At our December book club we’ll talk about Escape Undersea, a young adult fiction book by marine scientist Dr. Ellen Prager - who will be joining the meeting! In Dr. In Prager's book, the protagonists Ezzy and Luke are invited to the world’s only undersea research station in the Florida Keys with their father, and dive into an unexpected adventure. While visiting their ex-military friends in the Aquarius Sea Station, Ezzy and Luke encounter a strange algae bloom at the surface, giant goliath groupers, and a mysterious fish that threatens the coral reefs and their own safety. It’s another wild ride filled with humor and action as Ezzy Skylar explores the depths of her courage while overcoming her insecurities. With new friends, she and Luke discover the wonders of the undersea world and what it is like to live underwater. But once again they unwittingly stumble into a plot that could have disastrous consequences for the local wildlife and must jump into action to save the day.

A complete description of the book, meeting discussion questions, login information, and all the dates and selections for the entire 2023-2024 academic year are posted on our website.

And remember...

• For details on all our meeting dates, times, selections, and how to log in, go to our Upcoming Events Page.
• Sign up to receive reminder announcements on our mailing list!
• See previously selected books and discussion questions in our Book Club Archive.

Check out the National Earth Science Teacher’s Association’s latest edition of The Earth Scientist! (TES) In this issue you’ll read about four inspirational projects orchestrated by NOAA Planet Stewards educators, as well as how and why NOAA uses the fascinating remote sensing method LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging). The issue features:

• Unwelcome Guests: Combating Aquatic Invasive Species through Education, Habitat Conservation and Restoration. by Spencer Cody
• Planting Roots in our Community: Leaving a Legacy Behind. by Julie Houck
• Young Stewards Promoting Border Resiliency. by Dr. Jennifer Ramos-Chavez
•  A Tiny Forest as an Outdoor Classroom and a Place for Hope. by Dr. Patrick J. Walsh
• LIDAR: Lasers, Airplanes, and Drones! By Galen Scott

Check out the entire issue here, or you can explore all Planet Stewards sponsored issues of TES on our What Success Looks Like page. Happy Reading!

Coral reefs face a variety of environmental stressors from warming ocean temperatures and bleaching events to disease brought on by climate change and increased human activity, leading to degradation, loss of biodiversity, and a decline of the ecosystem benefits that reefs provide. 

Before we can provide realistic solutions, we must first identify and address those stressors that most immediately impact coral reef communities. This page serves as a tool to keep you updated and informed regarding current threats to these magnificent natural ecosystems.

Check it out!

The American Meteorological Society is now accepting applications from K-12 teachers to participate in its summer 2024 Project Ice teacher professional development course, offered as part of the NSF/Oregon State University-led Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX). Teachers will be selected competitively from across the country with focus on those impacting underserved students. Participants will engage in a graduate-level, multi-week hybrid course in paleoclimatology and ice core science that includes a workshop at Oregon State in Corvallis, OR, where they will engage with COLDEX scientists and visit the ice core lab and Marine Geology Repository.

Travel, lodging, meals, and tuition will be provided for about 22 selected teachers. The online portion of the course runs from May 28 - June 22, 2024, with the on-site residence experience from June 23-29.

Learn more and apply here.

Exploring Ocean Mysteries lessons and supporting resources have been created by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in collaboration with Engaging Every Student, and supported by the National Geographic Society and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The lessons connect Ocean Literacy with NGSS using the Ocean Literacy Handbook, particularly the Ocean Literacy Framework, which is made up of the Ocean Literacy Guide, the Ocean Literacy Scope and Sequence for Grades K–12 and the Alignment of Ocean Literacy to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

The 2023 Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit will bring together Mid-Atlantic groups working on the mitigation and removal of marine debris (including litter that becomes marine debris). It will include state and federal agencies, tribes, non-profit organizations, academia, and other groups – to identify opportunities to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into marine debris efforts, coordinate efforts between groups, discuss current and emerging marine debris fields, and highlight solutions to marine debris prevention and reduction. The Summit is free to attend and open to the public! Register now!

Integrating Science Fiction in Science Education: Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Join the Shedd Aquarium for an impelling in-person educator workshop that explores the fascinating intersection of science and science fiction. From “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” to “Waterworld,” modern science fiction has long captivated our imaginations and sparked curiosity. As a genre, it allows us to speculate about our future while holding a mirror to present challenges. By bringing sci-fi into the classroom, we encourage our students to engage with science critically and creatively. Learn more and register.

