OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

Outreach Programs

 

HIMB offers opportunities to integrate marine science with hands-on activities and public classes using interdisciplinary approaches. Alongside of the research and management, education and outreach efforts communicate the science arising from the partnership and target various audiences by providing a diverse array of programs and promote stewardship awareness. Our outreach goals are to inspire local students and community members to explore marine sciences. Below are some of the programs we offer.

Developing interest in marine science careers

NEW: HIMB Science Activities for Download:

Sound & Observation: Listening for Clues. By: Carlie Wiener
How do scientists use sound to observer and monitor environments? Can acoustic monitoring provide a measure of biological monitoring?

 

What Do You Do When A Net Surrounds You? By: Carlie Wiener
How do different species interact with their environment? Can marine debris affect this?

 

Ecosystem Penpals

Ecosystem Penpals is an environmental, cultural and natural history exchange program that brings together 4th grade students from two communities adjacent to National Marine Sanctuaries – one is in the Hawaiian Islands (Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument), and the other from Neah Bay, Washington (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary). The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with their own ecosystems through the study of local ecology and cultural communications, and be able to compare and contrast their ecosystems with others in the Pacific. This project will focus on local knowledge and scientific study as a way to understand ocean communities and natural history.

Navigating Change Curriculum - Coconut Island Field Trip Site

The Navigating Change marine conservation curriculum has included HIMB as one of its recommended field sites. HIMB is incorporated into the curriculum for both school visits and trips out to HIMB. This allows students to learn about marine science careers, and some of the research we do in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Ocean FEST (Families Exploring Science Together)

Ocean FEST is an NSF funded program developed in partnership with the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education to increase interest in marine science careers amongst Hawai‘i’s local student. This program presents a fun two hour event at public or charter schools state-wide that create fun and interesting activities for both students and parents. Twenty schools per year are selected to participate. The program includes a teacher training so that educators can bring the new activities/knowledge into their classrooms. Ocean properties, microbial communities, scientific method, coral reefs and ocean acidification are just some of the concepts included in the program.

Reaching out to the community

Windward Community College Continuing Education Course: Moku O Lo‘e: The Best Kept Secret in Kāne‘ohe Bay

This course will introduce participants to the rich history of Moku O Lo‘e and the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB).  Each week different HIMB scientists will join the class to talk about the research they conduct (related to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands) and walk the class through a related lab or field activity. Students get an opportunity to observe research techniques first-hand and participate in science activities. Areas of focus include an overview of Coconut Island, HIMB and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, coral disease, reef monitoring, fish studies, alien species and much more.

Ocean Awareness Training

Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology hosts this fall's Ocean Awareness Training at Windward Community College and Coconut Island. Various marine conservation organizations on Oahu have joined together to offer this training course which provides multi-disciplinary knowledge of Hawai‘i's unique marine environment. Participants learn about current ocean conservation efforts and are required to take part in all training sessions (~15 hours of instruction), and a three-hour field project in order to receive C.O.R.A.L. certification (Care of our Culture, Oceans, Reefs and Animal Life). Training topics include marine ecology of the Hawaiian Islands, protected species, threats to coastal and marine environments, marine life identification and more.

For more information on any of the programs listed please contact:

Carlie Wiener
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Research & Outreach
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
P.O. Box 1346 Kaneohe, HI  96744
cwiener@hawaii.edu
808.236.7496

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