An essential component of the NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) mission is to enhance ocean science and literacy and to build interest in careers that support ocean related work. To help fulfill this mission, the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection was developed to encourage educators and students to become engaged in real time with the voyages and discoveries of the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer – America’s first federal ship dedicated to Ocean Exploration. Join NOAA OER Facilitator Melissa Ryan, as you are introduced to volume 1 of the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection: Why Do We Explore?

School is in session which means it is time for the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s annual awards program! Every year the Trust, a non-profit grantmaking organization dedicated to environmental education and restoration work, recognizes two students and one teacher from Maryland who have shown a strong commitment to their local environment and the Chesapeake Bay. The winning students are honored with a $5,000 college scholarship and the winning teacher will be given a $2,500 grant award to support environmental education through the Trust. The winners will be formally announced at the Trust’s Legislative Reception at the Maryland State House in January 2015. Applicants can be self-nominated or nominated by individuals who are not family members and the deadline to apply is December 5, 2014 at 5:00 pm.