AFSC Outreach: Partnerships
The Outreach Program has partnered with other organizations having similar goals:
Pacific Science Center
In 2006, the AFSC initiated a partnership with the Pacific Science Center, in Seattle, Washington, (http://pacificsciencecenter.org/) to spearhead the exhibition of the Treasures of NOAA’s Ark exhibit from March-September 2007. As part of this effort, the AFSC is working with the Pacific Science Center to create educational activities which complement the NOAA themes in the exhibit (http://preserveamerica.noaa.gov/hw_gallery.html).
The AFSC also created an exhibit on the Pribilof Islands, in partnership with NOAA National Ocean Service’s Pribilof Project Office, to illustrate NOAA’s role in management and research of northern fur seals on the Pribilof Islands.
In June 2007, a "Get To Know NOAA Weekend" event was held at the Pacific Science Center as part of NOAA's 200th aniversary celebration.
Seattle Aquarium
The AFSC is working with the Seattle Aquarium (www.seattleaquarium.org/) to incorporate AFSC’s northern fur seal research results in the aquarium’s exhibit on northern fur seals. We are also partnering with the aquarium in developing elementary school curriculum, based on NOAA science, and distributing it to elementary schools.
Ballard Maritime Academy (BMA)
As part of its outreach program and role in the National Marine Transportation System Initiative, NOAA has formed a partnership with the Seattle Public Schools' Ballard Maritime Academy (BMA) to assist the local partnership of the maritime community and educators to provide the opportunity for our youth to pursue interesting careers in marine science and maritime industries. Through this partnership NOAA provides funding for the purchase of teaching materials including supplies, tools and equipment for the Academy's maritime/marine science classrooms, for transportation costs for field trips, and for partial FTE support for curriculum planning for the Academy.
In the future NOAA's goal is to have the BMA produce videos and literature to promote BMA as a model for attracting our Nation's youth to careers in maritime industries and marine science for the use of other school districts. Under this partnership, NOAA also encourages our scientists to participate in BMA activities such as guest lectures, field trips to NOAA facilities, mentorships and internships.
For the past two years, NOAA has sponsored the travel for 5 students and 2 teachers from BMA in May to our Nation's Capitol to meet with national leaders in marine transportation, industries, agencies, and educational institutions to broaden the student's knowledge and perspective of maritime opportunities.
The concept of high school maritime academies like the Ballard Maritime Academy provides an unique avenue to improve the awareness of our nation's marine transportation system, to promote our maritime heritage, and to encourage our nation's youth to seek careers in marine industries and sciences.
For more information visit the Seattle Public School Ballard Maritime Academy page
Expanding Your Horizons (EYH)
Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics (TM) (http://www.expandingyourhorizons.org/) conferences are designed to nurture girls’ interest in science and math courses and to encourage them to consider science and math-based career options. In most of the workshops, girls in middle and high school participate in hands-on activities led by women scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. In other workshops, role models share career information.
During the past 15 years, the AFSC has participated in EYH conferences at Bellevue, Shoreline, and Highline Community Colleges in Washington State. Hands-on workshops over the years have included identifying fish, scientific illustration techniques and equipment, marine mammal research methods, what it is like to work on a research vessel, and tagging fish.
Conference workshop leaders often comment that the morning of the conference always begins with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty, but by the end of the day many of the girls are beaming with a new awareness of career opportunities awaiting them in the fields of math, science and technology. EYH conferences usually occur in March or April.
For more information, please contact the AFSC EYH Coordinator, Lisa Thompson (lisa.thompson@noaa.gov).
Family Science Program
One of the Outreach Program's most successful partnerships has been with the Family Science Program. This program, sponsored by the Seattle School District and the University of Washington through a grant from the National Science Foundation, promotes community science events at Seattle elementary schools and involves parents and the community in the schools' science programs. AFSC scientists have participated as many as ten elementary schools' science celebrations each year since 1998, using our displays and hands-on activities to explain the science of our work at the Center.
For more information, go to http://projects.systemsbiology.net/celebratingscience/establishing/index.php.
Youth Maritime Training Association (YMTA)
The Youth Maritime Training Association (http://www.ymta.net) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the youth of Washington State. With support from the maritime community, the YMTA will be the voice of the maritime industry in marine-related "School to Work" programs in Washington State schools.
Top of page
|
