Life on Earth could not exist without marine microbes. They produce half of the oxygen on the planet, helped to create the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, and form the base of the marine food web. Microbes make Earth livable for the rest of us! See the resources below for a wide range of materials related to marine microbes, including lesson plans, hands-on activities, games, videos, and teacher professional development opportunities.
In collaboration with the Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence California (COSEE CA), scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps) have worked with a group of three middle school science teachers to teach students how marine natural products research at Scripps connects and contributes to the clinical drug discovery process. The participating San Diego Unified School District 7th grade life science teachers routinely teach a unit on drug discovery to approximately 300 students each year, and enrich the instruction by providing students the opportunity to communicate face-to-face with marine scientists through an interactive videoconference.
