An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

Crosscutting ThemesWhile this chapter is organized into several sections—a collaborative education network,K–12 education, higher education and the workforce, and informal education—problemsidentified in each of these areas often affect the others. For example, inadequate fundingis a concern throughout K–12, graduate, and informal education. Likewise, increasedcoordination is needed within and among all educational areas. One critical issue is theneed to bridge the gap between the research and education communities. Ocean-basedprofessional development for teachers, scientifically sound ocean-based curricular materials,and up-to-date information for the public are just a few of the educational concernsthat will depend on strong, vibrant connections between researchers and educators.Another focus of this chapter is the role of the federal government in education.Although states are the leaders in K–12 education, federal agencies are a critical componentof the education community. Ocean agencies will need appropriate direction andresources to fulfill this important role.Building a Collaborative Ocean Education NetworkTo achieve meaningful, lifelong learning on ocean issues, the efforts of federal agencies,state and local authorities, nongovernmental entities, and professional societies with rolesin education need to be better coordinated.Participants in Ocean EducationAlthough not all ocean-related federal agencies have a specific education mission, mosthave made efforts to reach out to students, teachers, and the public to inform them aboutocean issues, sometimes by adding ocean-related components to larger science and environmentaleducation efforts. Agencies that have developed educational programs relatedto planetary, environmental, and scientific processes include the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Navy, National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA), Minerals Management Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. These programs increase publicunderstanding of the Earth’s systems and the environment. While it is valuable for oceanrelatedinformation to be included as part of broader environmental and science educationefforts, it is also important to support educational efforts that focus specifically on oceans,coasts, and the human relationship with them.Of course, the U.S. Department of Education has the overarching responsibility ofensuring equal access to and fostering excellence in education across the nation. Thedepartment is engaged in a partnership effort with states and school districts to implementeducation reforms, including requirements that each state meet certain goals in core subjectareas, such as science, math, and reading.Two national-level ocean education programs of particular importance are the Centersfor Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) and the National Sea Grant CollegeProgram (Sea Grant). COSEE is an NSF initiative, with additional support from the Officeof Naval Research (ONR) and NOAA, that has established a number of regional centersand a national office to create a coordinated program for ocean science education. SeaGrant, a partnership between NOAA and U.S. universities, is a national program implementedat the state level to further ocean-related research, education, and outreach.While federal programs provide many opportunities for ocean-related education,education is primarily a state responsibility, with direct control exerted at the local level.124 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY