Using Ocean Observing Systems to Promote Lifelong Ocean Education

The coming ocean observing system provides an unprecedented opportunity to change both the public perception of our ocean, and to inspire, captivate and motivate our children, our young adults and our peers to pursue careers allied with the ocean and to become stewards of our planet's ocean. Within this context educators participating in the Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Networks Workshop (January 2004) and in the Integrated Ocean Observing System-Coastal Ocean Observing System and Education Workshop (March 2004) collectively sought to articulate recommendations for education allied with ocean observing systems (global, coastal, in situ, and remote sensing). At these workshops an education network was initiated and workshop recommendations called for creation of a collaborative framework to support and develop the network. This collaborative framework is to be established from existing education networks, be nationally coordinated through a coordinating center and embedded in a larger geography and Earth and space system science education collaborative. Recommendations address several other topics including identification of thematic areas and classes of education activities, availability of data and learning materials in forms that are useful and usable by educators, creating new learning materials where gaps exist, and ensuring that all citizens, especially those from underserved and underrepresented populations are engaged in ocean careers. Efforts are underway in several of these areas including expansion of the education network and identification of education, training and workforce supply and demand issues.