Presentation to the Math Science Partnership

Regional ConferenceApril 29, 2009

Christos MichalopoulosAssistant Director, Office of Education National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA Education

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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

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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.

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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.

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Changing Conditions in Climate, Weather, Ocean & Coasts

In the News

Driest rainy season in Southern California

Utah largest fire in history

Record high and max low temps in Missoula. MT

Phoenix 32 days above 110°

Mountain Pine Bark Beetles

Arctic Sea Ice Cover Shatters

all Previous Record Lows

Record drought in the southeast

January Tornadoes

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NOAA Employees Across the Country

NOAA employees focus on education in Sanctuaries, Reserves, Sea Grant, Weather Service, & more…

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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

NOAA Funding OpportunityNOAA Funding Opportunity

• 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

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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

NOAA Funding OpportunityNOAA Funding Opportunity

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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

Ocean and ClimateScience Literacy

Ocean and ClimateScience Literacy

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Learning adventures conducting science aboard NOAA vessels• As a teacher at sea you might catch a shark, set a tidal benchmark, 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 monitor ocean temperature, help deploy a tsunami buoy, help launch a remotely operated vehicle or examine a shipwreckremotely operated vehicle or examine a shipwreck

• Teachers submit 2-3 logs per week, interview scientists, participate in Teachers submit 2-3 logs per week, interview scientists, participate in research activities and draft a lesson planresearch activities and draft a lesson plan

Teacher at Sea

• Available to full time educators in good health Available to full time educators in good health (K-12, college, university, museum, aquarium, (K-12, college, university, museum, aquarium, etc.)etc.)

• 2009 application period closed Dec. 31, 20082009 application period closed Dec. 31, 2008

• For more information go to For more information go to http://teacheratsea.noaa.govhttp://teacheratsea.noaa.gov

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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

EstuariesNursery Grounds for the Ocean

• Estuaries Live 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 For more information go to http://www.estuaries.gov

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Education offerings• 350 inquiry-based lesson plans that excite and inspire350 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

Ocean Exploration

• 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 For more information go to http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/eduhttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu

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Questions?

Christos Michalopoulos

Assistant Director

NOAA Office of Education

202-482-5483

christos.michalopoulos@noaa.gov

Mathematics and Science Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) Partnership (MSP)

ProgramsPrograms

U.S. Department of U.S. Department of Education: Education:

San Francisco Regional San Francisco Regional MeetingMeeting