COSEE-New England and NEOSEC News
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NEOSEC Ocean Literacy Summit The New England Ocean Science Education
Collaborative (NEOSEC) will host ocean scientists,
science writers, educators, education administrators, marine industry representatives, 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. For details, visit the Summit webpage. Please email Pam DiBona
if you would like more information
as it becomes available. Curious about the First Ocean Literacy Summit? Visit the 2006 Summit archive. |
Policy Matters
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The No Child Left Inside Act, H.R. 3036, was passed by the US House of Representatives and sent to the Senate on September 22.
Bill to Establish Coastal Institutes Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced S. 3515. The bill would establish, through NOAA and the EPA, "Institutes for Ocean and Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change," located at institutions of higher education in four designated areas. These institutes would document and predict coastal and ocean effects of climate change and serve as a principle national and international resource for providing technical expertise on adaptation strategies. To read the bill visit online.
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Reports, Publications, Announcements
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Smithsonian Opens New Ocean Hall The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and NOAA joined forces to create the new Sant Ocean Hall in Washington DC. The Ocean Hall is now open to the public. See what the Hall has to offer online, including resources for educators.
President Speaks at Ocean Hall Opening President Bush discussed the U.S. Ocean Action Plan in his speech at the opening of the Smithsonian's new Sant Ocean Hall. Read the speech. |
Online Ocean Science Education Resources
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SciLinks Oceanography Resources NSTA's SciLinks compiles websites and online resources for educators that are peer-reviewed by NSTA editors and organized thematically. To view the collection related to ocean research, visit here.
Deepwater Coral Expedition NOAA's Ocean Exploration and Research Program has launched the Lophelia II 2008: Deepwater Coral Expedition website. It highlights the first cruise of a 4-year project to explore new deepwater coral communities at both natural and man-made sites in the Gulf of Mexico. Educators have developed an Ocean Explorer Expedition Education Module for the mission. Visit the Expedition website.
Ocean Investigations for High Schoolers High school students can investigate oceans and weather through six inquiry-based activities from North Carolina State University's The Science House. Students can explore the underwater world through satellite data and other online resources. The data comes from the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Visit Investigating the Ocean.
Estuaries 101 Curriculum Estuaries 101, online science curriculum from NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserve System, features hands-on learning, experiments, field-based activities, and data explorations. The Estuaries 101 curriculum is comprised of four 2- to 3-week modules and is designed for grades 9 and 10, with the flexibility to adapt to higher or lower grades. Visit Estuaries 101.
Mercury is Rising The Bridge can help you incorporate scientific data on mercury levels in water from the Environmental Protection Agency, with the Data Analysis Teaching Activity (DATA) Mercury is Rising. In this activity, students will learn about the sources and effects of mercury in our waters. Mercury is Rising is one of many Bridge DATAs that has been reformatted to more closely match a formal lesson plan, complete with summary, objectives, and list of vocabulary words. Visit online.
Crustacea.net The Australian Museum offers Crustacea.net, an interactive information retrieval system for crustaceans of the world. The website offers interactive modules, glossaries, and more.
NSDL K-6 Science Refreshers The National Science Digital Library K-6 Science Refreshers provide quick and easy access to high-quality science content. The refreshers include interactive tutorials, diagrams, and articles that are selected and organized by grade level and subject area. The website is in beta release; help them out by providing your feedback. Visit online.
Sanctuary Atlas Maps, Images, and Videos Download atlas maps, high resolution images and videos from the 14 marine protected areas managed by NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program. Visit online.
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Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses
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Earthwatch Fellowships for Teachers Earthwatch Educator Fellows receive funding to join one of more than ninety Earthwatch expeditions worldwide, working alongside leading environmental scientists, actively supporting their work, learning field research methods, and helping conserve threatened natural and cultural resources. Elementary, middle school and high school teachers and administrators are eligible to apply. Find out more about the fellowships and how to apply online.
Oceanic and Coral Reef Ecology Lecture Dr. Nancy Knowlton, holder of the Sant Chair, the first endowed ocean science chair at the Smithsonian Institution, will discuss her work on oceanic and coral reef ecology, Thursday, October 9, at 12 noon. The lecture is available via teleconference. For details contact Mary Lou Cumberpatch.
COSEE Educator-Scientist Climate Change Workshop The Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence-Ocean Systems (COSEE-OS) presents "Get to Know a Scientist: Not just what they know, but how they think!", Saturday, November 22, 2008, 8:30am-5:00pm, at UMaine's Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine. Up to fifteen educators will team with researchers to improve their collective understanding of earth's major climate systems. The NSF-funded workshop is designed for classroom educators who teach grades 9-12 science, including biology, chemistry, physical science, marine science, and/or earth and environmental sciences. Application deadline is Friday, October 17, 2008. More information available online (pdf).
