The Watch. News You Can Use From NOAA Planet Stewards - 26 February 2025

Planet News You Can Use!

News you can use from NOAA Planet Stewards  February 26, 2025 Keep Up with NOAA Planet Stewards: NOAA Planet Stewards Website NOAA Planet Stewards Educational Resources Sign up to receive NOAA Planet Stewards The Watch e-newsletter Access our archive collection of  past webinars. Did a colleague or friend share this copy of The Watch with you?  Thank them, then sign up to receive it directly.  See the sign-up link above! Stewardship Inspiration: Go Fish! Engineering Solutions for Marine Debris Every day Kelley Hodges' students at Patronis Elementary school in Panama City, FL witness the environmental impact of derelict fishing gear, single-use plastics, and abandoned recreational equipment on their beaches and in their waterways. 300 students at Kelly's school are making a difference in the world in which they live by addressing the environmental issue of marine debris. Already this academic year, they have removed 150 lbs. of trash from area beaches; engineered, tested, and deployed on-deck monofilament fishing line recycling bins on fishing charter boats and recycled over 80 lbs. of monofilament fishing line; and built and installed four beach toy libraries at local beach access points near their school. Through Kelley's leadership she has given her students the tools to make a difference, and the mindset that anybody at any age can make changes that improve the place in which they live. Read this 'beach toy library' article and watch this 'beach toy library' news video about Kelley's student's installation of the beach toy library, which ran in a local newspaper and on a local television station.   Do you have an item you'd like to share in future issues of The Watch? Recommend your submissions here     Welcome to NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program Cohort 3! The NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program meets virtually every month to provide youth ages 13-18 with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become leaders at their school or their local community to promote ocean conservation and stewardship through a project or event. This year, 250 students were selected from 457 applications to learn more about NOAA and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, ocean and climate literacy, issues facing the ocean, ways to take action, as well as NOAA opportunities and ocean-related career pathways. Since 2023, this program has reached over 750 students, which inspires momentum for a healthy ocean with the next generation of leaders. Check back to see success stories from these projects and to apply during the next open application season. February 25, 2025 I 2 p.m. ET Voices of the Past, Planning for the Future: Coastal Resilience and Cultural Preservation in the Apalachicola System Register for the Coastal event February 25, 2025 I 8 p.m. ET Sea otters in Washington State: Lessons learned from the "grand experiment" of the maritime fur trade Register for the Sea Otters event Just announced! Join the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) for a series of free webinars! 1. Educational Resource Spotlight Series with CLEAN Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 1-2 p.m. ET The first webinar in the EARTh Center "Educational Resource Spotlight" series  highlights the collection of climate literacy tools and resources the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) hosts, and how educators can use these tools in their classroom. CLEAN team members Katie Boyd and Gina Fiorile-Desranleau will walk you through ways to use the CLEAN Collection, how to join the CLEAN network for educators, and other opportunities from CLEAN. Register for the Educational Resource Spotlight Series with CLEAN.  2. Discovering, Exploring, and Sharing Climate Resources Webinar Series March 3, 2025-April 14, 2025 | 6-7:30 p.m. ET CLEAN and ISKME are partnering to bring together climate researchers, K-12 educators, and climate literacy resources to build a community of iterative leaders. This series of interactive webinars in March and April is designed to increase knowledge of climate literacy, and support the open sharing of resources and the adaptations that educators make for their local students. Register for the Discovering, Exploring, and Sharing Climate Resources - Webinar Series.  Webinar schedule: March 3 - Where Americans are at on climate change March 19 – The state of climate science in the United States April 1 – Climate adaptation and mitigation April 14 – Hope and transformative climate action Drought, Destroyer of Civilizations in Science in the Virtual Pub Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 7 p.m. ET We often focus on floods, nor'easters, hurricanes, or tornadoes, but drought rarely tops our list of hazards. It's time to rethink that. While these events cause infrastructure damage, economic loss, and even death, drought has a unique, civilization-destroying history. Ask the Mayans of Mesoamerica or ancient Egyptians. History shows drought as a silent but devastating force. Fast forward to the Dust Bowl of the 1940s, the decades-long drought in the 2000s western US, or the recent drought along the I-95 corridor. Water shortages still threaten cities like New York or Boston and food production in the plains and California valleys. Let's discuss assessing drought in a changing climate.  