Category Archives: Professional Development

COSEE-TEK Announces Professional Development Institute for Educators

The Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence – Technology and Engineering for Knowledge (COSEE-TEK) announces a Professional Development Institute for Educators.

COSEE-TEK’s Teacher Ocean Technology Institute will be held at the University of Connecticut – Avery Point Campus, in Groton, CT on November 11-12, 2011. Lodging and meals will be provided as part of the institute.

COSEE-TEK is seeking teachers and informal educators to engage with their peers, scientists, graduate students and technicians to learn about ocean science technologies.

Interested educators should return the attached application or visit www.coseetek.net for more information.

COSEE-TEK – Flyer [PDF]
TOTI Application Form [PDF]

COSEE Ocean Systems and NEOSEC Workshop: Strategies for Engaging in Broader Impact Programs

On November 4th, 2011, the COSEE Ocean Systems and the New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC) will host a free workshop for New England area scientists, graduate students, and educational leaders on “Strategies for Engaging in Broader Impact Programs” which will take place at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The workshop will showcase a spectrum of broader impact programs for scientists to partner with formal and informal education programs as well as highlight best practices in partnering with these institutions based upon survey data and research. During the afternoon session, participants will engage in a professional development opportunity that focuses on collaboration and partnership strategies.

Dormitory-style lodging is available upon request at the reserve for a fee of $20. Lodgers must bring their own sheets, pillow, and towels. For dormitory reservations (required) please contact Sheri Proft at 508-457-0495 x100 or sheri.proft@state.ma.us. To register and/or for more information about the workshop on Strategies for Engaging in Broader Impact Programs please contact Kim Frashure via email at kfrashure@comcast.net or by phone at 978-290-1857.

Agenda < Word Doc >

National Marine Educators Association Conference (NMEA) Wrap-up

New England was fortunate to host this year’s National Marine Educators Association Conference NMEA 2011!  The Massachusetts Chapter of NMEA, Massachusetts Marine Educators, organized and welcomed more than 350 educators and scientists from around the world to Northeastern University in Boston June 27 to July 3, 2011.

As is the case every year at an NMEA conference, three days of concurrent sessions provided a wealth of knowledge, resources and inspiration. These sessions and the committee meetings were part of the continued efforts of marine educators, both nationally and internationally, to create a more ocean literate society. All of the more than 130 workshops in 13 time slots shared different aspects of and ways to advance the Seven Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy among multiple audiences.

NEOSEC members volunteered to keep the conference running smoothly, and presented four sessions on Thursday and Friday, June 30 and July 1.  All were well-attended, with great questions and feedback from participants – especially those who took part in our “candy NaGISA” training as part of the Summer Science in New England presentation!  For presentation materials, check out these links:

Collaboration that Works:  Promoting Ocean Literacy in New England <pdf>

Get WET in New England:  Ocean Literacy through Watershed Education and Training <pdf>

Summer Science in New England:  Ocean Education through Informal Science Centers <prezi link for now>

Families by the Seaside: Building Community-based Outdoor Ocean Science Learning Experiences<link>

An exciting development came from a meeting of International Marine Educators on the Monday prior to the conference. The attendees devoted a great deal of time to identify logical and inexpensive means to spread the word across the Atlantic, within Europe. A small European chapter of NMEA is most likely in the works to facilitate the efforts already underway to promote ocean literacy in those countries.

Thanks to Bob Rocha for contributions to this post.

New physical science activity available on the Discovery of Sound in the Sea website

Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS; www.dosits.org) is one of the most comprehensive Internet resources on underwater sound. The DOSITS website and its associated educational materials introduce the science and uses of underwater sound and provide easy, efficient access to timely peer-reviewed content on the effects of underwater sound on marine animals. In addition to in-depth science content, the DOSITS website contains interactive galleries, including an extensive Audio Gallery (link) containing over 60 examples of sound sources found in the global ocean. The DOSITS website also includes a special section for teachers (link) with resources and classroom activities.

