Attention high school students and teachers...The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), in partnership with the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) and the Ocean Today Kiosk at the Smithsonian Institution, is sponsoring the 2012 Living on the Ocean Planet video contest, first launched by GOMMEA in 2008.
Any students currently enrolled in high school are eligible to submit a 2 minute video on this year's contest theme "A Sea of Change: Development and Evolution," which includes not only biological evolution, but also the adaptations of humans to a changing ocean. Prizes will be awarded to the top submissions at both the regional and national level. The 1st national place video team will receive a Kodak Playsport waterproof video camera. The 1st place team's video will also premiere on the Ocean Today Kiosk at the Sant Ocean Hall in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History!
Join environmental and science educators from around the country for a dynamic and fun-filled residential program on Audubon's famed Hog Island, in the scenic mid-coast area of Maine. Designed for both science and non-science educators, this session will generate exciting ideas for creating and incorporating environmental education activities into your curriculum and teaching. Our inspiring and experienced instructors will share their favorite approaches, methods, and activities for engaging children with nature.
Workshops using techniques in field biology, art, music, photography, theater, journaling, and other disciplines will be presented, as well as a host of classic Audubon Camp field trips. We'll visit the nearby restored Atlantic Puffin and seabird colony, as well as explore Hog Island's magnificent spruce forest and its rich intertidal zones. The island receives four tidal flows each day, with a range of 9-11 feet, and is located in Muscongus Bay.
There is a $50 Early Bird Discount for those registering by December 15, 2011
Great networking opportunities, delicious home-cooking, and the experience of living on a 330 acre wildlife sanctuary island will make this a memorable and cherished experience.
Children's book author and activist Lynne Cherry will be our special guest. Instructors include veteran field biologist Ted Gilman, artist Sherrie York, world class photographer/instructor Steve Morello, award-winning educator/musician Trudy Phillips science educator/musician Craig Newberger, Disney Conservation Hero "Seabird Sue Schubel", and Gulf of Maine Visionary Awardee Pete Salmansohn.
Continuing Education Credits are available. Go to http://hogisland.audubon.org for full details, pricing schedule, photographs, staff biographies, and information on scholarships
Blending art and science. December 8, 2011
See flier below for details.
The 2012 National Marine Educators Association Conference
Save the Date! The 2012 National Marine Educators Association Conference
will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 24-28, co-hosted by the Northwest
Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME) chapter and the Alaska Center for Ocean
Science Education Excellence (COSEE). Conference strands will focus on
science and art, science and culture, science and technology, and Large
Marine Ecosystem science and education, with a special emphasis on
integrating traditional knowledge and western marine and aquatic science
education.
The call for proposals will begin on December 1 and pre-registration will
begin on January 16, 2012. For more conference details, go
to www.nmeaweb.org
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wild & Scenic Film Festival hosted by Friends of Casco Bay
University of Southern Maine, Hannaford Hall, Portland, ME
Join Friends of Casco Bay for outstanding nature films and animated shorts, followed by a reception to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne.
Doors open at 4pm, popcorn & cash bar 4-5pm, films 5-7pm, cake following
Tickets: $15 (plus service fee), $20 at the door Tickets on sale now at www.cascobay.org
September 15, 2011
Dear GOMMEA Board -
We have finalized the details of GOMMEA's Lobster Bake & Open House on September 15th. We hope you can share this to all of our extended networks - via email, websites, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, pony express, and the old-fashioned word of mouth. Bring a colleague, your spouse, your family (babysitting is provided for $15/child). Consider this a celebration for all of us, and an opportunity to see old friends and connect with new folks in the region.
Thanks to our gracious hostess, Perrin Chick, we now have a lovely on-line RSVP and payment function (in addition to the option of sending checks to Don Hudson): Click on this link and you can share it easily to your social network.
Attached are the details (in PDF for sharing, or Word for cutting and pasting into your newsletter or website. Details re: our annual meeting will follow.
Thanks for being part of GOMMEA!
Best,
Suzy July 15, 2011
Coastal Places, Processes, and Partnerships:
Balancing values and expectations on Maine's beaches- click for details
June 26-29, 2011
Exploring the Ocean Through Science and Children's Literature
Professional development for educators to incorporate marine studies across the curriculum
click for details
We are pleased to invite you to an evening with...
