The Bridge staff and "Scuttlebutt", the Bridge email discussion list, are asked a number of common questions time and again. To help others with the same queries, we have compiled the list of questions into an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page with answers from both Bridge staff and Scuttlebutt subscribers. If you do not find the answer to your marine science education question here, feel free to post your inquiry to the Bridge or Scuttlebutt.
Click on any of the following questions, to read the responses.
Q. I will be teaching a new oceanography course at our high school this school year. Can you recommend a syllabus or textbook that would be appropriate for 11th and 12th grade?
A. Check out my web site, you can find my course syllabus there as well as things I do with my kids. I teach a 11/12 th grade oceanography class.
http://www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs/academic/science/bjewell/ocean/osyl.shtml
Beth Jewell, Scuttlebutt subscriber
A. A list of textbooks recommended by the Technical Advisory Panel for the
National Ocean Sciences Bowl (a marine science academic competition for
high school students) can be found at http://www.coreocean.org/Dev2Go.web?id=211453&rnd=29415. These textbooks are college level, but may be appropriate for an advanced high school level class.
For those of you not familiar with the National Ocean Sciences Bowl
(NOSB), check out their website at http://www.nosb.org. The first NOSB was held April 1998 and all involved, from students to volunteers behind the scene, found it to be an excellent and very worthwhile experience.
Lisa Ayers Lawrence, Bridge staff
A. I've used "Intro to Oceanography" by David Ross (1995) and thought it
was very comprehensive and easy to read.
Gretchen Crapa, Scuttlebutt subscriber
A. No discussion of high school curricula is complete without mentioning the University of Hawaii's excellent Marine Science Studies, a set of two text books, one physical (The Fluid Earth) and one biological (The Living Ocean). Information is at: http://www.hawaii.edu/crdg/catalog/science/felo/.
Lee Larkin, Bridge staff
A. I'll probably take heat for this, but I have broad shoulders. I preferred to go without a text. There is so much material out there that does not require a text that to buy one seemed counterproductive to me for the better part of 30 years. That having been said, if you feel you must have a text I like these two:
Marine Science, Thomas Greene, Amsco School Publications - Well thought out, logical presentation. Very readable and covers a wide variety of topics. Includes lab experiments.
Marine Biology: An Ecological Approach - A good basic text that has application on many coastlines. More of a college level text if your students are looking for that.
You should also lay in a copy of the following:
The Marine Biology Coloring Book, Thomas Niesen - Don't dismiss this as an academic lightweight. It's not.
A good all-around oceanography reference.
My favorites are, in no particular order, by Segar, Thurman, Duxbury, Garrison (either version), and Gross. Which one you choose may well be influenced by where you are working.
Gene Williamson, Scuttlebutt subscriber
Q.I would like to develop an oceans or sea life unit for my students. Could you please send me all of the resources you have?
A. We are thrilled to hear from new teachers who are expanding their curriculum to include ocean science. However, because the Bridge is a website, we do not offer paper resources for teachers. We encourage teachers to explore our Lesson Plans page to collect resources for an oceans or sea life unit.
Susanna Musick, Bridge staff
Q. Can you recommend any marine ecotourism programs geared towards educators?
A. The Earthwatch Institute does some incredible trips all over the world (including marine). I have never personally gone but I have heard positive responses from others that have participated in their programs. If you are an educator, you can apply for an "Education Award" where they will help fund part or all of your trip. Their website lists their projects for this upcoming year and can give you more of an insight into their programs. http://www.earthwatch.org
Lesley Gates, Scuttlebutt subscriber
A. I took part in an Earthwatch expedition to St. Croix to study leatherback
turtles in 1992. I would say these expeditions are not really
"eco-tourism." Participants in Earthwatch expeditions help scientists
conduct research. Living arrangements range from hotel rooms to cabins.
The scientists in charge have no obligation to show participants the area,
although the ones in charge of our expedition did give us a tour of the
island and an off-day to snorkel at the underwater sanctuary off St. John's.
In terms of quality, the expedition was fantastic. I obtained an individual grant to bring 8 high school seniors and two chaperones on the expedition. We were on the beach for 10 nights patrolling for incoming females and recorded physical data, triangulated the location of nests, counted the numbers of eggs laid and relocated nests laid in erosion-prone areas. Real science, which is published by the researchers in conjunction with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It was great!
Laurie McDonough, Scuttlebutt subscriber
A. Although the Bridge does not endorse any particular company, both Earthwatch Institute and Ecoteach have been recommended to us as providing trips for educators. In addition to "ecotours", there are many other field activities that educators can get involved in over summer break including several at sea opportunities. For a list of what's available, check out the Bridge's Teacher Programs and Summer Opportunities for Teachers.
Lisa Ayers Lawrence, Bridge staff
Q. We are conducting a career workshop at our school. Can you recommend any good resources on marine science careers, colleges, etc.?
A. For information on careers in marine science, be sure to check out the resources on the Bridge's Careers page. Be sure to visit Sea Grant's new Marine Careers Net website (http://www.marinecareers.net/) which profiles people in a variety of different marine science careers with a variety of different educational backgrounds. This site also gives a salary range for each position (another frequently asked question).
The Bridge's Academic Programs page provides links to universities offering undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in marine science or marine-related fields. And, our Student Opportunities and Summer Opportunities pages have links to extra-curricular activities that students may become involved in to help jump-start their marine science careers.
Lisa Ayers Lawrence, Bridge staff
A. Following are a couple of web sites with pages on, and links to pages on,
strategies for careers in the marine sciences, of which the first is the
most comprehensive:
http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/careers.html
http://www.seaworld.org/Careers/careerinfo.html
For an excellent and comprehensive look at strategies on careers in marine
mammal science as well as a list of references on careers in the marine
sciences, please visit the Society for Marine Mammalogy's career site at: http://www.marinemammalogy.org/strat.htm
For "Opportunities for Action in Marine Conservation Biology", which
includes info on jobs and internships, visit the Marine Conservation Biology
Institute at:
http://www.mcbi.org/
Susan Wallace, Scuttlebutt subscriber
Q. What is the average salary of a marine scientist?
A. Salaries for any career in the field of marine science can vary considerably depending on educational background, experience, and even the area of the country. For a general idea of salaries, check out Sea Grant's Marine Careers Net.
Bridge staff
Q. Can the Bridge help me with my homework assignment or report?
A. The Bridge is intended as a resource center where K-12 teachers can find marine education resources such as marine science information, lesson plans and classroom activities. While students may find the answers to their homework questions or information for reports on the Bridge, we do not offer informational services for student assignments and ask that they do not email the Bridge or Scuttlebutt (the Bridge discussion list) with these requests. However, educators are encouraged to email the Bridge or Scuttlebutt with any questions concerning marine science or marine education.
Bridge staff
The Bridge is supported by the National Sea Grant Office, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, and the National Marine Educators Association.