Educational resources on our world's ocean
National Geographic Education Programs has created thousands of free educational resources aligned with National Standards, for use by teachers, informal educators, families, students, and kids. As part of the National Geographic Society’s Ocean Initiative, which aims to restore health and productivity to the ocean, NGEP has developed more than 450 ocean and geography themed assets in support of ocean education. These materials are meant to inspire people to care and act, reduce the impact of fishing, and promote the creation of marine protected areas. Explore natgeoed.org/ocean for high-quality activities, videos, photos, maps, encyclopedic entries, and articles to enhance knowledge and inspire a sense of ownership of the ocean.
Teachers and students can use TED Studies: Marine Biology to enhance existing curricula in undergraduate education courses. Educators and students will find activities and multimedia resources which link the study of Marine Biology to the real world, plus expanded academic content such as key terms, related journal articles and major debates in this highly topical area. For an abridged, interactive version of this content, subscribe to the TED Studies: Marine Biology course via the iTunesU course app for iPad by clicking here .
Oxford University, Somerville College
Prof. Alex Rogers
Alex Rogers is a Professor of Conservation Biology at the Department of Zoology and a Fellow of Oxford University, Somerville College. He obtained his first degree in Marine Biology at the University of Liverpool and a Ph.D. in the genetics and taxonomy of marine invertebrates also at Liverpool. In his early career Alex held Research Fellowships at the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth and at the University of Southampton’s National Oceanography Centre. Since then he has lead the Core Programme on Biodiversity at British Antarctic Survey and then moved to the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, where he became a reader in marine ecology.
One More Generation - OMG
One More Generation is a nonprofit organization founded by two elementary students who are dedicated to the preservation of endangered species and our environment. Their goal is to ensure all endangered species survive at least One More Generation… and beyond.
After starting OMG, Olivia (now 11) and her brother Carter (now 13) got involved in the animal rescue efforts during the BP Gulf Oil Spill. While they were in the Gulf they learned firsthand how plastic pollution affected animals in our oceans more than the oil from the oil spill. The two then launched their Plastic Awareness Coalition and then created various environmental-education programs.
The curriculum we're sharing with our TMP citizens is called "Effects of Plastic Pollution" which Olivia and Carter created in an effort to teach kids about the problem of plastics in our ocean. This curriculum is an area not currently being covered in traditional classrooms.
Encyclopedia of Life - EOL
The Encyclopedia of Life has gathered information from all over the world to create the largest repository of species known to science. Their mission is to increase awareness and understanding of living nature through an Encyclopedia of Life that gathers, generates, and shares knowledge in an open, freely accessible and trusted digital resource.
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. As part of CFR's Studies Program, the International Institutions and Global Governance (IIGG) program produces articles, reports, and books and holds roundtables that analyze global governance issues and make concrete policy recommendations, including governance of the world’s oceans. IIGG’s flagship interactive, the Global Governance Monitor, features nine components, including the Oceans Monitor which provides a comprehensive guide to oceans governance.
The Safina Center
The Safina Center creates an original blend of science, art and literature that inspires a deeper connection with nature, especially the sea. They translate scientific information into language people can understand and serve as a unique voice of hope, guidance, and encouragement. Their mission is to motivate people to actively engage as constituents for conservation.
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) is an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education by introducing high school students to and engaging them in ocean science, preparing them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helping them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards. The NOSB’s focus on ocean science education is important. Humans rely on a healthy ocean for oxygen, resources, jobs, and more. Our future leaders must be knowledgeable about ocean issues.
SciStarter is the place to find, join, and contribute to science through recreational activities and citizen science research projects. Their database of citizen science projects enable discovery, organization, and greater participation in citizen science. SciStarter brings together the millions of citizen scientists in the world; the thousands of potential projects offered by researchers, organizations, and companies; and the resources, products, and services that enable citizens to pursue and enjoy these activities. They aim to:
- Enable and encourage people to learn about, participate in, and contribute to science through both informal recreational activities and formal research efforts.
- Inspire greater appreciation and promote a better understanding of science and technology among the general public.
- Create a shared space where scientists can talk with citizens interested in working on or learning about their research projects.
- Satisfy the popular urge to tinker, build, and explore by making it simple and fun for people—singles, parents, grandparents, kids—to jump in and get their hands dirty with science.
Built by dedicated journalists, educators, and entrepreneurs, Press4Kids is the publisher of the award winning series News-O-Matic, the daily news application for young readers. P4K's team shares the goal of informing children about current news and world events — and inspiring them to read on a daily basis. They devoted a great deal of time and energy to ensure that News-O-Matic seamlessly combines literacy, fun, reading opportunities, and gamification to produce an engaging and interactive learning experience. Their highly experienced team of writers are kept very busy, committed to delivering the latest news content every weekday, 52 weeks a year. In addition, a daily Teacher’s Guide is provided to aid educators in class discussions. They are driven by the idea of motivating a generation of conscientious global citizens.