Cutting Edge Connections
ENGAGING SCIENTISTS WITH PUBLIC AUDIENCES
Through two National Science Foundation-funded efforts, we are creating multiple opportunities for ocean scientists at OSU and around the Pacific Northwest to connect with audiences in museums, zoos, aquariums, state and national parks, and afterschool clubs. Workshops and networking opportunities pair scientists with informal educators to reach new audiences with current science while equipping scientists with new communications skills.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR INFORMAL EDUCATORS
National Science Foundation funding is also supporting the development of face-to-face and distributed, asynchronous professional-development opportunities for educators in communicating current marine and aquatic sciences research in a wide range of informal science education sites. Workshops and on-line courses help educators in museums, zoos, aquariums, state and national parks, and after school clubs develop partnerships with scientists while mastering science communication techniques. View the poster presented at the February 2010 Oceans Science Conference in Portland [PDF] [HTML].
OCAMP BRINGS TOGETHER LINCOLN COUNTY TEACHERS AND SCIENCE COMMUNITY
Dr. Rowe is a co-PI on an Oregon Department of Education funded Title IIB Math Science Partnership. The Oregon Coastal and Aquatic Marine Science Project (OCAMP) partners 32 Lincoln County K-12 teachers with informal educators and scientists from HMSC, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, and the Oregon Hatchery Research Center for professional development and the creation of high-quality, on-going marine science field experiences for Lincoln County students. Over 70 hours of professional development have been offered for the teachers since August of 2009.
RESEARCH ON LEARNING WITH LIVE ANIMALS
The Examining Visitor Engagement at Touch Tanks (EVEnTT) project partners Oregon State University with California State University, Long Beach, in a two-year research project studying engagement and learning from interactions with live animals in touch tanks at the HMSC, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and both the Aquarium of the Pacific and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in southern California.
HOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SCIENTIFIC IMAGES
The Visitors and Visualizations research focuses on what and how people learn from large-scale spherical display systems like the NOAA-funded Magic Planet exhibit, a one-meter-diameter digital sphere located at the HMSC, and a related Science-on-a-Sphere exhibit at the Maryland Science Center.
Read more in the winter 2009 Terra Magazine article “Lessons from the Magic Planet”
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
Learn about more of our current and recent projects:
