February 22, 2022
"You can not escape the responsibility of tomorrow
by evading it today."
– Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States
Keep Up with NOAA Planet Stewards:
Access our archive collections: past webinars, book club selections, and the newsletter!
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Black History Month is a time to show appreciation for the achievements of the Black scientists, educators, creators, activists, and others who have contributed to our nation’s greatness and continue to propel this nation forward every day.
In honor of Black History Month, two outstanding individuals from NOAA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were chosen by the Dept. of Commerce who continue to be leaders in advancing research, education, and inclusion in STEM. Planet Stewards own Symone Barkley was chosen! Kudos to Symone. Well deserved!
Read all about it here!
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Join the next Planet Stewards Book Club Meeting on March 7!
A NOAA PLANET STEWARDS PROJECT INSPIRATION
Schools in the Northern Illinois area had the unique opportunity to participate in a one-day design challenge that focused on local and state environmental issues. Fifth grade through high school student teams engaged in research and design thinking to create innovative responses and solutions to address their selected water challenge. Read all about it here!
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Past Planet Stewards Webinar Highlight
“Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” - Mark Twain.
The Western U.S. and northern Mexico are now experiencing an intense period of drought. Find out more about the precarious situation this area of the United States is facing. in this Planet Stewards Webinar.
Kevin Werner's presentation describes the water resources environment in the Western United States including the impact of climate change. Kevin describes his own experience working with decision makers in the water resources sector to use forecasts and science from NOAA to improve their operations. (At the time of this broadcast Kevin Werner was the NOAA’s Western Regional Climate Services Director.)
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Share and Share Alike!
If you're looking for educational resources or ideas to plug into your academic planning, check out archived issues of The Watch! Our team has reviewed all content for use by formal and informal educators working to increase their own ocean, climate, and environmental awareness as well as that of their students and audiences.
If you have an item you'd like to share with our education community, email us at: oceanserviceseducation@noaa.gov. Be sure to include:
- Event/Item announcement title
- Date and time if applicable
- One paragraph description
- Clear thumbnail image
- Link for more information
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NOAA Education has created a new needs assessment for educators working with elementary through university level students. The goal of this mechanism is to provide NOAA information about the types of STEM multimedia and distance learning tools educators want to use with their students and for their own professional development. Please take the BRIEF survey then distribute it to your colleagues and networks in education.
Take this very short survey and let NOAA know how it can help you!
NOAA Ocean Service releases new NOAA Sea Level Rise Portal!
NOAA Ocean Service Offers new Ocean Literacy and NGSS Alignment Resources
Celebrate Whale Week and become a citizen scientist with this webinar!
Join Ocean Today host Symone Barkley and a team of NOAA scientists for an hour-long deep dive into the world of whales! Learn how you can help whales and why they are so important to us and the health of our ocean. NOAA Ocean Today's "How to Help Whales" Watch Party is a winner of an Anthem Award!" Join the webinar to celebrate!
Watch the webinar anytime here.
Webinar: Introducing the Coral Check-up Lesson Series! Inspire students to dive in as coral scientists-in-training!
Thursday, February 24, 2022 | 5:00 pm ET
Dive in and learn about the newly released Coral Check-up Lesson Series from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument This free, NGSS-aligned curriculum introduces middle school students to coral reef monitoring and ecology through virtual real world experiences focused in the Hawaiian archipelago. By assessing coral bleaching impacts, students become reef stewards, budding scientists, and active agents for change. Register here to attend the webinar.
Catch up on National Marine Sanctuaries presentations you may have missed here.
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Join historian John V. Quarstein as he dives into the 160-year-old question, “Who Won the Battle of Hampton Roads?” The first clash between ironclad vessels was over by mid-day on March 9, 1862. Both North and South claimed victory; neither side admitted the battle was a draw. This engagement changed naval warfare forever, proving the power of iron over wood. Register here for the webinar. |
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Something for Everyone!
24 February 2022 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
“Urban Ocean: Partnering to advance
clean, healthy cities for clean, healthy seas”
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8 March 2022 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
“FathomNet: An open-source, underwater image repository to
train AI for ocean exploration and discovery”
Why Hope Matters: How to Find Meaningful Engagement in the Age of Eco-Anxiety and Climate Doom
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 | 12:00 pm ET
Elin is a scholar, author and passionate leader in the evidence-based hope, climate change, and environmental solutions movement. Her newest book for adults, “Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical for Solving the Environmental Crisis” was published in 2020 and includes her work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Rachel Carson Center for the Environment and Society, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Stanford University in the Graduate School of Education.
She is a Kone Foundation Fellow working with climate science researchers, the Climate and Environmental Communication Science Association and children’s book writers in Finland on the "Developing Climate Change Communication with Emotional Awareness" project.
You can learn more about Elin and her work through the registration link.
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Black Leaders on Environmental Justice and Beyond
Thursday, February 24, 2022 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET
Creating a Coastal Acidification Module for the Mid-Atlantic
28 February 2022 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
NOAA's Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) workshops are held at over 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the U.S. every year. To address habitat change and impacts to local environments, TOTE educators will be including coastal acidification information for K-12 teachers at these workshops. Come and learn about a new coastal acidification learning module for Mid-Atlantic states, created by a regional network of educators, and pilot tested with teachers last summer. Register here.
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Register for the CLEANet.org Climate & Energy Education Webinar Series
Society for Science Advocate Program
Apply for the Society for Science Advocate Program! It provides a $3,000 stipend and training to an individual (teacher, scientist, counselor, or mentor) who agrees to serve as an advocate for a minimum of 3 additional students from traditionally underrepresented groups to transition them from conducting scientific or engineering research (science fair-type) projects to completing applications to STEM research competitions. There are four different types of Advocates for both beginners and more advanced applicants.
For eligibility information and to apply for the Advocate Program, click here. Advocates must already have a formal role with students completing research projects. This program is sponsored by Arconic Foundation, Intel, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, National Geographic, and Regeneron.
Application Deadline: March 6, 2022
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NESTA is seeking authors for their Summer 2022 Issue
Feature your great ideas, activities, or lessons
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The Earth Scientist publishes articles that provide exemplary tested classroom activities and background science content relevant to K-12 classroom Earth and Space Science teachers. They are seeking articles for their Summer 2022 issue (weather, climate, atmosphere).
Articles may run from 500 to no more than 2000 words. More details about requirements can be obtained on the NESTA website.
Manuscripts for the summer 2022 NESTA Nuggets Issue are due April 15, 2022
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One-Week GLOBE Pacing Guides from NASA
Are you interested in doing Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) but not sure where to start? NASA has worked with experienced GLOBE teachers to put together new one-week Pacing Guides. Each guide provides a five-day sequence of activities that address a guiding question that are aligned to NGSS and incorporate making citizen science observations with GLOBE. Each also includes an activity from My NASA Data using real satellite data.
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Virtual Marine & Environmental Science College & Career Fair
March 12, 2022 | 12:00 - 6:00 pm ET
Ocean Institute is pleased to announce their inaugural Virtual Marine and Environmental Science College Fair.
This FREE event will give high school students the opportunity to learn about educational programs in the areas of marine and environmental sciences directly from colleges, universities, etc. There will be live presentations, small session chats, student and alumni panels, exhibits, and more.
SPACE IS LIMITED. To receive updates and to register, please complete this registration/interest form.
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North American Marine Environment Protection Association Annual Art Contest
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Can you think of ways to depict innovative, new technologies for greener shipping in the maritime industry? Students are asked to submit an original poster depicting creative ideas about the possibilities for new technology leading to a sustainable future for shipping and our global society. Learn more about the contest here.
The submission deadline is March 31, 2022. Winners will be announced by May 13, 2022.
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When Innovation Meets Algae
You get prizes! competition, networking, and most importantly, science! The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has announced its inaugural 2022-2023 AlgaePrize competition, hosted with the Algae Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. High school, undergraduate, or graduate programs students can create teams to compete for national recognition and a total of $130,000 in prize awards, with a grand prize of $20,000 as they work to advance algae technology. Visit the AlgaePrize website and subscribe to BETO updates to ensure that you are among the first to learn the latest AlgaePrize and bioenergy news.
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Deadline: 1 April 2022 (Phase 1)
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The EPA has launched an Environmental Justice (EJ) Video Challenge for students to enhance their communities’ capacity to address environmental inequities. In Phase 1, students may submit a video that demonstrates innovative approaches to identify and characterize an EJ issue(s) in a community using data and publicly available tools. Win up to $20,000, and other benefits. Details on Phase 2 of the challenge will be shared at a later date.
Learn more about the challenge and how to apply.
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2022 Ocean Awareness Contest
Deadline: 13 June 2022
The 2022 Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, and become advocates for positive change. Its theme, THE FUNNY THING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, challenges students to learn about climate change and its impact on the ocean, and to explore new ways, like humor, satire, or kitsch, to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis.
Visit the website for full details, and be sure to check out Bow Seat’s Resource Studio on methods that break the mold on your typical doom and gloom messaging.
Special Awards:
There will also be an Educator Innovation Awards. If an educator brings the Ocean Awareness Contest into your physical or virtual classroom this year, Bow Seat wants to hear from you! Nominate yourself or a colleague for a $750 award. Learn more >
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NAAEE Black History Month 2022
During Black History Month and beyond, the North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE) shares the inspiration and strength of regional, place-based initiatives that address Black history in nature. The following blog post focuses on this year's theme, Black Health and Wellness: Embers of Alternative Futures in Alaska. This blog post is a collage of conversations between Black, Indigenous, and Afro-Indigenous Alaskans. Charting the ways personal histories unravel the self, these writers, artists, healers, family members, and leaders map paths toward healing and alternative futures.
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Celebrate Whale Week with these video resources from NOAA!
- Whales face threats from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. YOU can help! All it takes is a smartphone. Find out how in this short video.
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A.I. and Citizen Science: Imagine if anyone could be a scientist and contribute to understanding where ocean animals travel? Today, data from citizen scientists is playing an important role in revealing the secrets of ocean animals.
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Grey Whale Migration: The Gray whale is one of the oldest mammal species on the planet. It has been evolving and adapting for 30 million years! In the 1700 and 1800’s, whalers in search of oil, meat, and baleen hunted gray whales to near extinction. Today, nearly 24,000 gray whales migrate annually along the coast of North America, giving humans a glimpse of these majestic creatures.
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Ocean Exploration Trust’s Nautilus Exploration Program has a collection of science, technology, engineering, art, and math education resources to engage K–12 learners of all levels in the excitement of deep-sea exploration and ocean studies. The resources are designed for use in either in-person or via remote learning settings. They include a mix of standards-supported STEM learning modules, engineering design challenges, creative projects, teaching animations, data-driven activities, videos, and more. The site also has career resources for middle and high school levels. Explore the site here.
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Looking to initiate a plastic pollution reduction project with students in grades 3–12? This self-guided online course for educators from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in San Francisco is a place to start. Through seven chapters participants learn about the science behind plastic pollution and experience the project process from start to finish. (To access the course materials, free e-mail registration is required.) Find the course here.
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Stories of Women in STEM from the Smithsonian
What is environmental DNA?
Stories To Watch from the World Resources Institute
Recovering Threatened and Endangered Species Report to Congress 2019–2020 Newly Released
This report summarizes efforts to recover all domestic species under NOAA Fisheries’ jurisdiction. It highlights progress made toward recovery of nine critically endangered species identified in the Species in the Spotlight initiative.
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GRANTS: Bay Watershed Education and Training Grants
JOBS
Job Post Lists
Education Bytes
Climate Bytes
Ocean, Coastal Weather, Sea Ice, Ocean Life, Water Bytes
Weather Extremes and/or Other Earth Bytes
Have questions, comments, or suggestions? We love to hear from you! You can also share opportunities for your fellow educators, students, educational resources and more! Email us at: oceanserviceseducation@noaa.gov. Be sure to include:
- Event/announcement title
- Date and time if applicable
- One paragraph description
- Link or email address for more information
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