This new handbook includes educational resources for students of all ages who want to learn more about marine and coastal environments, threats facing them and what everyone can do to become marine stewards. Download it here.

These two tutorials provide:

• an overview of estuarine habitats, the threats facing them, as well as efforts to monitor and protect estuaries nationwide, 
• an overview of the biology of and threats to coral reefs, as well as efforts being made to conserve and protect them that includes images, animations, and videos.

To support interest in a regional approach for climate communication, Earth to Sky (ETS) has begun developing Regional Communities of Practice in Climate Communication. Each is led by a Regional Leadership Team that has received training at an ETS Academy, followed by ongoing mentoring and support from ETS Central Leadership. The next Earth to Sky Academy will be held January 25-29, 2021 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD.  The Academy is tuition-free. Team applications are due August 31, 2020. Read more here and apply. Questions? Email Genevieve Demissieres.

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is holding its first fully virtual leadership development event this summer from July 28-30. The event will tackle the challenge of ensuring science/STEM education remains a priority in classrooms and communities during COVID-19 and beyond. During this fully customizable program, live and asynchronous sessions will foster critical conversations on topics most relevant to K-12 science education today such as social emotional support, equity and accessibility, and facilitating three-dimensional science investigations remotely. This institute is offered at no cost and open to educators, parents, community members, and industry stakeholders dedicated to ensuring continuity in K-12 STEM education for all students.

For over 20 years, ESIP meetings have brought together the most innovative thinkers and leaders around Earth observation data. The 2020 ESIP Summer Meeting will be a VIRTUAL event held July 14th-24th that will continue this tradition. The theme will be Putting Data to Work: Building Public-Private Partnerships to Increase Resilience & Enhance the Socioeconomic Value of Data. 

A special series of workshops will be held for educators of grades 6-14 on July 14 & 15. Registration is free for the first 50 applicants. Find out more and register.

Want to contribute to a project-based learning unit (PBL) about the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales? Fill out this survey to help design an effective PBL that will address the unique interests and needs of students. The survey will only take 5-10 minutes. Feel free to share the survey with your colleagues and networks.  If you have any questions, contact mary.c.griffith@wmich.edu.

In a four-part web seminar series on Distance Learning That Supports Student Sensemaking, participants will explore ways in which they can continue to give students experiences with relevant, intriguing phenomena that engage them in science learning using distance-learning strategies. The focus will be on synchronous and asynchronous online learning, but connecting students to their learning communities through smartphones and local computers (computers without internet access) will also be covered. The program series is being offered twice: 

• Series One: July 6, 9, 13, and 16 at 3:00 to 4:30 pm Eastern Time. 
• Series Two: August 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 7:15 to 8:45 pm Eastern Time.

A minimal fee is required to participate. Find out more and register  here.

Be a Turtle Trash Collector. Pick a place you can do a cleanup, perhaps your neighborhood, the local park, or the beach and  clean up this route 3 times: once now, again when quarantine restrictions are lifted in your area, and once more when everything is reopened and back to normal. During each cleanup, keep track of the trash you collect using a data sheet and report your data to us so we can keep track of everyone’s progress! 

Earn Turtle Trash Collectors Digital badges! Attached is the 2TC Marine Debris Citizen Science Project guide that outlines everything you need to know. Be sure to send your data after your first cleanup so your participation is known!  Reach out with any questions, sign up, and join us!  

The Urban Ocean Initiative Welcomes its First Cohort of Cities. This NOAA Marine Debris Program initiative collaborates with cities that are the most susceptible to plastic marine debris by improving waste management systems. Learn more and celebrate our blue planet!

Skype a Scientist matches scientists with people all around the world! This program allows scientists to reach people from all over the world without having to leave the lab! They have thousands of scientists ready to chat - teachers can choose the type of scientist that will fit their classroom, and families stuck at home during this pandemic can get a scientist virtually into their living room!

NOAA and the Bureau of Economic Analysis released new statistics highlighting the marine economy’s contribution to the Nation’s economy. This report offers national estimates for all ocean, coastal and Great Lakes related economic activity by major industry, helping us to understand the current state of the marine economy. The data provides valuable information to policy makers and industry, helping them in decision-making and planning future investment in the marine environment, Learn more…

Since America’s marine economy is growing fast and NOAA is an important part of it, check out its new story map, Our Dynamic Marine Economy. It highlights some key findings from the report above and showcases a sampling of the ways NOAA supports these dynamic industries. 

This short video discusses the relationship between climate change and extreme weather. It clarifies that climate change causes warming oceans, which then creates more extreme weather. Video length: 4:51; Audience: Middle School, High School, College Lower, General Public

Browse CLEAN for more videos on Extreme Weather.

An ounce of prevention goes a long way! June is the official start of hurricane season so be prepared to weather a possible tropical system if you’re on the US gulf coast, east coast or in other vulnerable locations. The Homeowners Handbooks to Prepare for Natural Disasters are free to download for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Florida’s Handbook will be available soon. Then also download  the 4th edition of the Homeowner’s handbook to Prepare for Natural Disasters, too. (It links to educational resources from the Voice of the Sea site.) All of these handbooks cover essential information on emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, flood/wind insurance, and steps to protect life and property. And… don’t forget to add these supplies to your emergency kit highlighted from Yale Climate Connection!!