HR: 17:15h
AN: ED24A-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences (COSIA): Universities, Oceanographic Institutions, Science Centers and Aquariums Working Together to Improve Ocean Education and Public Outreach
AU: * Glenn, S
EM: glenn@marine.rutgers.edu
AF: Rutgers University, Department and Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies, Coastal Ocean Observation Lab, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8521, United States
AU: McDonnell, J
EM: mcdonnel@marine.rutgers.edu
AF: Rutgers University, Department and Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies, Coastal Ocean Observation Lab, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8521, United States
AU: Halversen, C
EM: chalver@berkeley.edu
AF: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA 94720-5200, United States
AU: Zimmerman, T
EM: timzim@berkeley.edu
AF: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA 94720-5200, United States
AU: Ingram, L
EM: ingram@eps.berkeley.edu
AF: University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley Department of Earth and Planetary Science, and Geography, Berkeley, CA 94720-4767, United States
AB: Ocean observatories have already demonstrated their ability to maintain long-term time series, capture episodic events, provide context for improved shipboard sampling, and improve accessibility to a broader range of participants. Communicating Ocean Sciences, an already existing college course from COSEE–California has demonstrated its ability to teach future scientists essential communication skills. The NSF-funded Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences (COSIA) project has leveraged these experiences and others to demonstrate a long-term model for promoting effective science communication skills and techniques applicable to diverse audiences. The COSIA effort is one of the pathfinders for ensuring that the new scientific results from the increasing U.S. investments in ocean observatories is effectively communicated to the nation, and will serve as a model for other fields. Our presentation will describe a long-term model for promoting effective science communication skills and techniques applicable to diverse audiences. COSIA established partnerships between informal science education institutions and universities nationwide to facilitate quality outreach by scientists and the delivery of rigorous, cutting edge science by informal educators while teaching future scientists (college students) essential communication skills. The COSIA model includes scientist-educator partnerships that develop and deliver a college course that teaches communication skills through the understanding of learning theory specifically related to informal learning environments and the practice of these skills at aquariums and science centers. The goals of COSIA are to: provide a model for establishing substantive, long-term partnerships between scientists and informal science education institutions to meet their respective outreach needs; provide future scientists with experiences delivering outreach and promoting the broader impact of research; and provide diverse role models and inquiry-based ocean sciences activities for children and families visiting informal institutions. The following COSIA partners have taught the course: Hampton University – Virginia Aquarium; Oregon State University – Hatfield Marine Science Visitor's Center; Rutgers University – Liberty Science Center; University of California, Berkeley – Lawrence Hall of Science; University of Southern California – Aquarium of the Pacific; and Scripps Institution of Oceanography – Birch Aquarium. Communicating Ocean Sciences has also been taught at Stanford, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, University of Oregon (GK-12 program), University of Washington, and others. Data from surveys of students demonstrates improvement in their understanding of how people learn and how to effectively communicate. Providing college students with a background in current learning theory, and applying that theory through practical science communication experiences, will empower future generations of scientists to meet the communication challenges they will encounter in their careers.
UR: http://www.coseeca.net/collegecourse
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 4262 Ocean observing systems
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting