NEwswave from COSEE-New England

NEwswave
The Newsletter of COSEE-NE

February 12, 2009
vol 6, no 3

In This Issue

Reports, Publications, Announcements

Online Ocean Science Education Resources

Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses

Grants and Fellowships

Jobs in New England

Student Opportunities

Conferences

Calendar

NEwswave Schedule

Reports, Publications, Announcements

Google Ocean Launched Ocean in Google Earth, also known as Google Ocean, has been launched as part of Google Earth 5.0. Users can now travel in 3D through the planet's oceans, fly over and around underwater seamounts, and follow scientific research expeditions. Take an online tour of Google Ocean. To download Google Earth 5.0, visit here.

Small Particles May Pose Big Problem An increasing volume of plastic materials decomposing in the ocean may present a long-term problem for marine food webs, according to an article in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Larger plastic debris tends to float at the surface, notes the article by Kellyn Betts, but microplastics�plastic particles as small as 0.0008 inches (20 micrometers) in length �may also be found in the water column and on the seabed. Read a summary of the research in SeaWeb's Ocean Update.

Online Ocean Science Education Resources

Ocean Animal Aquarium Teachers' Guide The Marine Biological Laboratory's Marine Resources Center offers a downloadable Ocean Animal Aquarium Teachers' Guide, featuring lessons and activities for the classroom. Download the guide.

Advanced Placement Environmental Science Course
The Advanced Placement Environmental Science course developed by the University of California College Prep initiative is now available through the Encyclopedia of Earth website. The online course includes 25 chapters on topics ranging from energy flows to environmental laws and regulations; the chapters may be used independently as a resource for teachers and students or sequentially as a full course.

Immersion Presents on the Internet The Immersion Presents team is working to provide schools with a viable auditorium-quality live broadcast option for sites without access to Internet2. A collaboration between Mystic Aquarium & the Institute for Exploration, the University of Rhode Island, and NOAA, the presentations feature live broadcasts from one or more real-world scientific expeditions each year and include hands-on science activities. Visit Immersion Presents.

Jellyfish Gone Wild features photos and videos of jellyfish, stinging statistics about jellyfish swarms, and explanations of how and why jellyfish swarms form. The report is available as text or interactive display. The website also offers additional resources, including jellyfish anatomy, life cycle, and links to other information.

Marine Mineral Studies The U.S. Department of the Interior's website on marine mineral mining on the Outer Continental Shelf is primarily concerned with providing information about the environmental impact that dredging activity has on marine life, with links to renourishment projects. The Kid Connection offers downloadable booklets and directions for simple experiments which allow kids to see erosion and sedimentation in action, along with links to careers in marine minerals.

Marine Debris Publication COSEE-SouthEast developed and published a middle school, 48-page publication, The Educator's Guide to Marine Debris for the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico. This publication is available online and provides an accessible avenue of ocean science stewardship based on science and volunteer information.

NOAA Online Education Resources for Teachers NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) is offering a new set of environmental science resources for teachers in grades 5-12. The modules, created in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association, focus on estuaries, coral ecosystems, and the ocean's role in weather and climate. See the NOS professional development resources for teachers website.

Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses

Vacation Week Workshops at Aquarium New England Aquarium offers two professional development courses for teachers during February vacation week, A Closer Look-Integrating Scientific Inquiry and Observation with Writingon February 18 and a workshop on Penguins February 19. More information available online.

Global Environmental Change Education Course offered by the University of Rhode Island Office of Marine Programs covers a comprehensive suite of topics related to Earth's changing environments, including changes to the ocean and atmosphere and related implications for human health, society, and governments. The course starts February 25 and will meet Wednesday evenings, 4-6:30 pm at URI's Narragansett Bay Campus. Registration must be made through the Narragansett Bay Classroom Registrar. See the OMP webiste.

Salt Water Studies at Whaling Museum A course for teachers in grades 6-9, Salt Water Studies, will be offered February 28 8:30-4:30 and March 1 noon-4:00 pm at the
ECHO Resource Center at New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford. Co-presented by New Bedford ECHO Project and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve WBNERR). To register or for more information contact Bob Rocha or Pat Harcourt, or visit the WBNERR website.

Teacher Workshops at Zoo New England Zoo New England in Boston offers numerous teacher workshops this Spring, including Inquiry and Environmental Education in the Classroom. More information available online.

