Games at NOAA

With summer here, it’s a good time to once again highlight this portal to games and interactive activities focused on ocean and air themes.  The games highlight the science and the activities of the NOAA and other agencies and organizations promoting environmental stewardship.  Be sure to check out WaterLife, the Humpback Whale Migration Game, Storm Tracker, and more.

http://games.noaa.gov/

NOAA Oil Spill Website

On June 14th NOAA launched a new Federal website meant to answer oil spill response questions with clarity and transparency — a one-stop shop for detailed near-real-time information about the response to the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill. The website incorporates data from the various agencies that are working together to tackle the spill. Developed through a joint partnership between NOAA and the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Response Research Center, the site is a Web-based GIS platform designed specifically for response activities where it is necessary to coordinate with various federal, state and local agencies. The site will serve as the official Federal source for map-based data.

NOAA Social Media

NOAA is using social media tools to share information on whale disentanglements, sea turtle rescues, underwater volcanoes, oil spills, marine debris, corals, dam removals, fisheries management, weather and climate, and more. Media used includes Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Podcasts, and RSS Feeds. NOAA Social Media

World Ocean Database

NOAA’s new World Ocean Database 2009, the largest, most comprehensive collection of scientific information about the oceans — with records dating as far back as 1800 — captures 29 categories of scientific information, including temperature, salinity, oxygen levels and chemical tracers, plus information on gases and isotopes that can be used to trace the movement of ocean currents.  The 2009 version updates the World Ocean Database 2005; an online search function allows the user to pinpoint specific parameters for analysis.

Job Opening – Sea Grant Program Officer, Maryland

NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program is advertising for a Social Scientist/Program Officer to work in the Silver Spring, MD, headquarters office. The position will serve as both a Program Officer and the National Sea Grant Social Science Specialist.
Learn more about the job, the qualifications, and to apply
Internal or Status applicant should apply to OAR-AA-2010-0003
External or Non-status should apply to OAR-AA-2010-0002

If you have questions about this position, contact Nikola Garber at 301-734-1079 or nikola.garber@noaa.gov.

NOAA Teacher at Sea Program

Have you ever thought about shipping out to sea? This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association program will begin accepting applications on October 1 from K–12 teachers for the 2010 field season. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Then, armed with new understanding and experience, teachers bring this knowledge back to their classrooms. Most participants try to sail on cruises offered during the summer, but cruises take place throughout most of the year on a space-available basis. Find out more

National Ocean Service Widgets

A widget is a small piece of web programming code that adds content to your blog, wiki, or web page.  Information in a widget can feature updated content or let the readers do something like use a search box.  NOAA’s National Ocean Service offers widgets for Ocean Facts, the NOS YouTube Channel, the NOS Twitter account, and more.

NOAA Online Workshop for Educators

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ocean Exploration and Research Program (OER)

Online Professional Development Workshop for Educators of All Grade Levels

Why Do We Explore?
October 5 – 16, 2009
in partnership with the College of Exploration

Join NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research for the second workshop in a series of educator professional development opportunities focused around NOAA’s new ship and America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration, the /Okeanos Explorer/. This workshop will introduce the new /Okeanos Explorer/ Education Materials Collection built around the themes: Why Do We Explore?, How Do We Explore? and What Do We Expect to Find? Scientific presenters and education facilitators will work with participants to delve into the benefits of ocean exploration targeting climate change, energy, human health and ocean health. Interact with ocean explorers, converse and share classroom applications with other educators, and find a wealth of multimedia resources. We will introduce the first in a series of Leader’s Guides for Classroom Explorers entitled Why Do We Explore?, with its companion Initial Inquiry Lesson, To Boldly Go…, as well as additional lesson plans and other resources.

Speakers include:
• Dr. Charles Fisher: Professor of Biology, Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University
• Dr. Shirley A. Pomponi: Executive Director, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University
• Dr. Edith Widder: Senior Scientist, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University; Cofounder, Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA)

The workshop is free for all participants and will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Educators will have the option to receive graduate credit (fee for the credit) or obtain a certificate of completion.

To register go to:
http://www.coexploration.org/oe/

_______________________________________
Susan E. Haynes
Education Program Manager
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
susan.haynes@noaa.gov
(401) 289-2810

NOAA Ocean Exploration Workshop at New England Aquarium

NOAA Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration Workshop – Part I of II
From bioluminescent corals to deep vent worms, from tropical underwater volcanoes to the Arctic Ocean floor, bring the excitement of current ocean science discoveries to your students using the Ocean Exploration curriculum from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Participants will receive a copy of the curriculum, “Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration”, and CD-ROMs with additional tools for students to engage in learning about multidisciplinary ocean exploration. You can use these inquiry-based activities in biology, earth, physical, and/or marine science courses to connect your students to the excitement of NOAA Ocean Exploration as they travel from the Galapagos Rift to the Arctic Ocean, from Alaskan and New England seamounts to those in the Hawaiian Islands.

Grades: 6-12

Date:  Saturday, October 17, 2009

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: New England Aquarium, Boston, MA

Cost: FREE!

Advance registration is required.
To register, email trc@neaq.org.

For questions, please call the Teacher Resource Center at 617-973-6590.

(Part II of this workshop will be held in May 2010.)

News Release: Human Impacts and Environmental Factors Are Changing the Northwest Atlantic Ecosystem

This news release provides an excellent overview that is relevant to NEOSEC members as we plan the next Ocean Summit on ecosystem principles:

Fish in U.S. waters from Cape Hatteras to the Canadian border have moved away from their traditional, long-time habitats over the past four decades because of fundamental changes in the regional ecosystem, according to a new report by NOAA researchers. The 2009 Ecosystem Status Report, prepared by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center headquartered in Woods Hole, Mass., also points out the need to manage the waters off the northeastern coast of the United States as a whole rather than as a series of separate and unrelated components.

To learn more, go to:
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/2009/SciSpot/SS0912/index.html