Science Literacy in Washington, DC, March 11-13 and October 15-17. Designed for K-12 science teachers, curriculum specialists, and other educators, the workshop demonstrates how participants can use the conceptual strand maps in Atlas 1 and Atlas 2, along with other Project 2061 resources, to enhance their own understanding of science literacy and take a benchmarks-based approach to helping all students achieve literacy in science, mathematics, and technology. Atlas of Science Literacy is co-published by AAAS and NSTA. For more details and a registration form, visit the workshop information page. Additional workshops will be scheduled throughout the year and around the country.

Island Ecology Field Study A Massachusetts Marine Biology teacher is trying to assemble a group of interested K-12 teachers for a week of island ecology field study in the Bahamas, on San Salvador Island. She has been on three such trips and highly recommends it. For more information visit online or contact Gloria Rice.

Plan Your Summer with the Bridge The Bridge contains summer opportunities and year-round courses, workshops, and other programming for educators and students. The summer is a great time for students and teachers to learn outside of the classroom, meet new friends and colleagues, and see new places. Each program on the Bridge is complete with a link and brief description. Those with new, exciting summer programs that are not currently found on the Bridge are encouraged to submit their website for inclusion. For online resources visit The Bridge, Educator Summer Programs, Student Summer Programs.

Conferences

AAAS in Boston The annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is coming to Boston next week, February 14-18. Included are free family science days, exhibit halls free and open to the public, and reduced student rates. Visit the online site for more information.

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force There will be a U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Meeting in Washington D.C. from February 26-29 at Baird Auditorium, at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The meeting marks ten years of collaborative research, management, and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. The USCRTF will assess their collective efforts and accomplishments, highlight remaining needs and challenges, and begin to develop a foundation for a renewed commitment to action. For more information visit online.