Visit Baja with Seacoast Science Center Go kayaking and diving in some of the most beautiful and richly diverse habitats in the world. Join the Seacoast Science Center and travel through the Sea of Cortez. Experience Baja, the area where the desert meets the sea, April 11-18. Contact Wendy Lull to learn more.

NOAA Ocean Exploration at NEAq National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presents their Ocean Exploration Program May 16 at New England Aquarium. This one-day professional development workshop teaches inquiry- and standards-based activities that introduce students to NOAA expeditions. The workshop takes place at the New England Aquarium and will be taught by NOAA educators and scientists. Appropriate for grades 6-12.

The Gulf of Mexico Foundation in partnership with ConocoPhillips is offering two educational cruises this year, the Down Under, Out Yonder (DUOY) cruise that includes diving at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine
Sanctuary, and the Intracoastal Waterway Wetlands Cruise.
The application form and information sheet is available online

Buccoo Reef USA is offering a professional development opportunity this summer as part of the REEF TEACH Program. Global Environmental Change: Buccoo Reef and Beyond is a course designed for teachers, both formal and informal, across the science curriculum, who are wishing to engage their students in ecosystem research using the coral reefs as the platform. The course incorporates hands-on research strategies and field work, introduction to the Ocean Literacy Principles and discussions with local Tobagonians. Course dates are June 21-28 and August 9-16. For more information visit online.

Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) offers its summer institute, July 6-17, facilitated among several cooperating museums, nature centers, aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens in Massachusetts. Participants have the opportunity to spend two days at each cooperating site and learn from their primary resources. More information online.

Grants and Fellowships

The Society for Science and the Public (SSP), with support from Intel, announces the launch of its Fellows Program. The SSP Fellows Program provides funds and training to selected U.S. science and math teachers who serve under-resourced students, to enable interested and motivated students to perform high-quality independent scientific research. Fellows receive a stipend of up to $8500 per year depending on proposed budget, demonstrated need, support of the school and needs of the student population. Deadline for application is February 15. For information about the Fellows Program visit online.

NOAA Environmental Literacy Grants for K-12 Education
NOAA's Office of Education is requesting applications for environmental literacy projects designed to build capacity within NOAA's Science On a Sphere Users Collaborative Network to enhance the educational use of spherical display systems as public exhibits. The deadline for applications is February 19. See the website for details.

Jobs in New England (and beyond)

Marine Educator, Connecticut The Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk, Connecticut has openings for part-time marine educators to present educational programs, including on site and travel outreach. More information online.

Marine Educators, New Jersey Cape May Whale Watch has openings for marine educators to present educational programs, including on site, travel outreach and on whale and dolphin watch vessels. For more information contact
[email protected]

Marine Science Educators, Georgia Tybee Island Marine Science Center has openings for three marine science educator positions. Educators work with student groups (pre-K-12), scout groups, and island visitors by conducting hands-on beach programs, interpreting the Science Center's gallery and touch tank, and leading classroom activities in marine science and coastal conservation. Opportunities to work on conservation and research projects will occur throughout the season. Contact [email protected].

Student Opportunities

High School Marine Science Symposium The Annual High School Marine Science Symposium, sponsored by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, New Bedford ECHO Project, and Massachusetts Marine Educators, will take place March 18 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Visit online for details.

The Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML), run jointly by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire, is located on Appledore Island, Maine (Isles of Shoals), off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. SML offers college credit courses for undergraduates and teachers;college credit courses for high school students; and internships for undergraduates and teachers.

Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida has openings in the summer camp program for an internship in marine science education. Internships require a 12-14 week commitment beginning in late May, including a training week on marine science topics, education pedagogy, and the work of Mote Marine Laboratory. For more information on Mote summer programs visit online or download the online application.

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. As a reminder, the deadline for application is February 20. More information online.

Teaching Assistant/Field Naturalist, Maine Acadia National Park SEA program in Winter Harbor, Maine has opening for interns. The SEA program offers a curriculum-based residential program for 4th through 8th grade students and their teachers. For more information visit the Acadia National Park (SEA Program) or contact Kate Petrie.

Marine Education Internship, Southeast Florida The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit in Fort Pierce, Florida has openings for marine education interns. Must be currently enrolled in college courses or a recent graduate. Contact Laura Diederick.

Conferences