NEOSEC News
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Ocean Literacy Summit The New England Ocean Science Education
Collaborative (NEOSEC) will host ocean scientists,
science writers, educators, education administrators and policymakers at Boston University for the Second Ocean Literacy Summit, November 7, 2008. A collaboration among a range of institutions from across
the region, NEOSEC has identified global
climate change as the topic for this year's Summit. Registration is now open. For details, visit online. Please email Catherine Cramer
if you would like more information
as it becomes available. Curious about the First Ocean Literacy Summit? Visit online. |
Partner News
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Waquoit Bay Watershed Block Party The Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will be holding its annual Watershed Block Party on Tuesday August 5, 3-6:30pm. Any organization located in or that works within the Waquoit Bay Watershed is welcome to partcipate. The Block Party serves to raise awareness about estuaries and watersheds by providing information to people about how they can become involved in protecting them. This event attracts adults and children, so hands-on activities and interesting visuals to engage families are recommended. To reserve a spot email Laurie.tompkins@state.ma.us. |
Reports, Publications, Announcements
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Stellwagen Plan Comments Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is revising its management plan and is now in a draft comment period. Eight public hearings were completed in June, and written comments on the plan are now being accepted, via postal mail, email or fax. Comments must be received by August 4, 2008.
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Policy Matters
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House Subcommittee Hosts Hearing on Toxic Algal Blooms At a recent hearing scientists warned the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment that more resources, expanded research and better federal coordination are needed to respond to harmful algal blooms (HABs). The hearing focused on the risk of HAB's to fish and human health and the options for preventing and controlling harmful algal blooms. Dr. Donald Anderson, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the director of the U.S. Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms, explained that almost all coastal states are threatened by harmful or toxic algal species. For more information visit online.
House Passes Bill for Ocean Acidification Research On July 9, H.R. 4174, the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act (FOARAM), which would allocate $96 million over four years for research on the increasing acidity of oceans, passed the House by a voice vote. The bill calls for funds to be allocated to NOAA in increasing amounts over four years. The National Science and Technology Council's Joint Subcommittee would oversee the funds and research. A similar bill (S.1581) passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in May but has yet to be scheduled for a floor vote.
House Approves Marine Research Bill On July 14, the House passed H.R. 5618, to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, by a voice vote. The bill requests increases in funding levels and provides requirements for state-federal interaction. |
Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses
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Free Professional Development Institute The
New England Aquarium Teacher Resource Center is offering a free summer Professional Development
Institute for Massachusetts science teachers: On the Waterfront: Integrating Science Standards Through Classroom and Field Investigations. The Institute will be held in New Bedford, Massachusetts July 28-August 6, 2008, followed by two Saturdays in the fall. Participants will learn about the physical environment of the waterfront, the living organisms there and the human activity in and around the area, and the relationship among the three. The course is most appropriate for grades 3-8 and, funded
by the Massachusetts Department of Education, will serve
science teachers from districts of
need, but all Massachusetts teachers are welcome to apply. For more
information contact the Aquarium's Teacher Resource Center.
Summer Workshop for Educators on Cape Cod WHOI's Topics in Oceanography presents: Happy as a Clam? How Do We Know? The secret lives of shellfish in our coastal waters,
a hands-on workshop presented by William Walton, fisheries and
aquaculture specialist with Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod
Cooperative Extension. The workshop will be held Friday, August 22,
2008, 9am-2:30pm. Meet at Scudder's Landing, Barnstable, Cape Cod. For
directions and information, and to register, visit online.
Ocean
Iron Fertilization Teleconference Seminar NOAA's Seminars on Science presents: Carbon
sequestration through ocean iron fertilization: A review of the major
issues, given by Anand Gnanadeskian (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Laboratory, Princeton, N.J.) Wednesday September 10, noon-1pm EDT. Fertilizing the ocean with iron ("the Geritol solution") has been
proposed as a method of removing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
This talk will discuss how ocean biology stores carbon in the ocean,
how iron fertilization might enhance this storage, consider some of the
challenges to verifying changes in storage, and highlight some
potential unintended consequences of fertilization. For teleconference
and further information contact Mary Lou Cumberpatch. |
Jobs in New England (and beyond)
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Strategic Communications RFP, Massachusetts The
Massachusetts Ocean Partnership (MOP) is seeking a qualified consultant
(or team of consultants) to support the creation of the overall
strategic communications (StratCOM) plan. Proposals are due via email
by the EOB on 7/30/08. A draft StratCOM plan is due by 9/30/08 and the
final by 10/15/08. The RFP is posted on the MOP's contracting & employment page.
Environmental Science Teacher, Massachusetts Agricultural and Technical High School near Danvers, MA is seeking a full-time environmental science teacher with (or eligible for) a vocational teacher's license in Environmental Technology. Courses in this three-year vocational program include Forestry, Mapping Technology (including GIS), Limnology, Aquaculture, Coastal Ecology, Environmental Geology, Wetland Delineation, and Stream Hydrology. Contact Principal Gene Demsey for more information.