Grades: 3-12 educators

Illinois Teachers:1.5 - 3 ISBE clock hours available

Shine a spotlight on Earth and climate science in the classroom with the new Earthrise initiative from NASA, NOAA and their many federal partners. Through Earthrise, you will receive a monthly e-newsletter featuring interactive lesson plans, mission and research highlights, and opportunities to participate in student engagement and educator professional development events from across the federal government.

Click here to register to receive monthly collections of resources starting in January 2024.

Explore the Submission Requirements to learn more about the Categories

In this activity, students act as detectives to describe common plant diseases and how these communicable plant diseases are spread. Download the activities as Word documents including case studies for the student “detectives,” ages 14-16.

The Thwaites Portal features a set of 10 live interactive sessions with 17 Antarctic scientists who over the course of a week will answer student questions about what it is like to work in Antarctica, what they work on, the importance of their work, some of their most memorable experiences, the role of Thwaites Glacier in sea level, the ocean etc. Check out this 37-second video trailer, in addition to the resources and other materials available on the website now!

The Master of Arts in Teaching Earth Science Residency Program at the American Museum of Natural History is a full-time, fifteen-month fellowship program that takes place at the museum and in urban partner schools. Favorable candidates are those  with diverse life and career experience who want to change lives by becoming culturally responsive middle- and high-school Earth science teachers. All degree candidates will receive free tuition and books, a $40,000 living stipend, and financial and professional support throughout their first two years of teaching. In return, candidates commit to teaching in a high-needs school for three years. 

The fellowship is intended for graduates with a background in Earth science and related fields (e.g., Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, or Space Science). Current college seniors and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Information on eligibility requirements, application deadlines, courses, and more can be found at www.amnh.org/mat.  

Apply by: December 4, 2023 for internships that start in January 2024;

Apply by: January 22, 2024 for internships beginning April to December

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will award 10-15 grants ranging between $5,000 and $7,500 to support initiatives that investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened. These projects may include marine debris prevention, research, monitoring, detection, response, removal, and coordination activities. Priority will be given to projects that directly benefit or support communities in need and involve community members in all aspects of the project. 

Visit the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation website for eligibility and submission information, and to apply.

Apply by: January 1, 2024

Reef Environmental Education Foundation announces its REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship, an exciting opportunity for all educators to gain hands-on experience with ocean citizen science. They will join other citizen scientist volunteers to learn about marine life and conduct fish population surveys while scuba diving or snorkeling as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project in Bonaire at Buddy Dive Resort on July 20-27, 2024. REEF will cover the total cost of the Field Survey Trip, including meals and air transportation up to $1,200.  Click here for complete trip details. The recipient can also earn continuing education credits from University of California at San Diego.

Learn more and apply here. For any questions regarding the Fellowship email explorers@REEF.org

• be a current preK–12 classroom teacher or information educator from the 50 U.S. states, Canada, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense Activity schools;
• have plans to return to a classroom or teaching environment the year following their assigned expedition and demonstrate the ability to incorporate what they learn into their teaching; and
• have a proven dedication to geographic education in their teaching field and show promise of continued active engagement in the future.

Apply by: January 15, 2024

EPA’s Office of Environmental Education is accepting applications for the 2024 President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). The awards recognize outstanding environmental stewardship projects from students in Grades K–12 that promote environmental awareness and encourage community involvement, as well as Grade K–12 educators who integrate environmental education and place-based learning into school curricula and school facility management across the country.

.Projects eligible for the awards can apply to a variety of environmental topics, including (but not limited to):

• Climate change
• Environmental justice
• Water infrastructure
• Lead in drinking water
• Reducing ocean and marine litter
• Recycling solutions
• Using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to teach environmental education
• Environmental sustainability and agricultural practices
• Healthy school environments
• The reduction of food waste and loss and excess food recovery efforts.

For PEYA, EPA will select up to two winners in each of the agency’s 10 regions: one regional winner for Grades K-5 and one regional winner for Grades 6–12. Winning projects will be highlighted on EPA’s website. Application and eligibility information is available on EPA’s PEYA page.

For PIAEE, up to two teachers from each of EPA’s 10 regions, each from different states, will be selected to receive the award. Teachers will receive a presidential plaque and an award of up to $2,500 to be used to further professional development in environmental education. The winners’ local education agencies will also receive awards of up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs. Winners will be highlighted on EPA’s website. Application and eligibility information is available on EPA’s PIAEE page.

Learn more about the program and apply!