Science in the Virtual Pub registration & more information 10th Annual Students for Zero Waste Week March 3 - April 25, 2025 Registration Deadline: February 28, 2025 Take the Zero Waste Week Challenge at school, in your community and at home by: Replacing single-use plastic items (such as drink bottles, straws, sandwich baggies, snack bags, spork packs, etc.) with reusable alternatives Stepping up recycling and composting efforts Clean up litter around the school Powering down computers and other electronic devices when not in use Reuse plastic packaging instead of throwing it away; a plastic bottle can be filled up as many times as you like and containers can be repurposed! Refusing products containing microbeads and microfibers Visit the Students for Zero Waste Week website for more information, ideas, and downloadable materials. Exploratorium's Summer Institute for Teachers Application Deadline: March 3, 2025 Spend three weeks (June 16–July 3) at San Francisco's Exploratorium learning how to introduce more inquiry into your classroom. Delve into inquiry-based science, explore exhibits, engage in hands-on activities and discussions, and participate in a supportive community of fellow educators. Participation includes a $2,500 stipend for completion of the institute, lifelong membership in a collaborative community of science teachers, ongoing opportunities for alumni workshops and institutes, and special access to online resources. Apply today for the Exploratorium Summer Institute for Teachers! Life Beyond Light: Chemosynthetic Communities of the Deep Ocean Educator Professional Development One Day Workshops Workshop Dates: March 1 - April 12, 2025 Educators of grades 6-12 are invited to join a full-day, in-person professional development workshop at a NOAA Ocean Exploration Education Alliance Partner near you. Together we will explore hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, two deep-sea ecosystems with dense biological communities fueled by chemosynthesis. Each workshop will include: An introduction to NOAA Ocean Exploration and why and how we explore the ocean Several phenomena-based student investigations and hands-on activities  Reflection and discussion with peer educators  A guided tour of additional free, online ocean education resources  Registration for the Life beyond Light workshops is required and space is limited. Participants will receive classroom-ready resources including student investigations, videos, and fact sheets, along with a  Certificate of Participation and a $100 stipend. Teaching High School Climate Change Elective Teacher Panel Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 7 p.m. ET Join a panel discussion with teachers who teach climate change electives! Hosted by the Paleontological Research Institution.          Panelists will share: Brief overviews of their courses Lessons learned from teaching their courses Favorite resources used in teaching about climate change What they wish they knew before starting the course Thoughts on teaching climate change in 2025 Answers to your questions The climate change discussion registration form includes a place for you to submit your questions. Data Puzzles Webinar: Balancing Act Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 5 p.m. ET Calling all Middle and High School science teachers! Register to join CU Boulder curriculum developer Alyse Thurber as she guides you through the "Balancing Act" Data Puzzle, a 2-day MS/HS lesson in which students examine real data in pursuit of the investigative question, "what factors have contributed to changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet in recent decades?" Building Insights Through Observation (BIO) – Teaching with Data Visualizations in Middle School Science Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 6 p.m. ET Explore an innovative model to help middle schoolers make sense of Earth and Environmental Science phenomena through data visualization. This program combines arts-based approaches with science content and geospatial data to build data literacy, critical thinking, and content connections. Attendees will experience the Building Insights through Observation (BIO) model, reflect on how it supports teaching and learning, and access free classroom-ready resources. Hands-on, adaptable, and impactful, BIO empowers students to engage with real-world challenges through data. Teachers experienced in implementing the model will guide attendees in adapting it for their classrooms. Register now for the BIO workshop; you don't want to miss this opportunity to enhance your teaching with cutting-edge strategies. The Climate Stories Project The Climate Stories Project is an educational and artistic forum for sharing personal stories about the changing climate. They are developing storytelling curriculum modules for use in K-12 and university classes, and seeking educators to take part in two online planning sessions in April and May (dates TBD). To support this process they would like to know how you are teaching about climate change in your classroom and how you envision using storytelling as a part of climate education.  Take the survey in support of climate storytelling curriculum development.  Also, learn more about the Spring 2025 Climate Stories Ambassadors cohort and its application.  Eco-Hero Awards Application Deadline: February 28, 2025 The Eco-Hero Award recognizes youth aged 8 to 16 who have taken significant action to protect nature. Whether through advocacy, innovation, or hands-on projects, we celebrate young leaders dedicated to creating a sustainable future. The Sentinel Mission Interactive Webinar Series Application Deadline: March 3, 2025 The Sentinel Mission is a challenge to circumnavigate the global ocean by an underwater robot. The vision of Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership is to use this mission to build global unity and contribute to scientific discoveries to improve community resilience, and inspire a sustainable relationship with our world ocean. Sign your classroom up to join a series of video teleconferences for grades 5-12 led by scientists and Rutgers undergraduate students interested in learning more. Apply for the 2025 Flight Crew! Application Deadline: March 12, 2025  A nationwide search has been launched for the STEM Next Flight Crew— a group of youth advocates promoting the value of out-of-school STEM learning for all young people across the nation. Youth, ages 13-18, with experience in afterschool and summer STEM learning and an interest in public speaking, are encouraged to apply today.  Be one of America's Top Young Scientists in 2025! Submission Deadline: May 1, 2025 The 3M and Discovery Education Young Scientist Challenge is now open to entries! As the nation's premier middle school science competition, the annual Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of "America's Top Young Scientist."  