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
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