February 2020 - Fostering Education in Marine Sciences
For students interested in marine science, there isn’t always much opportunity to learn about the subject prior to college. At Delaware Sea Grant, we work with teachers and students to make marine science and environmental literacy a priority in K-12 education. Through a combination of traditional in-classroom lesson plans, innovative teacher development workshops, hands-on student activities, and environmental multimedia, our education efforts ensure that the next generation recognizes the economic, social, and environmental value of the ocean.
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, which includes the University of Delaware, is also making great strides in this endeavor with the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education. NOSB engages high school students in ocean science, prepares them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helps them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards.
For more information on the regional NOSB competition that includes Delaware, the Chesapeake Bay Bowl, see below, or check out the newest episode of SeaTalk.
Notable Dates
February 1 - Chesapeake Bay Bowl. Hosted at UD's Hugh R. Sharp Campus, the Chesapeake Bay Bowl (CBB) is a regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), featuring teams of high school students from Maryland, Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. First-place winners will join 24 other regional competitions winners in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl championship in Gulf Coast, MS from April 16-19, 2020. To learn more about the competition, visit the Chesapeake Bay Bowl’s official page.
February 2 - World Wetlands Day. World Wetlands Day aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands in our environment. Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. Delaware has many different kinds of wetlands, including coastal salt marshes and seasonal forest ponds. For more information, visit the official World Wetlands Day webpage, or learn more about Delaware wetlands at DNREC.
February 7 - Plant Life Artist Fellowship application deadline. The Plant Life Artist Fellowship is an opportunity for artists to use their creativity to engage the Wilmington community in local environmental issues. Applicants will be selected based on their portfolios and philosophy around the topics of social and environmental justice. Visit the official page to learn more and submit your application.
February 22 - Deadline for the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. Sponsored by NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program, the Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational experience in the policies and processes of the federal government to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting these resources. Click here to learn more and apply.
February 27 — International Polar Bear Day. The Arctic may seem far away, but what happens there affects the world, whether through sea level rise, effects on biodiversity, or changes in ocean circulation. This includes polar bears, which are listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. For ideas on how to get involved, check Polar Bear International’s website.