Virtual Teacher Workshop Series The College of Exploration, with support of NOAA's Ocean Exploration and
Research (OER) Program and the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, presents Classroom Exploration of the Ocean
Virtual Teacher Workshop Series 2008-2009. It's not too late to join in this week as Dr. Steve Hammond, Acting Director of NOAA OER, talks about global climate change and the world of underwater volcanoes. Explore NOAA OER's educational programs and resources, meet ocean scientists from NOAA, interact with fellow educators, get briefings ocean issues, ocean expeditions and the new NOAA vessel dedicated solely to ocean exploration, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The workshop is going on now through October 10th, with resources continuing to be available after the workshop. Join the online workshop.
ARMADA Project 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, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides K-12 teachers an opportunity to actively participate in ocean, polar, and environmental science research and peer mentoring. For more information visit the Armada website or contact Andrea Kecskes. Application deadline is February 9, 2009. |
Jobs in New England (and beyond)
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Science Programs Educator, New Bedford The New Bedford Whaling Museum ECHO Resource Center is seeking a Science Programs Educator. This job is part-time, maximum 15 hours per week, from mid-October through mid-June. Training will take place in October. This is a temporary grant-funded position. For more information or to send a resumé contact Kristen Sniezek.
Education Specialist, New York The Education Department of the New York Aquarium, a division of the Wildlife Conservation Society and located in Coney Island, seeks an experienced and dynamic educator to assume a major role in its educator training programs, developing and conducting professional development sessions for teachers of all grades, in addition to teaching classes onsite and offsite, and supporting special educational projects as needed. More information available on the Wildlife Conservation Society website.
Ocean Sciences Educational Research Specialist, California MARE (Marine Activities, Resources & Education) at Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley is a K-16/informal ocean sciences education program and leads a Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE-California). The specialist duties include: managing marine science education projects; co-teaching a university course and developing
associated informal science materials; leading and supporting research and development projects. Additional information available online (pdf).
Center Director, South Carolina NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) seeks a new Director of the Center of Human Health Risk and Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) in Charleston, South Carolina. HML, a NOAA National Center for Coastal Ocean Science Laboratory, seeks to sustain, protect, and restore coastal ecosystems, with an emphasis on linkages between environmental conditions and the health of marine organisms and humans. More information available online.
EBM Coordinator, California The West Coast Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) Network is seeking a full-time Coordinator based in San Francisco. The Coordinator will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and evaluating relationships and communication vehicles among coastal and ocean resource managers and practitioners in the EBM network. To apply or receive more information contact
Becky Pollock.
Middle School Marine Education Specialist, Virginia The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, part of the NERRS network of protected areas established for long term research, education and stewardship, is seeking a knowledgeable and energetic educator to serve as its Middle School Marine Education Specialist. For more information visit online. (position number 00019V)
NOAA Seeks Regional Coordinators NOAA's Regional Collaboration is an approach to blending National and Regional capabilities; improving services and value through program integration on a regional scale; and leveraging current and emerging regional partnerships, including extramural partners' capabilities. Eight Regional Teams have been established to improve NOAA's productivity and value to customers by engaging with internal and external partners to develop and implement strategies that address national priorities in the regions such as hazard resilient coastal communities, integrated ecosystem assessments, and integrated water resource services. There are eight Regional Coordinator positions that will be filled to coordinate regional efforts in this program. Each Regional Coordinator position may be located in one of several cities in the region. To apply, go online and type "NOAA Regional Coordinator" in the Search Jobs space.
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Student Opportunities
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Thacher Scholars Award The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies announces the 2009 Thacher Scholars Award, to be given to secondary school students (grades 9-12) demonstrating the best use of geospatial technologies or data to study Earth. The deadline for entry is April 6, 2009. More information available online.
Multicultural Initiative in the Marine Sciences Undergraduate Program (MIMSUP) This program for college undergraduates, offered at the Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC) in Anacortes, Washington, is designed to increase diversity in the next generation of marine scientists. Participants spend two quarters at SPMC studying marine science, exploring career opportunities, and completing supervised independent research. At the conclusion of MIMSUP, students return to their home institutions to complete their undergraduate degree. Complete program information, including the application, is available online.