Coral Reef Management Specialist I.M Systems Group, a contractor to NOAA, is seeking a Coral Reef Management Specialist. This position will work with NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) to implement NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program initiatives. For more information or to apply visit online.
Coastal Plan Manager, Georgia The Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center (CGRDC) in Brunswick, Georgia is seeking a coastal plan manager to focus on tasks associated with implementation of the Coastal Comprehensive Plan. For more information or to apply visit online.
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Requests
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Comments on NOAA Education Strategic Plan NOAA's
draft Education Strategic Plan is now available for public review, and
your comments are needed. The draft Plan can be found at the Office of Education website.
Reviewers Needed NOAA is seeking 25 educators to conduct a thorough review of the Animals in Curriculum Based Ecosystem Studies website. The website tracks the migration of various marine animals around the world and is a source of content for marine ecosystem information and conservation studies. Reviewers will complete a three-part review process: (1) PowerPoint tutorial; (2) Internet Scavenger Hunt; and (3) Focus Group Discussion. The entire three-part process should take about 3 hours. Participants that are accepted in the working group will receive a $200 stipend for full participation in the website review process. The online application must be completed by July 28. For more information contact Gina Schilling.
Educator Needed to Join NOAA Undersea Lab Project NOAA is looking for a teacher to join a science team on the 100th mission in the world's only undersea research station, NOAA's Aquarius Reef Base. In November 2008, six aquanauts will venture into the Aquarius undersea laboratory to live for eight days underwater and to study the surrounding coral reef. One goal is to bring the experience of living and working underwater as part of a scientific aquanaut team to classrooms and people around the world. To do this, NOAA is seeking a qualified and enthusiastic teacher to join the mission team. A full announcement with more information, requirements, and an application can be found online. Applications are due by August 1. For more information contact teacherunderthesea@nurc.net.
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Student Opportunities
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Summer Ocean Science Academy, Boston The Marine Science Center
of Northeastern University is offering a Coastal Ocean Science Academy for students entering 9th and 10th grades. The Academy runs from August
11-23, 8am-3pm. Registration is now open. For more information contact Tracy Hajduk.
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society of North America has a vacancy in their summer residential intern program that they are seeking to fill by August 1 for a period of 30-90 days, depending on the qualifications and availability of the applicant. The program is based in Plymouth, Massachusetts and provides an opportunity to garner experience in field research, education and conservation of marine mammals. WDCS is willing to help qualified students obtain credits for the program through their college or university. The internship is a volunteer position and there is a nominal housing fee. Contact Sue Rocca for more information.
Ocean Guardian Kid's Club and Contest Students can show off their knowledge about marine conservation and win one of several prizes in an ocean reef-themed contest presented by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, in collaboration with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The Hawai`i Ocean Guardians Kid's Club and Contest is part of the 2008 International Year of the Reef. The contest is open to all students in grades K-8 in the United States. Deadline for entries is August 29, 2008. For details visit online.
MATE Student ROV Competition The Marine Advanced Technology Education center (MATE) recently held their annual International Student ROV Competition in San Diego. For more information about this annual student competition, visit online. |
Calendar
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We are happy to include events from around New England. If you would like your organization's event published here, please send the information to the editor, Catherine Cramer. Thanks!
Beat the Heat, a Climate Change Campaign fundraiser for Earthwatch, will be held August 14, 2008, 6:30-9:30pm at the Museum of Science, Washburn Pavilion, on the bank of the Charles, Boston, MA. For more information contact Rachel Borgesano.
Seabird and Whale Tale Cruise
The New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance and Bridgewater State College
are hosting the fall edition of Seabird and Whale Tales, September 7, 8am-6pm. Join wildlife experts Wayne Petersen of Massachusetts Audubon
Society, David Clapp of Natural History Services and Dr. John C. Jahoda
of Bridgewater State College as they lead this excursion to view
coastal marine wildlife. Leave from Plymouth Town Pier. To learn more
about this trip or to download the registration form visit online. |
NEwswave Schedule
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The next issue of NEwswave will be sent August 14, 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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Sea Stories
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The latest issue of Sea Stories is now available.
You may also browse back issues and submit your own stories online.
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MEAM
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The latest issue of MEAM (Marine Ecosystems and Management), a
quarterly information service on marine ecosystem-based management, is now available online.
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New Sea Grant Documents
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The listing of new Sea Grant documents received by the National Sea Grant Library during June 2008 is
now available
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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New from Oceanus
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DMS: The Climate Gas You've Never Heard Of
Read the story.
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SeaWeb Publications
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Recent SeaWeb Marine Science Reviews on Blooms and Biotoxins
are available online.
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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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