Presentation to the Math Science Partnership Regional Conference April 29, 2009

1. Presentation to the Math Science Partnership Regional ConferenceApril 29, 2009 NOAA Education Christos Michalopoulos Assistant Director, Office 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 & 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. NOAA Employees Across the Country • NOAA employees focus on education in Sanctuaries, Reserves, Sea Grant, Weather Service, & more…

7. 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, and solid evaluation plan • For more information go to http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html

8. 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

9. 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., NSTA, AAAS (Project 2061), Smithsonian’s Ocean Hall, Aquariums, Sanctuaries, and Association of Science Technology Centers (ASTC) • For more information go to http://www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/documents/OceanLitChart.pdf and http://www.noaa.gov/climateliteracy.html

10. 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 Dec. 31, 2008 • For more information go to http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov

11. 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

12. 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

13. Questions? Christos Michalopoulos Assistant Director NOAA Office of Education 202-482-5483 christos.michalopoulos@noaa.gov

14. Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) Programs U.S. Department of Education: San Francisco Regional Meeting