Volunteer interpreters play an integral role in communicating ocean science to the public in informal science education settings, such as state parks, aquariums and science centers, and scientists are a valuable source of knowledge and information for training these interpreters. Evaluation data collected by COSEE Pacific Partnerships for the Oregon Coastal Master Naturalist Program highlights the value of engaging scientists as workshop instructors for interpretation audiences, and the challenges faced in attempting to effectively communicate science to those who communicate science with the public.
COSEE-West’s online workshops focus on bridging ocean science research and education and promoting collaborations among ocean scientists, K-12 teachers and informal educators. They provide a venue for scientists to share their research and expertise with educators, who reach an even broader audience of students and public. Educators question, give feedback, and share expertise in classroom application of science.
Tapping into multimedia is a sensible way to broaden the impact of your science. But in a world awash with on air and online media, how do you produce content that both holds up and stands out?
COSEE NOW reviews their experience in using real-time data in this PowerPoint presentation and comments upon which tools are likely to become increasingly important to their lab in the coming years.
The North Atlantic Bloom (NAB) webinar series features the research of scientists from the 2008 NAB Experiment and focuses on key concepts in ocean science. The NAB scientists partnered with COSEE-Ocean Systems to produce the series, which includes multiple interactive concept maps, an integrated set of activities based on actual cruise data, and comprehensive presentations that upon one another for a final, cohesive program.
The Association of Polar Early Careers Scientists (APECS) is an organization for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, early career faculty members and educators with interests in Polar Regions. APECS developed during the 4th International Polar Year (IPY 2007-2008) with the primary objectives of stimulating interdisciplinary and international research collaboration and developing effective future leaders in polar research, education and outreach.
The OAO (Oceanographic Autonomous Observations) team operates automatic platforms such as gliders and profiling floats and is also strongly implicated in the technological development of their "new generation" in terms of scientific payloads. The acquired multi-sensor data, particularly focusing on marine biogeochemically-relevant data (e.g. oxygen, nitrate, chlorophyll-a, amount of light penetrating the Ocean) together with temperature and salinity, then serve within the wide fields of fundamental research and operational applications. Within this framework and making use of the exceptional characteristics of such autonomous platforms (e.g. multidisciplinary real-time data in high resolution, possibility for sub-regional to global perspectives), the OAO team also seeks to contribute the more and more towards educational and outreach activities. On a local/and international basis, thus several activities are proposed and the development of attractive outreach approaches is undertaken.
The upper layers of the Canadian Basin constitute a large reservoir of freshwater and buoyancy that derives from river runoff, sea-ice meltwater, and relatively fresh North Pacific waters. We use salinity, oxygen isotopes and nutrient concentrations to study the varying contribution from freshwater components in a series of Arctic Ocean cruises between 1989 and 2005.
The Mediterranean, a semi-enclosed regional sea with more than twenty riparian states, has its specificities and characteristics from an environmental and societal point of view. It represents a challenging “playground” for all concerned, including actors within the fields of research or decision-making. In the light of this, it also seems necessary to develop strategies and collaborations to educate and outreach on “Mare nostrum” and the today’s challenges associated.
Frequently asked questions and answers about crude oil. Responses prepared by Dr. Sharon Walker, Director of Education and Outreach at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and COSEE Central Gulf of Mexico PI.
This bibliography was compiled by the NSF-funded COSEE Diversity Working Group and provides an overview of resources (organizations, policy documents, research studies, intervention studies, etc.) that relate to broadening participation in the sciences.
Oceanographers and fisheries scientists have organized multi-agency efforts to the address the question of how global climate change may affect the abundance and production of animals in the region of the South Atlantic Bight. Visit the COSEE SouthEast website to access a variety of links related to SAB research, monitoring, management, and more.
The University of New Hampshire's Coastal Ocean Observing Center is a system for monitoring the linked oceanic and estuarine ecosystem in our region. This monitoring system has the capability to detect changes in the ecosystem across multiple physical and trophic levels. The Center offers many education resources for download and an improved data access tool for obtaining buoy, boat, and satellite data.
Registry of Science Outreach Volunteers (ROV) - a partnership of schools, scientific institutions, businesses, and community resources, whose purpose is to support, promote, and expand science and technology education and science literacy in the participating Massachusetts communities of Falmouth, Mashpee and Bourne. The purpose of the ROV is to help local teachers and students connect with researchers or others in the community who have scientific knowledge that they would like to share in an educational setting.
The Oceans and Coast Community within the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping seeks to provide access to clearinghouses, applications, information about the activities, programs, and committees that support the ocean and coastal community, and data needed for research, planning, and management of coastal and ocean resources (bathymetry, shoreline, sea floor mapping, habitat, landcover, seismic data, fisheries, and marine boundaries).
Since 2004 COSEE NOW has conducted an annual online scientist survey to gather data on the education involvement, practices and needs of scientists at current and future ocean observing systems. Their goal is to improve the exchange of data and teaching practices between scientists and educators. This report offers answers to: What do scientists think about coastal sciences education & outreach? Are they engaged? And, in what ways are they contributing?
The COSEE Coastal Trends Scientist-Educator Partnership immerses middle school and high school teachers in ocean science research experiences. Scientists and teachers conduct research and develop classroom resources based on the partnering work. Our program includes:
A residential week-long orientation that introduces teacher fellows to team members and provides some background on conducting science research
A six-week research experience in a science research facility
Extensive follow-up and support during the academic year
A comprehensive dissemination of fellowship products via the web and through hands-on workshops and conferences
This guide provides basic information for scientists who wish to engage in education and public outreach (EPO). Engaging in EPO can be an excellent way to address funding agencies’ requirements that proponents articulate the broader societal value of their research.
In this guide, EPO refers broadly to efforts to increase awareness and understanding of science. Audiences targeted by EPO can include students, teachers, children, adults, and just about any conceivable subset of these (e.g., economically disadvantaged youth, adult education instructors, museum visitors, parents, newspaper readers, high school students). Whether you are preparing a proposal or looking for tips to implement EPO effectively, this guide can help you recognize and contribute to high-quality EPO.
COSEE Ocean Systems, with a team of researchers and other experts from the University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, was established to implement several integrated activities, each designed to improve COSEE's impact on rural and inland communities. Since fall 2005, COSEE Ocean Systems has investigated issues in educational research that pertain to pedagogy, practice, and the learning process. User feedback has reinforced the desire for interactive products and processes that highlight fundamental concepts as well as their "big picture" connections. As a result, COSEE Ocean Systems is creating and evaluating tools that both highlight basic concepts and can be readily applied to other disciplines.