Engineers Week with MATHCOUNTS Submisson Deadline: February 28, 2025 MATHCOUNTS is partnering with BAE Systems to celebrate Engineers Week 2025! Each weekday from February 17-24, MATHCOUNTS posted a problem set or exploration introducing different engineering fields and showing real-world applications of math. Join MATHCOUNTS in honoring the incredible engineers who support its math programs and inspire future engineers. Anyone of any age can participate to earn recognition and entry into prize drawings! Submit your MATHCOUNTS answers to guarantee qualification for prizes and recognition. Arctic Report Card in your Classroom This year is an exciting moment for the Arctic Report Card with the 20th anniversary in 2025!  In addition to the free recording of the webinar "Two decades of the NOAA Arctic Report Card: history, reflections, and next steps", we are planning to have K - 16 Educational components/accompaniments to support the 20th anniversary Arctic Report Card. If you have ideas, questions, or suggestions - especially for what could help you bring the Arctic Report Card into your classrooms, send (heather.heenehan@noaa.gov) an email. We also want to hear your suggestions for future topics. What aspects of Arctic change matter most to you and your communities? Share your ideas with us! Where do Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions come from? This Subject to Climate emissions resource provides an insightful inventory of CO2 equivalents across key economic sectors, offering students a clear understanding of current global emission trends and the methods behind the data collection. Earth in Flux Earth in Flux is a new science visualization gallery from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was designed to provide educators free real-world data for their learning environments. Earth in Flux communicates key findings of land change science in innovative ways, allowing for creativity, exploration, and community in data visualization.  Explore the Beaufort Sea and Fire in Ice projects on Earth in Flux today! LunaSustain: An Online Experience Take your students on an interactive online journey from Earth to the Moon and beyond to learn about sustainability. LunaSustain encourages students to become "solutionaries" by using critical and creative thinking skills to look at sustainability in new ways. Activities include calculating your carbon footprint and making air breathable on the International Space Station. Students who complete LunaSustain can sign their own "My Sustainability Pledge."  Questions? Contact: Lunasustain@nianet.org World Wildlife Fund Climate Change Resources How Do We Identify Climate Change? Explainer Video  A new video from World Wildlife Fund's Wild Classroom YouTube channel explains the differences among weather, climate, and climate change. The video is accompanied by a transcript and a student worksheet.  Teaching Tools About Polar Bears and Climate Change This teaching toolkit focuses on the role human impact and climate change play on the future of polar bears and the Arctic. Most of the resources are geared toward grades 3–5. The toolkit features a resource guide and interactive classroom presentation; learning activities for science, social studies, language arts, arts education, and physical education; a video playlist; various printables, including posters; a link to Tumble Science Podcast For Kids as well as links to a quiz and a climate change course. The newest resource is The Polar Bear Capital of the World: Discover Churchill, Canada, a printable storybook for grades K–5, available for free download. Title Details Due Date Audience Katchemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR) System Wide Monitoring Program Technician Job - KBNERR in Homer, Alaska is seeking a technician to manage and maintain meteorological and water quality stations, as well as manage and interpret long-term monitoring data. Candidates should be comfortable in remote field locations, well versed in data management, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. The one year position starts in April 2025 temporarily replacing an employee on a leave of absence. 2/28/25 Professional one year appointment Toshiba America Foundation Grant Grant - Teachers can apply for up to $5,000 to bring an innovative STEM learning project into their classroom(s) that has measurable outcomes. 3/1/25 Teachers of Grades 6-12 Delaware B-WET Competition Grant - NOAA has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity that will support high quality projects in the Delaware Bay watershed. Approximately $550,000, depending on Congressional allocations, may be available to fund three to five projects. This is a one-year exploratory B-WET grant opportunity to introduce the program to the watershed and inform future work. 4/18/25 Funded projects will support outdoor and environmental literacy programs that help students learn about issues affecting the Delaware Bay watershed. Education Bytes 12 lesser-known K-12 STEM education resources Finding Your AI Identity as a Science Teacher Climate Scientists understood physics of climate change in the 1800s – thanks to a woman named Eunice Foote Ocean, Coastal Weather, Sea Ice, Ocean Life, Water Underweight baby seal is rescued from Connecticut streets and recovering at an aquarium Rare Pygmy Sperm Whale Strands at Dockweiler Beach, Necropsy and Further Testing to Shed Light on Species Threats "An Extremely Violent Global Pandemic" – Mysterious Disease Wipes Out Sea Urchins Worldwide Weather Extremes and Other Science News of Note Watch the sun erupt in new images from NOAA's weather satellite 'Sailing' satellites of the future could provide early warning of dangerous space weather Geo Week Keynote Covers Importance of Collaboration in Response to Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse NOAA's vast public weather data powers the local forecasts on your phone and TV – a private company alone couldn't match it Hokies are collecting data in some of the hardest to reach places Lightning Strikes Link Weather on Earth and Weather in Space NOAA Planet Stewards Education Program Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Stay Connected with NOAA's National Ocean Service Manage Subscriptions   This email was sent to mufhandu.o.itsol@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: NOAA's National Ocean Service · SSMC4, Room 9601 · 1305 East-West Hwy · Silver Spring, MD 20910