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

Box 8.5 What Is Informal Education?The National Science Foundation describes informaleducation as the life-long learning process in whichevery person acquires knowledge, skills, attitudes, andvalues from daily experiences and resources in his orher environment. Informal learning is self-directed,voluntary, and motivated mainly by intrinsic interest,curiosity, exploration, and social interaction. iiNational Science Foundation. Informal Science Education (ISE)Program Solicitation NSF 03-511, 2003.Scripps Institution of OceanographyInformal education facilities such as aquariums, science centers, zoos, museums, and marineparks, along with other outlets such as national magazines and television programs, localnewscasts, traveling exhibits, and Internet sites, are all important contributors to thedomain of public education.U.S. aquariums, zoos, and other informal education centers welcome over 135 millionvisitors a year to their on-site displays and bring information to millions of additionalguests through community outreach efforts. 15 These informal education centers endeavorto be equal opportunity teachers by employing mechanisms and instituting programs toreach traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups. Natural history museumsand science centers also provide ocean-related science and cultural educational experiencesto millions each year. For example, the National Museum of Natural History in Washington,D.C. just initiated a long-term Ocean Science Initiative. As part of this initiative, themuseum, in partnership with NOAA, is developing a major new Ocean Hall. Aquariums,zoos, museums, and other informal facilities have a reputation for delivering accurateinformation about the marine environment and represent a powerful voice in the realm ofpublic education. A recent public poll revealed that aquariums are a highly trusted sourceof environmental information. 16In addition to informal education facilities, federal ocean-related agencies conductpublic education and outreach. Opportunities range from first-hand exploration of themarine environment at a variety of marine sanctuaries, parks, and reserves to interactiveWeb sites that follow oceanographic expeditions in real time, to materials that translatescientific discoveries and relate them to everyday life (Box 8.6). Federal agencies alsosupport informal education by funding projects that aim to increase public understandingof scientific, cultural, and environmental issues. (Additional information on a samplingof programs and activities offered by informal education facilities and federal agencies isprovided in Appendix 5.)Coordinating MessagesWhile the many existing informal education efforts have made progress, they have notyielded the level of national consciousness needed to cultivate a broad sense of responsibilitytoward the use and conservation of the nation’s marine resources. As discussedearlier in this chapter, lack of leadership and coordination, in both message and action,and lack of funding are usually cited as the most significant barriers to realizing the fullpotential of informal education efforts.Although all ocean-related informal education efforts have a common goal, theygenerally lack the coordination, connectivity, and leveraging of resources needed toachieve the greatest long-term impact. While nascent efforts are working to bring aboutC HAPTER 8: PROMOTING L IFELONG O CEAN E DUCATION143