NEwswave is now the newsletter of NEOSEC and COSEE-New England!
You know NEOSEC (the New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative) from the biannual Ocean Literacy Summit, but did you know that NEOSEC started as a project of COSEE-New England? In fact, a grant to COSEE-New England from the National Science Foundation funds this newsletter and joint projects undertaken by NEOSEC members. With this edition of NEwswave, we are renewing our focus on New England resources - some of the best in the ocean world. We'd love to hear from you! Please send any comments or suggestions to the Editor, Catherine Cramer. Thanks!
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NEOSEC Member News
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NE Aquarium Ocean Science and Conservation Workshop The New England Aquarium Teacher Resource Center will hold a two-day, standards-aligned workshop on ocean science and conservation, focusing on activities that teachers can take back to the classroom to foster an ethic of environmental stewardship among their students, April 21-22. The workshop is targeted at teachers in grades 5-8. Advanced registration is required. For details, contact the Teacher Resource Center.
BOAT CAMP Professional Development Workshops BOAT CAMP offers workshops for K-12 and informal educators aboard the Erica Lee and inside waterfront classrooms in Newburyport, MA during the spring and summer.
Courses include:
Survey of the Merrimack River Estuary
Through field experience, class work and research, participants in this course will survey the lower portion of the Merrimack River and its surrounding estuarine environment.
Field Marine Study of Coastal Ecosystems
From aboard the Erica Lee, survey the ecosystems of the lower portion of the Merrimack River, coastal Plum Island and Ipswich Bay, the Isles of Shoals and Rockport's Thacher Island. Particular emphasis will be paid to the rocky intertidal zone, fishing and fishing industry, and the gull rookery.
Water Quality of the Lower Merrimack River
From aboard the Erica Lee, teachers will conduct scientific experiments to analyze the water quality of the Lower Merrimack River. Particular emphasis will be placed on the effects water quality has had on the inhabitants of the river, from striped bass and steamer clams to Coast Guard rescue at the mouth.
For more information about these courses visit online.
COSEE-Ocean Systems Informal Educator-Scientist Collaborative Workshop Discover new ways to translate ocean-climate research for a wide range of audiences. Sponsored by COSEE-Ocean Systems and funded by the National Science Foundation, this workshop will connect informal educators with ocean and climate research scientists. After receiving training on concept mapping techniques, scientists will present maps related to their own past or future informal education projects. Educators will then learn how to customize the maps to their audiences and content levels, and make a hyperlinked map with cutting-edge multi-media tools. June 2-3, Seacoast Science Center, Rye, NH. Contact Jennifer Albright for details.
Northeastern Coastal Ecosystems for Science Teachers Northeastern University Marine Science Center (MSC) offers this course for science teachers of grades 6-12, July 13-17. Survey of New England Coastal Ecosystems is for Massachusetts middle and high school teachers seeking to enhance their local ecology knowledge in order to share with their students. The course takes place at the Northeastern University's Marine Science Center (MSC), in Nahant, MA. For more information visit online.
Northeastern Ocean Science Academy for High Schoolers Northeastern University Marine Science Center is hosting a Coastal Ocean Science Academy (COSA) for students entering 9th or 10th grade in the fall of 2009. During this two-week academy, students will spend time doing field work in local marine habitats (rocky beach, sandy beach, and salt marsh) on the North Shore, learning about New England coastal marine habitats, as well as partake in ongoing Marine Science Center research. Participants will be introduced to field sampling techniques, invasive species monitoring, beach clean-up, benthic organism surveys and more. August 10-22, 8 AM-3 PM. For more information contact Tracy Hajduk.
Sea Education Association (SEA) Based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, SEA has educated students
about the world's oceans for almost 40 years through a fully accredited study
abroad program combining the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and public
policy. Intense coursework and preparation during a shore component is followed
by the immediate application of students' newfound knowledge during a sea
component. SEA offers 3-week High School Summer Seminars as well as semester long undergraduate
SEA Semesters during the academic
year. Visit online or contact admission@sea.edu for more information. |
Requests
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Excellence in Mentoring Award Nominations The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative announces a call for nominations for the inaugural Marc J. Hershman Excellence in Mentoring Award. The Joint Initiative will present this award to the person who best exemplifies the legacy of Professor Hershman in educating, training, and inspiring students and young professionals to pursue careers in ocean and coastal policy and management. The award will be presented during the Coastal Zone '09 Conference in Boston, MA in July 2009. For details visit online. |
Online Ocean Science Education Resources
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Deep Earth Academy Climate Change Resources The Deep Earth Academy facilitates and develops programs and materials based on scientific ocean drilling expeditions and Earth Systems Science to strengthen students' mathematics, science, and analytical skills. The website hosts lessons related to climate change plus a number of free resources including posters, DVDs, drilling globes, and more.
