The Office of Education is a staff office in NOAA headquarters that runs several grant and scholarship programs. There are many other NOAA offices and programs that offer educational resources and opportunities. In addition to running its own programs, the Office of Education coordinates education across NOAA through the NOAA Education Council. The office was established in 2005.
Undergraduate scholarships
Our student scholarship programs provide opportunities for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in STEM while pursuing research and educational training in NOAA-mission sciences. The following programs share a common application (open September through January), and students who are eligible are encouraged to apply to both. Learn more about our undergraduate scholarships.
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
The Hollings Scholarship provides successful applicants with awards that include academic assistance of up to $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship at any NOAA facility nationwide, with travel expenses included. Scholars also receive support to present their research at up to two national conferences.
José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP) Undergraduate Scholarship Program
The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship provides awards of up to $9,500 per year for two years of undergraduate study to rising juniors at Minority Serving Institutions who are majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields that directly support NOAA's mission. EPP/MSI Scholars conduct research at NOAA facilities during two 10-week, full-time paid summer internships. Scholars also receive support to present their research at up to two national conferences.
Grants and partnerships
The Office of Education supports education projects and programs through competitively awarded grants, cooperative agreements, and partnerships to a variety of educational institutions and organizations in the United States.
Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)
NOAA's B-WET program funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs).
B-WET engages in strategic partnerships to build capacity for STEM education and outdoor learning:
- U.S. Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers
- California Environmental Literacy Initiative offsite link
- Campaign for Outdoor Learning offsite link
- Chesapeake Bay Program offsite link
- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative offsite link
- Gulf of America Alliance offsite link
- NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program
Partnerships for Collaborative Learning
The Partnerships for Collaborative Learning (PCL) program supports long-term partnerships that help enable our nation’s education community to incorporate and deliver NOAA's scientific information about the ocean, coasts, weather, and climate.
PCL provides support to organizations and networks that have proven track records in engaging the public and align with our education goals. In turn, these partners integrate NOAA expertise and products into their programming to help us reach audiences in new ways:
- American Meteorology Society Datastreme offsite link
- Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers network
- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) offsite link
- eeBLUE offsite link
- Exploratorium offsite link
- The GLOBE Program
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program offsite link
- National Ocean Sciences Bowl offsite link
José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP) Cooperative Science Centers
The Cooperative Science Centers advance education and collaborative research, support U.S. students, and build capacity in NOAA-mission sciences. There are four Centers, each of which is a consortium of academic institutions led by a minority serving institution (MSI) and partnered with a NOAA line office. Together, the CSCs include 24 university campuses. The lead institutions for the Centers are:
- Florida A&M University offsite link
- City College of the City University of New York offsite link
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore offsite link
- Howard University offsite link
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
NOAA's 'Taking the Pulse of the Planet' Award recognizes outstanding student projects in ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate sciences.
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an academic competition for students in grades K-12. NOAA has teamed up with Science Olympiad to provide in-depth and up-to-date resources for several events. NOAA employees also assist in supervising events at competitions and offering workshops for coaches.
NOAA Science On a Sphere®
NOAA’s Science On a Sphere® (SOS) program develops data visualization technologies that show Earth and space data as they were meant to be seen: on a sphere! SOS was originally developed as a global display system that projects visualizations of planetary data onto a 6-foot diameter sphere to show current Earth system science processes in large exhibit spaces. In addition, NOAA offers SOS Explorer® (SOSx), a virtual globe for computers and mobile devices. SOS and SOSx are captivating educational tools that are used in science museums, zoos, aquariums, universities, and schools around the world. In 2021, the SOS program moved from NOAA Research to the Office of Education.
Science On a Sphere Users Collaborative Network
The Science On a Sphere® Users Collaborative Network (SOS Network) is composed of institutions who use Science On a Sphere® in an educational setting. It serves as a forum for sharing information on the creation of new content, technical improvements, and evaluations.
Science On a Sphere in Silver Spring
NOAA's Science On a Sphere® at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, is an excellent venue for public outreach. It also gives NOAA staff an opportunity to develop, explore, and showcase their work on this animated global display.
Coordination
NOAA takes an “all hands on deck” approach to education. As a result, many different offices across NOAA have a role to play in supporting NOAA’s mission through education. NOAA also works with a wide variety of external partners. The Office of Education represents and coordinates education to build capacity and collaborate both within the agency and with our external stakeholders.
Aquaculture literacy
Recognizing a need for cross-sectoral partnerships to enhance public understanding of aquaculture, NOAA Fisheries, the National Sea Grant Office, and NOAA Office of Education have worked together since 2017 to coordinate NOAA’s efforts supporting aquaculture literacy.
Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers
The Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) network is a consortium of 25 aquariums and marine science education centers located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico coordinated by NOAA's Office of Education.
Communication and outreach
The Education Outreach Center promotes environmental literacy and increased awareness of NOAA through outreach event guidance, planning, and material support. The center provides educational materials from across NOAA lines and programs in support of agency conferences and community outreach events through requests from formal and informal educators, students, researchers, emergency services personnel, and NOAA employees.
Data in the Classroom
With NOAA’s Data in the Classroom, students use historical and real-time NOAA data to explore today’s most pressing environmental issues. Each module addresses research questions, includes stepped levels of engagement and builds students’ abilities to understand, interpret, and think critically about data.
NOAA Education Council
The Office of Education chairs the NOAA Education Council. NOAA educators from offices across the agency come together in the Council to collaborate, share ideas, and continually improve NOAA Education.
Past programs
Environmental Literacy Program
NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program provided grants and in-kind support for programs that educate and inspire people to use Earth system science to improve ecosystem stewardship and increase resilience to environmental hazards. For 20 years, the program built capacity for institutions and networks to advance NOAA’s mission through formal (K-12) and informal education at national, regional, and local levels.
Young Changemakers Fellowship
The eeBLUE Young Changemakers Fellowship (YCF) was a program dedicated to collaborating with and empowering the next generation of ocean and environmental leaders.