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Professional Development with the new gundalow Piscataqua!

Gundalow Company is offering a free professional development workshop this summer aboard its new gundalow. Fifth- and sixth-grade teachers* will learn to use hands-on science activities, field experiences and local scientific data to teach about marine life, water quality and human impact on the local environment. All activities will be based in Portsmouth, NH over several days: August 16 and 17 for classroom and field work; a half-day in September for a free boat-based field trip for your class; and a follow-up evening session in October.

Registration now open with limited space. Please e-mail education@gundalow.org for registration and information.
*While this is geared toward fifth and sixth grade teachers, registration will be extended to other grades as space allows.

This workshop is offered at no cost to teachers thanks to funding through NOAA’s Bay Watershed Education and Training Program – which is designed to provide “meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEE)”. The nonprofit Gundalow Company is one of four organizations working together on NEOSEC’s “Get WET in New England”.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Why Do We Explore? Professional Development for Educators of Grades 5-12

NOAA Office for Exploration invites educators of grades 5-12 to attend the introduction to Volume 1 of the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection: Why Do We Explore?

Participants will learn how to use inquiry- and standards-based lessons and other online resources that guide classroom inquiries into several important reasons for ocean exploration including Climate Change, Energy, Ocean Health and Human Health. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore related JASON Project and Immersion Learning curriculum related to ocean exploration, experience the new Titanic exhibit and Ocean Exploration Center and participate in a Nautilus Live Theater show.

The workshop is a free event, and will be hosted in Mystic, Connecticut at Mystic Aquarium.

Registration is required and space is limited. Each participant will receive Volume 1 of the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection, Why Do We Explore?, materials related to activities presented during the workshop, a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, continental breakfast, and lunch.

Registration Deadline is April 27, 2012

To reserve your spot, contact Mystic Aquarium’s reservation department at 860-572-5955 x520 or reservations@mysticaquarium.org.

Volunteers Needed for NOAA Spring Bottom Trawl Survey

NOAA is looking for volunteers to assist in the 2012 Spring Bottom Trawl Survey. The Henry B Bigelow will set sail on four separate trips ranging from 11-18 days. You do not need to be a scientist to volunteer but must be 18 or older, have an interest in the work, and ability to work 12 hour shifts at a time.

Helpful information for new participants on what to expect at sea and what to bring on the survey can be found here: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/ecosurvey/mainpage/welcome_aboard.html.

The required forms can be downloaded from the Ecosystems Surveys Branch website in the forms link of the Cruise Volunteer Information section: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/ecosurvey/mainpage/.

Leg 1: February 27 – March 15; 18 Days; Cape May – Cape Hatteras
Leg 2: March 19 – 29; 11 Days; Mid-Atlantic – S New England
Leg 3: April 2 – 20*; 19 Days; S New England – Georges Bank
Leg 4: April 24 – May 5*; 12 Days; Gulf of Maine

For more information contact
Katherine Sowers katherine.sowers@noaa.gov or 508-495-2342

Volunteers Needed for NOAA Spring Bottom Trawl Survey

NOAA is looking for volunteers to assist in the 2012 Spring Bottom Trawl Survey. The Henry B Bigelow will set sail on four separate trips ranging from 11-18 days. You do not need to be a scientist to volunteer but must be 18 or older, have an interest in the work, and ability to work 12 hour shifts at a time.

Helpful information for new participants on what to expect at sea and what to bring on the survey can be found here: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/ecosurvey/mainpage/welcome_aboard.html.

The required forms can be downloaded from the Ecosystems Surveys Branch website in the forms link of the Cruise Volunteer Information section: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/ecosurvey/mainpage/.

Leg 1: February 27 – March 15; 18 Days; Cape May – Cape Hatteras
Leg 2: March 19 – 29; 11 Days; Mid-Atlantic – S New England
Leg 3: April 2 – 20*; 19 Days; S New England – Georges Bank
Leg 4: April 24 – May 5*; 12 Days; Gulf of Maine

For more information contact
Katherine Sowers katherine.sowers@noaa.gov or 508-495-2342

Aquariums and Climate Coalition Launch Climate Interpreter Website

The Aquariums and Climate Coalition has established a new web site (www.climateinterpreter.org) for building capacity among informal science educators/interpreters for communicating about climate change to public audiences. Although this work was initially focused only on personnel working at aquariums, the high level of interest and participation from individuals working at other types of organizations (non-profit, government, etc.) has resulted in re-inventing their original web portal for this broader audience.

The web site features past webinars as well as links to salient resources related to communicating about climate change with audiences in informal/non-formal settings.

Coming up on November 2nd, there will be a webinar entitled, “Addressing Climate Change with Children and Youth”. There is no cost to attend this webinar, but you will want to visit their web site to ensure your computer is set up to access it.

