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Examples of Broader Impacts Projects

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Camp Launch
Camp Launch is a joint program with VIMS educators and W&M School of Education that provides a 2-week residential science enrichment camp for high-achieving, underserved middle and high school students. VIMS educators provide marine science content, laboratory and field experiences for rising 9th and 10th grade participants. VIMS faculty, staff and students can connect with Camp Launch participants to share their research and serve as mentors and career role models.

VIMS Summer Camp
CBNERR conducts multi-day summer camps to provide students in grades three through 12 with hands-on experiences related to the York River watershed, wetlands, underwater grass beds, and key Bay flora and fauna species through field trips, group activities, games and crafts. Multi-day programs allow for in-depth marine science investigation by providing ample time for preparation, question formulation, data gathering, data analysis, knowledge acquisition, final analysis and reflection.

 
Virginia Scientists & Educators Alliance (VA SEA)
VA SEA is a network of graduate students, teachers and informal educators aimed at translating scientific research into usable lesson plans. The VA SEA program is co-led by CBNERR and the VIMS Marine Advisory Program, and has hosted 30 graduate students from various institutions. Lesson plans are available online at: vims.edu/vasea

Discovery Labs
Since 2007, the Reserve has offered family oriented, hands-on discovery labs on a monthly basis focused on a specific marine science topic. Discovery Labs include an expert presentation, research and management issues as related to a specific topic, as well as relevant kids’ activities

Virginia Coastal Ecosystems Field Course
Learning from scientists and educators, K-12 science teachers participating in this field course receive: Virginia SOL-relevant content in marine biology, chemistry, physics, earth and ocean sciences, and technology; teaching resources for the classroom and field; and a meaningful outdoor educational experience that both models a MWEE and generates data they will be able to use in the classroom. VIMS scientists can incorporate this course into their Broader Impacts plan by developing and delivering a content session, field component, or other educational opportunity for enrolled participants.

Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) 
Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) are three or four-day professional development trainings for K-12 teachers typically focused on meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs), but can have personalized focus and target audiences.  In addition to classroom training about the structure and purpose of MWEEs, teachers receive immersive field experiences to provide models the can deliver or modify for their own students.

Teacher Workshops
VIMS Educators can help you design and plan a workshop to share your research with K-12 science teachers. Educator workshops are offered during the summer and throughout the year, ranging in length from an hour to one day or up to a week. All workshops provide teaching resources and the practical application of current marine science to the classroom setting.

Teacher Research Interns
VIMS scientists can host secondary level science teachers in their laboratories for one or multiple weeks to provide teachers with exposure to and professional development in research process, critical thinking and authentic science. These teachers can then use this experience to enhance their science teaching and classroom science content.

K-12 School Programs
CBNERR offers field-based programs that introduce a wide variety of estuarine environments and support aspects of the ‘meaningful Chesapeake Bay experience’. The Reserve leverages the educational impact of all field experiences through the use of pre- and post-field trip lessons and classroom visits, where education staff provide assistance to K-12 school teachers through in-class activities or online resources.

Bridge Ocean Science Education Resource Center
The Bridge  is an ever-growing collection of the best marine education materials available online.The Bridge provides educators with a convenient source of accurate and useful information on global, national, and regional marine science topics, and gives research scientists an outlet for Broader Impacts and educational outreach projects. Resources are organized by subject and are searchable by topic and grade level.VIMS scientists wishing to expand their audience can work with our educators to develop data-based lesson plans illustrating their research.