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Request for Presentations for 2012 Project WET Conference

Request for Presentations

The Project WET USA conference team requests proposals for presentations from educators, policymakers, businesses, municipalities, program designers, implementers and practitioners, proposals that focus on school districts in partnership with local organizations to provide a community-based approach to water education and all others interested in water education.

Conference to be held at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA May 23-25.

The goal of the conference is to increase the knowledge and capacity of conference participants to effectively reach children, parents, educators and communities of the world with water education. In the interest of innovation, engaging and interactive presentations are encouraged.

Presentations must address one of the following strands:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
(STEM) in Water Education
This strand will focus on increasing student success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and increase educators’ capacity to include STEM subjects in their curricula. Of particular interest are proposals that address integration of water-related topics and the implementation of STEM education in a manner that reflects the interdependence of the four STEM subjects, as well as proposals that focus on partnerships involving school districts, community colleges, four-year institutions, and business and industry to provide a comprehensive community-based approach to STEM and water education.

Pedagogy & Water Education
The Pedagogy and Water Education Strand provides the opportunity to examine best practices for integrating water-related environmental education into the PreK-16 educational system at the local, state and federal levels and improving environ- mental literacy across the nation.

ActionEducation™ & Water Education
What are the most successful methods for addressing the most important water challenges of the day with water education and action education? This strand includes a wide array of topics and strategies such as: Watersheds, Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water, Risk (drought and floods), Weather and climate change, Ground water, Water and energy, Storm water and Water conservation.

Technology & Other Water Education Topics
Converging web, mobile, and social technologies have generated a level of communication and interaction never before possible. The Technology in Water Education strand seeks to explore the transformational potential that these innovations hold for education and training, as well as share current research and best practices related to these developments.

If you wish to submit a proposal for a presentation, you can download the Presentation Request Form.

The submission deadline is March 31.

SENEME Hosts A Whale of a Tale Share-A-Thon

Dear Ocean Science and Environmental Educators,

The Southeastern New England Marine Educators (SENEME) are hosting a Whale of a Tale Share-a-Thon at this year’s NSTA Regional Conference in Hartford, CT on Thursday, October 27 from 3:30-4:30 in the Connecticut Convention Center.

The goal of the Share-a-Thon is to provide opportunities for conference participants to network, collect hands-on activities and take-home resources and learn about marine and aquatic programs available in the New England and Eastern New York region for teachers and students.

SENEME would like to extend an invitation to your organization to reserve a space to participate in this event. You must be a registered for the conference to participate. Please contact Lauren Rader (lrader@oceanology.org ) if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity to introduce your organization to New England/New York teachers.

Again, email lrader@oceanology.org to reserve your space.

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.

STEM Conference; NEOSEC Participants

The Museum at the Mill (a museum under development in Attleboro MA) is holding its second annual LAUNCH conference.  LAUNCH brings together people of all ages who seek to develop 21st Century skills – especially science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) skills – in youth.

Last year, 166 people from 52 towns attended, from families with young children seeking connections to science to retirees looking for volunteer opportunities.  More than 50 organizations will be represented in the exhibit hall, where hands-on activities and active learning are the goals.

Pam DiBona will be representing the New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative in the STEM session (Track 2) panel discussion, as well as the workshop entitled “STEM Programs & Collaborative Efforts,” and the New England Aquarium will have an exhibit table.  We hope to see you there!

Long Island Sound Educators’ Conference

Looking for ways to incorporate Long Island Sound into your curriculum?  Need some new ideas for activities and games about Long Island Sound?  There is still time to register for the 2010 Long Island Sound Educators Conference to be held at The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT on Friday, April 30.  Go to www.seneme.org for conference information and on-line registration.

Internship – Ocean Literacy Summit Planning, MA/NH

The New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC), as part of its commitment to promoting Ocean Literacy in the region, hosts biannual Ocean Literacy Summits for formal and informal educators, scientists, and policymakers to share ideas and tools for doing so.  Plans are underway for the 2010 Ocean Literacy Summit, to be held November 12, 2010 at the University of New Hampshire, with presentations and discussions highlighting the great diversity of life and ecosystems supported by the ocean.  We seek an intern to process and track registrations, and generally assist NEOSEC’s Summit Planning Committee.  For more information and to apply, contact Mona Chang at mchang@neaq.org.

Call for Presentations – Cape Cod Natural History Conference

The 15th Annual Cape Cod Natural History Conference, to be held at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 3 2010 is seeking 15-minute presentations on the following topics: professional or personal studies or observations concerning the identification, ecology, behavior, status, or distribution of local plants, animals, or natural communities and studies pertaining to local environmental issues.  Table space for poster presentations is also available.  Proposal Deadline: January 15, 2010; for a proposal form or more information, contact Melissa Lowe, Education Coordinator, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (508-349-2615; mlowe@massaudubon.org).

Conference for K-6 Teachers: Introductory Strategies for Linking Science and Literacy

Elementary (K-6) science teachers interested in learning new approaches and powerful strategies in linking science and literacy are invited to attend this conference held December 2 8:30-3:00 in Portland, Maine and sponsored by the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. Come learn about and experience classroom strategies and instructional approaches used in several NSF-funded science and literacy projects that incorporate reading, writing, and speaking in the context of inquiry-based science.  The workshop is designed for teachers who are interested in inquiry science and the science literacy connections, but have limited experience with inquiry science, scientists’ notebooks, science talk, and using books to support inquiry-based science.

Registration includes conference materials, Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms by Michael Klentschy, breakfast, and lunch.
Details here