The DOSITS team is excited to announce the availability of a new, inquiry-based activity (link)
that explores how the different properties of water can cause underwater sound to change. Using simple materials, students design experiments and make predictions on how underwater sound may be altered as a result of temperature changes, the introduction of bubbles, and other modifications to the water column.

In addition to the new activity, the front page interactive has been updated to reflect new content available on the DOSITS site. Please take time to explore information on Right Whales,
acoustic tagging of marine mammals, ocean noise budgets, sounds of hydrothermal vents, and other new content areas!

The information presented on the DOSITS website and its associated educational materials is based solely on current published scientific research, and all content has undergone a thorough review by a panel of scientific experts. The Discovery of Sound in the Sea website has been developed and produced by the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Office of Marine Programs (OMP) in partnership with Marine Acoustics, Inc., with support from the Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service.

Please visit the site and let us know what you think via our public input survey (link). To receive more information about the Discovery of Sound in the Sea Project, please contact Celia Cackowski via email celia@gso.uri.edu.

RARGOM Call for Abstracts


Call for Abstracts
2011 RARGOM Annual Science Meeting
The Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM)
is holding its annual science meeting addressing

THE NEXUS BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING
on October 5, 2011
Residence Inn Marriott
100 Deer Street
Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The one day meeting will feature two keynote speakers:

Michael K. Orbach
Professor of the Practice of Marine Affairs and Policy
Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University
“The New Human Condition: The ‘Total Ecology’ of Marine Spatial Planning”

Robert S. Steneck
Professor at the School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine
“Winds of Change: Marine Spatial Planning in an era of
Rapidly Shifting Baselines”

The meeting is intended to be of general interest to a broad range of
researchers, managers and stakeholders in the Gulf of Maine region

The Registration period is:
August 15th – September 30th
Registration fees are $45 for participants from RARGOM member institutions and
$60 for non-members. Student registration is $30
Lunch will be provided

If interested in presenting a contributed talk or poster on new, old or developing research, please submit an abstract to Lynn Rutter

Abtract Submission Form (DOC)

Deadline: August 27th

Professional Development: “The Seafloor Revealed: What Lies Beneath the Massachusetts Coastal Ocean?”

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Federal and State Scientists to Hold Seafloor Mapping Demonstrations at the New Bedford Ocean Explorium

On Monday, July 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) are hosting The Seafloor Revealed: What Lies Beneath the Massachusetts Coastal Ocean? , a public meet & greet event at the Ocean Explorium, 174 Union Street, in New Bedford.

The exhibits and presentations at this event will illustrate the seafloor mapping work being conducted by USGS, CZM, and the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries). Scientists at the USGS Woods Hole campus are leaders in research in coastal and marine geology, seafloor mapping technology, geography, and the waters off the Massachusetts coast. CZM and MarineFisheries both played critical roles in the mapping work done to develop the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, the nation’s first comprehensive plan to protect critical marine resources and foster sustainable uses in the state’s ocean waters.

This free public event will feature a GeoWall, a 3D interactive display of bathymetric mapping data, as well as actual seafloor mapping instruments, posters, and handouts. In addition to the scientists that are available to take questions, short talks on mapping technology and applied uses of seafloor mapping data will be given at 11:00 a.m. and repeated at 1:00 p.m. Managers, scientists, fisherman, conservationists, educators, and the general public are invited to attend.

Although nearby street and parking lots are expected to be adequate, local residents are encouraged to walk or bicycle to the event. The Ocean Explorium is wheelchair accessible.

For more information, please visit http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/outreach/coastalmass2011.

Professional Development: Curriculum Development Workshop

Calling all Science Educators! Educators of all grade levels are cordially invited to attend the (free!) COSEE-Ocean Systems Curriculum Development Workshop to be held at Colby College on July 19-21.   Please Note: Space is limited to 15 educators.  Don’t wait!  Apply now by completing a brief Survey Monkey application (click here). The deadline for completing the application is Friday, June 3rd.