Follow the Bering Sea Ecosystem Expedition
From April 4-May 11 the Polar Discovery team from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will be aboard the icebreaker Healy in the Bering Sea. A team of researchers will examine fish, seabirds, marine mammals and the built environment to learn more about how the changing climate may affect this vital ecosystem. Follow the daily progress of the cruise and view images taken by Chris Linder on the Polar Discovery site.
Online Estuaries Game NOAA's National Ocean Service has a new educational online game, WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea, which is designed for students in grades 4-7. The web-based game provides science instruction through a series of challenges and animations. Players learn about the factors that support healthy estuaries, and discover why estuaries are essential to ocean life and to humans.
Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate NOAA offers materials to help teachers and students understand factors that impact the Earth's weather and climate, and how changes in temperature or air circulation are part of complex, long-term cycles. The website offers classroom resources, teacher tutorials, web seminar archives, and more.
Year of Science Education Sampler NOAA Education celebrates the 2009 Year of Science with a website and companion DVD, offering background materials, multimedia resources, informal activities, lesson plans, and curricula from across NOAA. The materials are geared for educators and students of grades 3-12. |
Seminars, Workshops, Online Courses
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Coral Bleaching Web Seminar NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program and the National Science Teacher Association present a free web seminar on Coral Bleaching. This interactive session introduces educators to the basic science behind this climate change-related threat that affects coral reef ecosystems worldwide. April 30, 6:30-8:00 PM EDT. Free registration at the NSTA website is required prior to the event.
Natural History Field Seminar at Eagle Hill on the Maine coast, June 21-27. The Humboldt Field Research Institute is hosting a new seminar, Invertebrate Indicators of Marine Coastal Habitats Seminar, taught at an advanced student level and of interest to teachers and researchers of marine ecology and conservation biology. The knowledge and techniques learned can be used in the classroom and/or applied to problems in coastal ecology. Field and laboratory exercises will focus on sampling techniques and lectures will present concepts basic to coastal habitat classification. Instructors are Tom Trott (Suffolk U.) and Robert Knowlton (George Washington U.). Prior discussions of personal study objectives are welcome. For general information visit online. Information on lodging options, meals, and costs may be found here. Students may apply online.
MITS Summer Institutes for K-8 Educators The 2009 Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) Summer Institute Inquiry-Based Science: Investigating Water & Energy Concepts in the State Frameworks will be offered
July 6-17. In each of 9 regions, educators at MITS' partner institutions work together to offer a 2-week professional development opportunity. Visit each of the organizations' sites for 1-2 days and participate in both content and skill development sessions taught by professional educators, scientists and other content experts. Details online. |
Jobs in New England (and beyond)
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Summer Communications Assistant, Cape Cod The Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole is seeking a summer Communications/MBL Club Assistant. This position begins in May and ends no earlier than August 21. For a complete job description and to apply visit online.
Summer Lead Educator, Massachusetts The Marion Natural History Museum is seeking applications for a Lead Educator for the Coastal Explorations program. This program is for children entering grades 3 and 4, and features explorations of Marion's rocky intertidal shoreline, salt marshes, estuaries, as well as freshwater riverbanks, swamps, ponds, and bogs. For more information, contact Elizabeth Leidhold.
Summer Camp Instructor, Oregon The Oregon Coast Aquarium is hiring a Summer Camp Instructor to write curricula and teach camp. For more information visit online.
Executive Director, Alaska The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies in Homer, Alaska is seeking a new Executive Director. A full job description is available online. |
Student Opportunities
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Ocean Journey Scholarship to the Galapagos Islands
Blue Ocean Institute is now accepting applications from high school and college students for the 2009 Kalpana Chawla Ocean Journey Scholarship to the Galapagos Islands.