Dr. Carl Safina
In the Same Net: Ocean Life, Ethics, and the Human Spirit
Fisheries, coral reefs, forests, climate change, poverty, and peace--these are all facets of the same issue. In a talk that is part autobiography, part science lecture, and part book-reading, scientist and author Carl Safina tells the story of his global journey from fisherman to scientist to the realization that the changes he's witnessed reflect the challenges facing not just nature but all of humankind.
Dr. Safina will also discuss how scientific findings have ethical implications, how religion and science are converging toward common cause on environmental matters, and how moral responses can add momentum toward solutions that are becoming increasingly crucial. Despite serious trends, recent good news indicates there is a path forward.
Join us...
Monday, April 25, Abromson Center, USM
5:30 - reception, 6:30 - talk, 7:30 - book signing
RSVP by 4/22: 624-6222 or Lorraine.lessard@maine.gov
- or -
Tuesday, April 26, Harold Alfond Hall, St. Joseph's College
5:30 - reception, 6:30 - talk, 7:30 - book signing
RSVP by 4/22: 893-7723 or cdaniels@sjcme.edu
Feb 2011
"From the Bow Seat" film release and student essay contest
(click for press release: .docx.pdf)
New documentary on the Gulf of Maine is a "a film of exploration with gems of ocean learning throughout"
The Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association (GOMMEA) has announced a collaborative effort to increase ocean literacy and student awareness of the Gulf of Maine, the rich marine ecosystem bounded by the coasts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and the Canadian Maritimes. The 30-year-old local chapter of the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) is partnering with independent film maker Linda Cabot to promote and share the film, "From the Bow Seat." The film profiles a "voyage of discovery" of a mother and her teenage daughters as they seek out people engaged in understanding and protecting the living resources of the Gulf of Maine.
As a way to engage high school students, the partnership is sponsoring an essay contest challenging students around the region and the US. Essays may be submitted until September 15th. Educators, including high school teachers and home school instructors, may receive a free teacher packet and copy of the DVD by emailing info@fromthebowseat.org. Prizes for students who write the winning essays are S2,500, $1,500, and $500; the science department of the first-place winner receives an additional $2,500. FMI, go www.fromthebowseat.org.
"From the Bow Seat" is an hour-long film featuring interviews with leaders in marine research and conservation. Diane Cowan of The Lobster Conservancy, Stephen Kress of Project Puffin, Carl Wilson, lobster biologist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and Colin Woodard, author of Lobster Coast and Oceans End, explain the issues that affect the birds, lobsters, and fishes of the Gulf.
The film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from marine educators throughout the region:
Jeff Sandler, who performs for audiences of all ages as Mr. Fish, a founder of GOMMEA, calls it "a film of exploration with gems of ocean learning throughout."
Marine scientist and local author Mary Cerullo of Friends of Casco Bay said, "The film shows the rich mix of marine resources within the Gulf of Maine from the perspective of harvesters, ecologists, and researchers."
Perrin Chick, Education Director of Seacoast Science Center of New Hampshire and former teacher: "...the still images in this film were very powerful and really captured the change that has occurred over time."
Susan Ryan, President of the Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association: "This film is timely, informative and engaging - think of PBS documentary meets YouTube video - a perfect venue for reaching high school students."
Robert Rocha, President of Massachusetts Marine Educators and Chair of NMEA 2011 Annual Conference: "This film is a great mix of human and natural resources, education by example, and an honest portrayal of alterations to Gulf of Maine ecosystems, all without preaching at the audience."
Sponsors include the Gulf of Maine Marine Educators Association (Maine), www.gommea.org and Massachusetts Marine Educators (Massachusetts), www.massmarineeducators.org in partnership with:
Friends of Casco Bay (South Portland, ME)
Gundalow Company (Portsmouth, NH)
Marine Environmental Research Institute (Blue Hill, ME)
Mr. and Mrs. Fish Marine Education Program (South Portland, ME)
New Hampshire Sea Grant (Durham, NH)
Shoals Marine Lab (ME/NH)
Seacoast Science Center (Rye, NH)
Southeastern New England Marine Educators (CT, RI)
This year's Summit will be at the University of New Hampshire in Durham
on November 11th, 12th and 13th. A keynote address by Paul Snelgrove
will feature discussion of the findings of the Census of Marine Life in the Gulf of Maine.
The Summit will provide scientists and educators opportunities to network and connect, providing
new tools to both educators and scientists -- strengthening and expanding both
scientific information in education, and education components of research.
The 2010 GOMMEA Annual Meeting will take place at UNH after the summit on the 12th, and will include a lecture by Dr. Sylvia Earle.