Are you looking for new ideas for your existing programs or curriculum?  We have lined up an excellent group of scientists for you to work with on the first day of the workshop.  Please visit the following links to learn more about their research:
Damian Brady–Water quality impacts on organisms

William Ellis–Marine science, chemistry and aerosols

Jeffrey Runge–Zooplankton ecology and fisheries

Rebecca Van Beneden–Aquatic organism response to stress

Rhian Waller–Cold-water corals, deep-sea invertebrate reproduction

These scientists will work with you in small groups (3:1) to refine a cohesive story, based around a scientist-created concept map about one topic related to their work.  This is a chance to pool your collective expertise (as scientists and educators) and receive guidance and feedback about your ideas for building research-based content into your programs and curricula.  The scientists will also make recommendations for data sources that you could incorporate into your unit.  On subsequent days, graduate students will continue to work with you in refining your curriculum/program ideas.

Again: Apply now by completing a brief Survey Monkey application (click here).  The deadline for completing the application is Friday, June 3rd.  Your participation and insights will enrich this workshop and we look forward to working with you in July!

The COSEE-Ocean Systems Team

Zooplankton Workshop – Maine

An Introduction to the Ecology and Taxonomy of Marine Zooplankton (June 19-25) Offered by the Humboldt Institute on the coast of Maine. This seminar provides an in-depth introduction to marine zooplankton. Though the emphasis is on morphology, taxonomy and diversity, it also includes discussions on biogeography, feeding, reproduction, development, behavior and ecology. Standard field methods of collection and laboratory techniques needed to identify zooplankton to the species level are taught.
A more detailed description can be found at

Click to access Gerber.pdf

You may contact office@eaglehill.us for the syllabus or for more information.
Information on lodging options, meals, and costs may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/application-info.shtml
There is an online application form at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/application-web.shtml

New Webinar Series from COSEE

COSEE Ocean Systems would like to invite you to our second series of free webinars that begin on February 16. After incorporating participant feedback from the fall series, the next series of these easy-to-attend events will feature presentations and live Q&A with leading scientists in ocean and climate science and will explore topics that are fresh, relevant and engaging.

Want to know what’s happening in the Gulf of Mexico nearly nine months after the Deepwater Horizon disaster? Or, learn how scientists are using data about young lobsters to understand the past and predict the future of lobster fisheries? Have you ever wondered how global-scale changes like climate change affect the smallest of ocean animals and entire food chains? You can learn about all of these topics and more from world-class researchers — and get customizable versions of these scientists’ interactive concept maps — from the comfort of your living room! Registering in advance allows you to contribute your own questions for scientists to answer during the webinar.

The first webinar is February 16 at 7pm ET and features Dr. Rick Wahle (University of Maine) who will talk about unlocking the secret lives of juvenile lobsters.  [Sign up here!] Updated details on all webinars are available at http://cosee.umaine.edu/programs/webinars/upcomingwebinars/.

These webinars are open to anyone interested in science education, so please pass this announcement to others!  You can also watch previous webinars online, in full-length versions or short clips, and download all the accompanying materials. Webinar archive: http://cosee.umaine.edu/programs/webinars/previouswebinars

We hope to see you online soon – please let us know if you have any questions! http://cosee.umaine.edu

Masters Degree for Professional Formals and Informal Educators

Lesley University offers a Master’s degree designed specifically for professional educators in schools, museums, nature centers, and other alternative teaching settings.  The Master of Science in Ecological Teaching & Learning is an 18-month program in which teachers can enroll while still working full-time jobs. This program will begin with a 3 week field residency in Cobscook, ME on July 9th and will continue with distance learning for the next two semesters.  The following summer will be the second 3 week residency in an urban setting (Boston, MA).  Followed by a semester of distance learning and practicum.  To learn more about a Master?s Degree that literally brings  learning to life, please complete the following form at: http://www.lesley.edu/inquiry/tracy