Applications are due April 30, 2009. Visit online for an application and details about the program. |
Conferences
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Whale Watch Naturalist Education Conference The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies in partnership with the Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society will host a 3-day marine education conference at the Hiebert Marine Laboratory in Provincetown April 24-26. The purpose of the conference is to educate naturalist/science educators, interns, volunteers, and those directly involved with whale watch tours or research in the Gulf of Maine region. For more information, or to register for the conference, contact Regina Asmutis-Silvia.
MME at WHOI The annual Massachusetts Marine Educators meeting at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute will take place on Saturday May 2. The theme is Working Towards Ocean Literacy. More information online.
Environmental Sensing Networks The
University of Massachusetts Boston Center for Coastal Environmental
Sensing Networks (CESN) announces the second conference on Coastal Environmental Sensing Networks (CESN '09), July 23-24. This two-day conference will be comprised of three panel sessions held in conjunction with Coastal Zone '09 (CZ '09). Contact Kristin Uiterwyk for more information. |
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!
Public Lecture Series, Maine Join the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and the Census of Marine Life (CoML) for an ongoing public lecture series, Sea State 4.0.
April 9 Whales in an Urban Ocean: Lessons on Coexistence,
Dr. Scott Kraus, New England Aquarium
May 14 Time-Lapse on Cashes Ledge: A Changing Community, Dr. Jon Witman, Brown University
June 11 Where Land Meets Sea: Diversity Along our Shores,
Dr. Tom Trott, Suffolk University
Science lectures: 2-3:00 pm, Public lectures: 7-8:00 pm.
Visit the GMRI Sea State 4.0 website.
Science Saturday at Whaling Museum The next Science Saturday at the New Bedford Whaling Museum is April 11. The program topic is on fish species and their role in the environment. The program runs fromfrom 10:30 AM-12:00. The complete schedule of Science Saturdays is available here.
Family Science Camp Seacoast Science Center, Rye, New Hampshire, April 11 10 am-2 pm. Explore the
data collected by scientists around the world that helps us to better
understand the impact oceans have on our life on land.
Ocean circulation patterns, water sampling and measuring wave height,
wind speed and water temperature are just a few of the things that are
observed. Details online.
Northeastern University Marine Science Center Evening Lecture Series
April 14 Creatures of the Deep Blue, with Jonathan Bird, Underwater Cinematographer
All lectures begin at 7:00 PM. The Center is at 430 Nahant Road, Nahant MA. Contact Tracy Hajduk for more information.
Meet the Oceanographers Clean Air-Cool Planet presents Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Ocean Acidification, hosted by the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, April 22, 6:00 pm. Register online.
School Vacation Event at MBL The MBL in Woods Hole, MA presents a free lecture and film screening about current Antarctic research on penguins and their changing environment, April 22, 3:30 to 5:30. Details online.
ROV Competition The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center ROV Northeast regional competition is being held this year at Mass Maritime Academy on April 25. Information on the competition can be found on the MATE website.
Seabird and Whale Tale Excursion The New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA), with assistance from Mass Audubon South Shore Sanctuaries and Bridgewater State College, is hosting the spring 2009 edition of Seabird & Whale Tales, June 14, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. 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 April 23, 2009. Please send announcements and news to the editor, Catherine Cramer.
© Copyright COSEE-New England
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0215456. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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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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Ocean Motion Website
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The NASA Ocean Motion website provides a comprehensive review of the surface circulation of Earth's ocean, along with classroom investigations appropriate for various disciplines at the high school level. The website features satellite and model data, quick evaluation quizzes, classroom investigations, and more.
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Ocean Acidification Videos
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Oregon Sea Grant has posted three short videos discussing ocean
acidification.
Ocean acidification: A three-part interview with Dr. Richard Feely
Part I: What is ocean acidification?
Part II: How are ocean animals affected?
Part III: How will ocean ecosystems be affected?
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Follow a Research Cruise to an Underwater Volcano
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Join a research cruise to an underwater volcano in the Pacific, taking place April 3-17.
Researchers on the Expedition to NW Rota 2009 are posting their experiences on a blog. Follow along
as they make dives on the Jason ROV.
Read the blog.
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Gulf of Maine Times
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Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Gulf of Maine Times is now available online.
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Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest
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The EPA, Generations United, the Dance Exchange, and the Rachel Carson Council, Inc. announce a poetry, essay, photo and dance contest.
Consider submitting an entry expressing how science has contributed to your sense of wonder and appreciation of the natural environment.
Find out more.
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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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