Presentation to the Math Science Partnership Regional Conference January 7, 2009

1. Presentation to the Math Science Partnership Regional ConferenceJanuary 7, 2009 NOAA Education Louisa Koch Director of Education National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

2. NOAA Mission Goals Ecosystems: Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources Climate: Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond Weather & Water: Serve society’s needs for weather and water information Commerce & Transportation: Support, safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation

3. NOAA Vision • An informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.

4. Taking the Pulse of the Planet • Observations and monitoring (collection of real-time data) • Data management and display (transmission and display of data through maps, charts, etc) • Research (interpretation of data and generation of new scientific understanding) • Modeling, predictions and projections (insight into the future) • Resource management (stewardship, mitigation and response) • Partnerships (States, Non-Governmental Organizations, Free Choice Learning Institutions...) • More than 600 fulltime educators, extension agents, communicators and outreach specialists, and researchers, resource managers, etc

5. Changing Conditions in Climate, Weather, Ocean and CoastsIn the News Driest rainy season in Southern California Phoenix 32 days above 110° Mountain Pine Bark Beetles Utah largest fire in history January Tornadoes Arctic Sea Ice Cover Shatters all Previous Record Lows Record high and max low temps in Missoula. MT Record drought in the southeast

6. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Key Findings • The extent of regions affected by droughts has increased • The number of heat waves has increased • More precipitation falls as rain rather than snow in northern regions • There has been a global-scale decline of snow and ice especially since 1980 • The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has reached a record high relative to more than the past half-million years • Global temperatures are warmer than they have ever been during at least the past five centuries, probably for more than a millennium NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC

7. Ecological Implications Loss of Arctic Sea Ice Petition To List Ringed, Ribbon, Spotted Seals NOAA Trust Resources Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Protection Act +Arctic FMP

8. NOAA Employees Across the Country • NOAA employees focus on education in Sanctuaries, Reserves, Sea Grant, Weather Service, and more…

9. NOAA Funding Opportunity National Competitive Grants • Funding averages between $3M to $5M and 8 new projects a year • Projects range from $100K to $750K total and last 1 to 5 years • Areas of interest include teacher professional development, instructional materials development/modification (primarily K-12), teachers and/or informal educators, experiential learning for youth and families based • Desirable characteristics: Connected to at least 1 NOAA mission goal, promotes understanding of climate, weather, ocean and coasts, science based, solid evaluation plan • For more information go to http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html

10. NOAA Funding Opportunity • Bay Watershed Education and Training (BWET) • Supports experiences that integrate classroom instructional requirements with meaningful outdoor experiential learning • Enhances academic learning and promotes stewardship • Areas currently served: Chesapeake Bay, California, Hawaii, New England, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Northwest • Provides up to $100K per year for up to 3 years • For more information go to www.oesd.noaa.gov/BWET

11. Ocean and Climate Science Literacy • Ocean and Climate Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts • Explores how the ocean and climate influence us and how we influence the ocean and climate • Community driven effort to clarify fundamentals of ocean and climate science literacy • Used as guiding document by many institutions (e.g., National Science Teachers Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science (Project 2061), Smithsonian Ocean Hall, Aquariums, Sanctuaries, and Association of Science Technology Centers) • For more information go to http://www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/documents/OceanLitChart.pdf and http://www.cpo.noaa.gov/Temp/Climate_Science_Literacy_Brochure_Final_v2.pdf

12. Teacher at Sea • Learning adventures conducting science aboard NOAA vessels • As a teacher at sea you might catch a shark, set a tidal benchmark, monitor ocean temperature, help deploy a tsunami buoy, help launch a remotely operated vehicle or examine a shipwreck • Teachers submit 2-3 logs per week, interview scientists, participate in research activities and draft a lesson plan • Available to full time educators in good health (K-12, college, university, museum, aquarium etc) • 2009 application period closed December 31, 2008 • For more information go to http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov

13. EstuariesNursery grounds for the ocean • Where the river meets the sea • NOAA runs a network of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves dedicated to enhancing public awareness and understanding of estuarine areas • Estuaries 101 includes modules that teach the “big ideas” in earth science, life science, and physical science • Estuaries Live provides live broadcasts, videos, virtual field-trips, and dynamic presentations by leading educators and scientists on a wide range of estuarine and coastal topics. • For more information go to http://www.estuaries.gov

14. Ocean Exploration • Education offerings • 350 inquiry-based lesson plans that excite and inspire • Multimedia learning objects and activities that address topics ranging from hydrothermal vent life to medicine from the sea • Professional development to help educators convey the excitement of ocean exploration while teaching to state and national standards around the country and throughout the year • Interaction with marine explorers to provide students with first-hand knowledge of exciting careers through live interviews, mission logs, web chats and web forums • For more information go to http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu

15. Questions?