Knauss Fellowship The Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational experience to students who have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid fellowship. The deadline for application is February 20, 2009. More information online. |
Conferences
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The Boston Harbor Educators Conference is Saturday, October 4. The focus of this year's conference is on Riches and Resources of the Harbor and Its Islands, and includes field trips to harbor islands, workshops and presentations. For complete details visit the Mass Marine Educators website. (pdf)
SENEME Conference Southeastern New England Marine Educators (SENEME) present their Fall 2008 Conference and Annual Meeting Saturday, October 18, 2008, at Project Oceanology, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT. Join us as we celebrate SENEME's 25th Anniversary. Come for the workshops - stay for the party! More details online.
Whales in a Changing World The American Cetacean Society will hold its International Conference, November 13-16, 2008 in Monterey Bay, California, with the theme Whales in a Changing World. A Gray Whale and Climate Change Symposium will follow on November 17, 2008. The conference will look at how whales, dolphins, and porpoises are currently adapting to rapid environmental changes and altered ecosystems. More information online.
Success Stories in Ocean Conservation The International Marine Conservation Congress will take place May 20-24, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History will kick off the conference with one-day public program, Beyond the Obituaries: Success Stories in Ocean Conservation. The program will highlight conservation efforts that are making a difference around the world, allow conservation professionals to learn from the success of others, and demonstrate to the public and policy makers that the situation is not hopeless. A call for case studies with clear, tangible results has a deadline of December 15, 2008. More information 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!
Boston Environmental Education Summit Teachers, educators, and environmental practitioners will gather to kick off a new partnership between the Boston Public School's Science Department and Boston-based environmental education organizations to promote learning, achievement and environmental stewardship, October 3, 5-8:30 pm. This event is being held in conjunction with the dedication of the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Summit will take place at the Federal Reserve Bank, 600 Atlantic Avenue Boston. Dinner will be followed by keynote addresses and a 1.5 hour workshop
session to demonstrate partnerships between school teachers and Boston
environmental education organizations that take students outdoors to
learn. For more information click here.
The second Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium will be held at the University of Massachusetts Boston Campus Center on October 3, 2008, from 9am-4pm, focusing
on marine and terrestrial research within the boundaries of the Boston Harbor Island Park. For more information visit online.
Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Saturday,
October 4, 5-9 pm, Friends of Casco Bay will host
the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film
Festival in Abromson
Auditorium on University of Southern Maine's Portland campus. This
family-friendly event features a selection of films, from animated
shorts to full-length documentaries. Film, ticket, and sponsorship information available online.
Talk and Booksigning Harvard Museum of Natural History presents an author's talk and booksigning with Richard Ellis on
Sunday, October 5, 2:00 pm, free with admission. Author and marine artist Richard Ellis's new illustrated book Tuna: A Love Story examines the physiology and behavior of the majestic tuna, and how the sushi market is pushing it to the brink of extinction. More information online.
Harmful Algal Blooms Lecture Dr. Donald M. Anderson, Senior Scientist, Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will present a lecture on Harmful Algal Blooms Friday, October 10, 2008 at 3:00 pm. For more information or to reserve a seat contact Dina Dicarlo by October 3.
Lecture and Booksigning Harvard Museum of Natural History
presents a lecture and booksigning Thursday October 16 with Drs. Eric Chivian and E.O. Wilson, co-author and contributor to Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity. More information online.
Lecture at Northeastern Northeastern University Marine Science Center Evening Lecture Series presents Seaweed blooms: the problems they cause and the potential use as bioremediators of toxic pollutants, given by Dr. Donald Cheney, Associate Professor of Biology at Northeastern University, Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 7:00pm, at the Marine Science Center. Contact Tracy Hajduk for details.
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NEwswave Schedule
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The next issue of NEwswave will be sent October 17, 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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Massachusetts Ocean Planning Update
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The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
is conducting listening sessions in order to
hear from Commonwealth citizens on their
goals for the Massachusetts ocean plan. These public meetings will be held throughout
the state, continuing throughout
October.
The complete list of listening sessions is online.
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Sea Stories
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The latest edition of Sea Stories is available online.
An online journal of creative writing and art about the world's oceans and
sponsored by Blue Ocean Institute, Sea Stories features contributions by
ocean-lovers from all backgrounds and walks of life - writers, artists,
educators, students, scientists, fishers, conservationists, explorers.
For more
information, including submission guidelines, a downloadable set of
writing suggestions for students, and ideas for using Sea Stories in your
classroom, click on "Further Information" on the website.
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SeaWeb e-Publications
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SeaWeb regularly publishes electronic reports, including Ocean Update and Marine Science Reviews. To subscribe to SeaWeb's e-publications, visit 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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