USC Sea Grant has developed close partnerships with a number of organizations to further marine science education. The partnerships listed below are collaborations that are emblematic of combined efforts and leveraged resources that meet the education communities' needs while also addressing Sea Grant's strategic plan.
USC Sea Grant, the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) and twenty charter schools (LACSSP) have received funding from California Math Science Partnership to research the efficacy of long-term intensive training and support for 3rd – 8th grade science teachers. The model includes lesson study design, quarterly Saturday and weeklong summer content intensives and teacher designed research investigations.
The YESS (Youth Exploring Sea Level Rise Science) project empowers youth to engage directly in climate change solutions in their own communities. Through an experiential education program that incorporates hands-on science and digital storytelling, high school students explore how their lives will be impacted by sea level rise; collect their own data and create storytelling products; and contribute meaningfully to local science and policy decisions. USC Sea Grant is a key partner in developing curriculum and expanding the project into Southern California. View curriculum. Learn more...
USC Sea Grant has joined with regional partners in Oregon, Washington and California Sea Grants to develop education resources to address aquatic invasives from modeling the spread to providing educator kits. USC is specifically addressing the role informal science centers can take in reducing the spread of aquatic invasive species through education of visitors.
USC Sea Grant along with partners provides expertise for the Sanctuary education projects. Current efforts include preventing whale strikes through education for shipping industry and impacts of climate change. Two volunteer trainings on Ocean Acidification were conducted in the fall of 2010. Learn more about the ocean acidification training here.
USC Sea Grant is working with the development and implementation of Heal the Bay's K-5 education Program. This watershed education program combines standards-aligned curriculum and teacher training with a field trip to one of our four partner aquaria and the beach. Learn More...
USC Sea Grant is a partner of the Fish Contamination Education Collaborative (FCEC). Since 2003, the EPA organized FCEC has been working to protect the most vulnerable populations in Southern California from the health risks of consuming DDT- and PCB contaminated fish from one of the largest contaminated sediment sites, the Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund site, In addition to serving as a community advisor, Sea Grant supports the development of education curriculum, professional development for staff and distribution of angler education materials with Montrose Settlement Restoration Plan partners as well as EPA staff. For more information, please visit: http://pvsfish.org/index.php/home
Montrose Settlement Restoration Program oversees the restoration of natural resources in the southern California marine environment that were harmed by DDTs and PCBs. USC Sea Grant has partnered with MRSP on a variety of education projects. Learn more...