With a National COSEE Office and 12 Centers located throughout the United States, each Center is a consortium of one or more ocean science research institutions, informal science education organizations, and formal education entities. The COSEE program is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Network National COSEE Office (NCO) was established to facilitate meetings, oversee the Network web presence and coordinate the National Advisory Council. In addition, the NCO provides support and guidance to individual Centers. Our mission - to spark and nurture collaborations among research scientists and educators to advance ocean discovery and make known the vital role of the ocean in our lives - reflects a three-fold partnership between COSEE centers, formal and informal education institutes, and ocean scientists.
COSEE Alaska was established as both a regional (Alaska) and thematic center (People, Oceans and Climate Change) to weave together traditional knowledge and western science about ocean climate change in the north. We work closely with ocean scientists, educators and coastal community members to enhance ocean and climate change literacy in formal and informal audiences and the public.
COSEE California is dedicated to creating collaborations among scientists and educators that enhance the public's understanding and appreciation of the ocean. We focus on developing and widely disseminating models and approaches that engage scientists and educators in promoting ocean literacy.
Since its inception, COSEE Central Gulf of Mexico has been and continues to be a unique, regional effort involving formal and informal educators, scientists, and the general public representing universities, informal centers, middle schools, and agencies.
COSEE Coastal Trends has brought scientists, educators, and students together to conduct research and develop classroom materials based on that research. The collaborative processes at the heart of COSEE Coastal Trends’ programs have allowed participants to share their knowledge and gain new expertise.
COSEE Florida’s mission is to connect scientists conducting world-class ocean research in the Sunshine State with Florida’s citizens in exciting and meaningful ways. The majority of Florida’s population lives within twenty miles of the coast and scientists affiliated with our Center will play an important role in effectively communicating the importance of the oceans and ocean-related research to the public across Florida.
COSEE Great Lakes is the only Center located on the North Coast of the U.S. Our “ocean” is the freshwater inland sea that contains 20% of the world’s supply of fresh surface water. We are the link between salt and fresh for the COSEE Network, and between aquatic scientists and educators in the eight-state Great Lakes region.
COSEE Networked Ocean World is invested in communicating ocean observing data to the general public by facilitating communications between educators and scientists; developing products and services to improve communications and promote collaboration; and utilizing the collaborations for creating quality education, public outreach and media products for use with the general public.
COSEE OCEAN was established to increase the capacity and productivity of the COSEE Network, to leverage existing professional networks, and to develop models for urban school district curriculum development.
COSEE Ocean Learning Communities was established to cultivate and study Ocean Learning Communities, which are multi-disciplinary collaborations across many organizations and through which current ocean research increases ocean literacy and enables all citizens to become better stewards of their marine environment.
COSEE Ocean System's mission is to support the COSEE Network by developing flexible and transferrable tools and processes to effectively bring ocean sciences research to broad audiences. We engage teachers, ocean scientists, and informal educators in a broad range of programs, including conference presentations and regional collaborations, webinar presentations, and workshops.
Marine laboratories are traditionally places that, by their nature, foster a diverse community of ocean learners. COSEE Pacific Partnerships draws on that community to integrate marine research and education for faculty and students at community colleges and for staff and volunteers at informal science education institutions.
COSEE SouthEast provides regional interactive access to ocean scientists and educators to increase access to ocean sciences information, facilitate the inclusion of ocean sciences to to pre-college courses, and increase access of ocean sciences and ocean careers to underrepresented populations.
COSEE TEK was established to address the crucial linkages between science, technology, and engineering in the field of oceanography and provide educational resources that highlight the history, breadth, and advancement of oceanographic technologies.
COSEE West was established in order to build and strengthen connections between scientists/researchers and the education community, as well as to catalyze community based ocean sciences education in the greater Los Angeles area.
COSEE New England leverages New England’s extraordinary assets to engage the public in understanding the vital connections between people and the ocean. We represent a collaboration among more than 30 institutions across the region, including museums and aquaria, universities, and research institutions.
