Sea Grant Cross-Cutting Theme: Ocean and Environmental Literacy

The complexity of marine issues calls for an educated public that can understand the link between science and society and the need for an integrated approach between science and policy. A hallmark of Delaware Sea Grant is that it has long recognized this need, funding both science and policy research and then facilitating the transfer and application of results by ensuring that outreach objectives are fully integrated into each research priority area. We try to educate the public about the issues, ensuring that it understands the need for and impacts of our work. In each project Delaware Sea Grant looks for:

• Sound, research-based scientific information and policy analysis.
• Partnerships with federal, state, and industry partners that leverage information and funding.
• Outreach capacity to use that information to facilitate integrative decision making.
• An education and communication component that contributes to a well-informed public. This involves:

- Partnerships that support programs and training opportunities for educators involved in formal (K-12) and informal (museums, aquaria, nature centers, etc.) education.

- Development of products and programs that take advantage of current and emerging electronic technologies that can be used by formal and informal educators.

Delaware Sea Grant works to educate future environmental professionals andleaders, enhance marine literacy across all population groups, and provide science-based technical assistance to marine resource users, constituents, and stakeholders.

The program helps educate the nation's future marine scientists by providing selected graduate students the opportunity to develop their research and analytical skills while assisting scientists with Sea Grant projects. Delaware Sea Grant also has a strong record of placing our graduate students in the competitive Knauss Fellowship Program, sponsored by the National Sea Grant College Program, which provides students with a yearlong opportunity to work for the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.

We also are committed to educating the public about marine research, issues, and phenomena. This outreach mission is shared by our Marine Advisory Service and Marine Public Education Office staff. Using methods and media ranging from workshops to web sites, these two groups transfer to the public a wide variety of information gained through Sea Grant research.

For additional information, please also see our latest annual report.