Here’s more information on that upcoming webinar:

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
10:00 am – 11:15 am PDT

Join David Sobel, author of Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, Tamara Schwarz of the Chabot Space and Science Center, and Nancy Hotchkiss of the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a lively conversation about communicating climate messages to children and families. We will discuss a range of issues and techniques that are developmentally appropriate for children of different ages, and learn from two coalition members who are putting theory into practice through exhibits, informal education programs, and youth training activities.

Visit the Events page on Climate Interpreter for more details.

You will need to ensure that our webinar and online event software program is installed on your computer before you can join the event. Please follow the link below to a page on Climate Interpreter with instructions on how to login and run the required software. To avoid missing any of the event, please follow these steps in advance.
Click here for instructions on how to participate in this online event

Aquariums and Climate Coalition Launch Climate Interpreter Website

The Aquariums and Climate Coalition has established a new web site (www.climateinterpreter.org) for building capacity among informal science educators/interpreters for communicating about climate change to public audiences. Although this work was initially focused only on personnel working at aquariums, the high level of interest and participation from individuals working at other types of organizations (non-profit, government, etc.) has resulted in re-inventing their original web portal for this broader audience.

The web site features past webinars as well as links to salient resources related to communicating about climate change with audiences in informal/non-formal settings.

Coming up on November 2nd, there will be a webinar entitled, “Addressing Climate Change with Children and Youth”. There is no cost to attend this webinar, but you will want to visit their web site to ensure your computer is set up to access it.

Here’s more information on that upcoming webinar:

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
10:00 am – 11:15 am PDT

Join David Sobel, author of Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, Tamara Schwarz of the Chabot Space and Science Center, and Nancy Hotchkiss of the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a lively conversation about communicating climate messages to children and families. We will discuss a range of issues and techniques that are developmentally appropriate for children of different ages, and learn from two coalition members who are putting theory into practice through exhibits, informal education programs, and youth training activities.

Visit the Events page on Climate Interpreter for more details.

You will need to ensure that our webinar and online event software program is installed on your computer before you can join the event. Please follow the link below to a page on Climate Interpreter with instructions on how to login and run the required software. To avoid missing any of the event, please follow these steps in advance.
Click here for instructions on how to participate in this online event

Encyclopedia Of Life Newsletter Highlights Families By the Seaside

NEOSEC’s Families by the Seaside program was recently featured in the July 2011 issue of Encyclopedia of Life’s (EOL’s) newsletter. The NOAA-funded project brings underserved/underrepresented families to the coast based on their own interests. Through EOL’s leadership, families will use web-based science and technology resources – from coastal monitoring buoys, to National Weather Service maps, to online field guides – to supplement their experiences in the field. To find out more about EOL or sign up for their newsletter, visit their website http://www.eol.org/.

“This ambitious effort aims to improve the way regional science centers and aquariums reach underserved families through outdoor and web-based family learning experiences that focus on the role oceans play in our daily lives.” -EOL July 2011 Newsletter excerpt

Encyclopedia Of Life Newsletter Highlights Families By the Seaside

NEOSEC’s Families by the Seaside program was recently featured in the July 2011 issue of Encyclopedia of Life’s (EOL’s) newsletter. The NOAA-funded project brings underserved/underrepresented families to the coast based on their own interests. Through EOL’s leadership, families will use web-based science and technology resources – from coastal monitoring buoys, to National Weather Service maps, to online field guides – to supplement their experiences in the field. To find out more about EOL or sign up for their newsletter, visit their website http://www.eol.org/.

“This ambitious effort aims to improve the way regional science centers and aquariums reach underserved families through outdoor and web-based family learning experiences that focus on the role oceans play in our daily lives.” -EOL July 2011 Newsletter excerpt

New NOAA Education Website

To better connect educators and students who are interested in NOAA’s education and science resources, NOAA has just completed a major update of the agency’s primary education resource portal, http://www.education.noaa.gov.  This website serves as a portal to lesson plans, educational multi-media, data sources, career profiles, and other education content from across the agency. The content is centered on five thematic areas that highlight NOAA science and stewardship: Oceans and Coasts, Climate, Weather and Atmosphere, Marine Life, and Freshwater. Under each theme are topical resource collections that support common teaching topics and align with state and national science education standards.   The update to this website is based on research about what educators need for in their classrooms to teach science and stewardship. Input was gathered from educators on a national and local level to create a blueprint for this new format.

NOAA Research for K-12

This website from NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is a joint effort with the College of Education at the University of South Alabama.  The website offers middle school science students and teachers research and investigation experiences using on-line resources.  Topics include Storms, Fisheries, Atmosphere, and more.

http://www.oar.noaa.gov/k12/index.html