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COSEE-NOW proposes to use information generated by ocean observing systems (OOS) as a powerful platform to enhance public literacy about the ocean and stimulate public support for ocean research.
The mission of COSEE-NOW is to enable use of transformative ocean research and effective education practices to inspire students and the general public in ocean exploration, discovery, and stewardship.
COSEE-NOW has identified three key areas of investment that combine the
resources and experiences of the project PIs to promote high-quality
OOS education and public outreach (EPO) and contribute to the COSEE
network.
The goals include:
- Assess the knowledge and needs of target OOS audiences:
The PIs propose to survey target audiences including the K-16
students/teachers, policy/decision makers, and the science literate
public to understand their awareness, knowledge, and attitudes related
to OOS. The results of these needs assessments will enable COSEE-NOW
and OOS EPO providers to develop useful products while increasing
awareness of OOS and its relevance to these audiences.
- Improve collaboration and coordination among scientists and educators in the OOS community. This
proposed effort will support EPO programs within existing OOS networks
while helping to develop planned OOS initiatives. Our work will
increase the effective translation and dissemination of scientific data
and knowledge to broader audiences and improve use of effective
education practices among scientists in the OOS community.
- Increase public awareness of Ocean Observing Systems. COSEE-NOW
is externally focused on building public awareness of OOS through
innovative media products, K-12 classroom applications, and free-choice
learning environments. Through this goal, we expect to increase
awareness of OOS and ocean literacy concepts among a variety of target
audiences.
A thematic COSEE- Networked Ocean World (NOW) can be used as a
vehicle to provide educational leadership as observatories continue to
transition from vision to reality. This COSEE’s efforts will
serve as the pathfinder for collaborative EPO activities associated
with existing as well as new observatories, visualizations, and
cyberinfrastructure technologies that will come online in the next five
to ten years.
COSEE NOW will address identified OOS community needs including the
development of a community of educator leaders, the creation of a
coherent collection of education products, and the implementation of a
strategy for delivering these products and messages to target user
groups. In addition, we will provide the bridge linking the scientific
and societal needs of ocean observatories while promoting teaching and
learning, broadening the participation of underrepresented audiences,
enhancing education infrastructure, and disseminating our results to
educators and scientists alike.
CORE Staff will ensure the Center’s goals are met and will convene
the advisory committee and task forces. Project partners will manage
specific Center tasks. In the future, additional project partners will
be included, as the collaborative and cooperative nature of COSEE will
help leverage funding in related areas.
COSEE-NOW, its
partners, goals, and objectives, have been assembled and organized to
meet needs that have been articulated by the OOS science and EPO
communities as noted in this proposal’s letters of support. Our prior
experience in the COSEE network, proven track record in OOS EPO, and
our understanding of qualities for successful partnerships will serve
us well as we pursue the tasks outlined in this proposal.
Success of the ocean networks will be measured by improved scientific understanding of the oceans and
improved ocean literacy of human society. The proposed COSEE-NOW will
build the scientist-educator partnerships necessary to create a
networked ocean world.
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