Education and Outreach
Students receive a hands-on education while restoring an oyster reef at the Chesapeake Bay-Virginia National Estuarine Research Reserve.
As a global leader in coastal, oceanic and atmospheric sciences, NOAA has a responsibility to improve public understanding of our planet’s dynamic air and water systems and the effect those systems have on all aspects of people’s lives. We work through a variety of channels to promote knowledge and understanding of the nation’s 95,331 miles of coastline.
Annual exhibits at national and international science symposia, educational programs for K-12 schools, grant and fellowship opportunities for college students, and sponsorship of ocean and coastal conferences are just a few of the ways NOAA strives to instill appreciation for our precious ocean and coastal resources.
OCRM Resources
Coral Reef Outreach and Education — This webpage lists many resources available for the general public interested in learning more about coral reefs as well as lesson plans and other useful information for educators.
NERRS Education Programs — The National Estuarine Research Reserves conduct year-round education programs on site for K-12 students. Programs include everything from hands-on field experiences for students to professional teacher development opportunities.
EstuaryLive — A free, interactive field trip over the internet hosted by NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserves in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Programs.
NOAA Resources
Discovery Kits — Discovery Kits describe the basic scientific principles underlying the applied science and activities of NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS). Designed for educators and students at the high school level, they are written in easy-to-read, non-technical language, and focus on the themes of oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation. Check out the following sites:
NOAA Ocean Explorer — Ocean Explorer allows anyone to learn about, discover, and virtually explore the ocean realm. Visitors can follow NOAA scientific and educational explorations in near real-time, learn about exploration technologies, observe remote marine flora and fauna in a colorful multimedia gallery, read about NOAA's 200-year history of ocean exploration, and discover additional NOAA resources in a virtual library.