A program of the Lawrence Hall of Science that seeks to increase ocean literacy through informal and formal education initiatives

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WHOI News

New Robotic Instruments to Provide Real-Time Data on Gulf of Maine Red Tide

A new robotic sensor deployed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Gulf of Maine coastal waters may transform the way red tides or harmful algal blooms (HABs) are monitored and managed in New England. A second such instrument will be launched later this spring.

The Black Sea is a Goldmine of Ancient Genetic Data

When Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) marine paleoecologist Marco Coolen was mining through vast amounts of genetic data from the Black Sea sediment record, he was amazed about the variety of past plankton species that left behind their genetic makeup (i.e., the plankton paleome).

'Dark Oxidants' Form Away from Sunlight in Lake and Ocean Depths, Underground Soils

Breathing oxygen... can be hazardous to your health? Indeed, our bodies aren't perfect. They make mistakes, among them producing toxic chemicals, called oxidants, in cells. We fight these oxidants naturally, and by eating foods rich in antioxidants such as blueberries and dark chocolate. All forms of life that breathe oxygen—even ones that can't be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria—must fight oxidants to live.

WHOI to Host Public Event on Fukushima and the Ocean

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) will host a free, public forum exploring the impact of Fukushima on the ocean and human health on May 9, 2013, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Redfield Auditorium, 45 Water Street, Woods Hole.

Experts Call for Network to Monitor Marine Biodiversity

A group of oceanographic experts is calling for the establishment of a national network to monitor the diversity of marine life, a key bellwether of ocean and human health. Their work is described in the April 11 issue of BioScience.

National Policy for Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts and the Great Lakes

To Whom It May Concern,
The National Ocean Council recently released a draft implementation plan for President Obama's National Policy for Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts and the Great Lakes. You can view the draft policy and submit comments at the NOP website.

The public comment period is open until midnight EST, February 27, 2012 and ocean education topics are mainly on Pages 23-25. Action 6 on page 24 directly addresses Increasing Ocean Literacy. The first Milestone is: "Include ocean concepts in the Next Generation Science Standards."

This is huge to have the President and the National Ocean Council calling for Ocean Literacy to be incorporated into the mainstream K-12 science curriculum.

The first draft of the Next Generation Science Standards will be released for public review in March. Please help by reviewing and commenting on the draft, and by encouraging other parents, teachers, science educators and concerned citizens to also review and comment. Please let these people know that the President and the National Ocean Council have added their voices to the call for Ocean Literacy in the Next Generation Science Standards.

On behalf of Lawrence Hall of Science, the National Marine Educators Association, the NSF-funded Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence and the rest of the Ocean Literacy Campaign organizers, I encourage you all to make your voice heard. Please make sure that you review the draft standards with the Ocean Literacy Framework in mind. You can prepare by taking a visit to www.oceanliteracy.net where you can find, as always, Ocean Literacy: The Essential Principles of Ocean Sciences K-12 and the Ocean Literacy Scope & Sequence for Grades K-12.

Regards,

Craig

Craig Strang, Lawrence Hall of Science, COSEE CA, NMEA President-Elect