Report from New Science Education Standards Stakeholder Meetings

The presentations from the October stakeholders meetings on the National Academies’ Conceptual Frameworks for New Science Education Standards project are now available online.

Harmful Algal Species Identification – There’s an app for that

A volunteer from the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network’s Texas Master Naturalist group, in collaboration with National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) scientists, developed an iPhone application (Phyto) to assist marine phytoplankton and harmful algae identification.  This “app” includes images from an NCCOS gallery of common phytoplankton and recordings of a staff scientist’s pronunciation of each species’ name.  The application also contains a flash card game to improve volunteers’ identification skills.  Phyto  works on both the iPod Touch and iPhone.  Check the website for a description of this application, with links to a video demo and iTunes download.

Ocean Acidification Documentary

Acid Test: the Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification, a film produced by the National Resources Defense Council, was made to raise awareness about the problem of ocean acidification, which poses a fundamental challenge to life in the seas and the health of the entire planet.  The video and additional outtakes can be viewed online or downloaded from the website

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

Job Opportunity – Manager, Sea Center, California

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is seeking applicants with strong management and communication skills for the Manager position at the Ty Warner Sea Center facility.  They are currently accepting resumes and applications.  More information regarding the position and an application form

General information about the Ty Warner Sea Center

Lecture on Mass Ocean Plan

The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies will host a discussion on the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan on November 5 at 6:00PM as part of the annual fall lecture series at the Hiebert Marine Lab, 5 Holway Avenue in Provincetown.   PCCS Lectures are free and open to the public.

 

 

Ocean7 Banner at Project Oceanology and Seacoast Science Center

The Ocean7 Banner at Seacoast Science Center. Photo by Cassie Durette

The NEOSEC project Ocean7 is responsible for the development and production of a banner listing the seven principles of Ocean Literacy. The banner, designed by Carla Companion, can be seen in several NEOSEC partner institutions around the region, including those pictured here:Project Oceanology and Seacoast Science Center.

Ocean7 Banner at Project Oceanology, UConn Avery Point Campus. Photo by Carla Companion

Job Opportunity – Director, Oatland Island Wildlife Center, Georgia

The Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah, Georgia is seeking a new Director.  Full job description

Presentation and Book Signing with “Basking with Humpbacks” Author Todd McLeish

Basking with Humpbacks: Tracking Threatened Marine Life in New England author Todd McLeish will give an illustrated presentation on Thursday, November 5 at 5:30PM. Held at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH, the event is co-sponsored by the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Light refreshments served.   In Basking with Humpbacks, McLeish profiles 11 of the most threatened species of wildlife living in the marine environment around New England. His book brings readers along on an entertaining, first-person journey with biologists who are studying these creatures to better understand the complex threats they face. Call 603-436-8043 for more information.

COSEE-WEST Online Workshop for Teachers: Using Ocean Observing Systems to Study the Ocean

COSEE-West offers an online workshop in partnership with the College of Coexploration, October 26-November 13. OPEN NOW for viewing of Week 1 and introductions! Info, Registration, and Log-in Page:
Learn more about the way scientists use remote sensing technologies to study our ocean! Participants will have the opportunity to interact online with faculty and research scientists as well as educators from around the world. This workshop is free.
Three weeks of keynotes and discussions:
Oct 26-30: Dr. Rebecca Shipe (UCLA) will discuss Harmful Algal Blooms in Southern California Coastal Waters. She will be online from Oct 26-30 to discuss how remote sensing instruments contributes to her work on phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Santa Monica Bay.
Nov 2-6: Dr. Edith Widder (Ocean Research & Conservation Association) will discuss  Secret Lights in the Sea.
She will be online from Nov 2-11 to discuss her presentation. Dr. Widder will focus on her work on bioluminescent deep-sea organisms and the remote sensing tools (“Eye-in-the-Sea”) that helps to make that research possible.
Nov 9-13: Educator panel Educators who have incorporated OOS data, topics and materials into their classrooms will lead discussions and share videos on the incorporation of OOS into their classroom, how those lessonplans worked out, how they could be modified, etc.
Info, registration, and Log-in Page