Samuel, a Hollings Scholar, swims in snorkeling gear near to the water's surface against a background of rock and corals. The leg of a second snorkeler can be seen as the person swims out of the shot.

Samuel Koeck snorkels in Kāneʻohe Bay to collect collector urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) for his 2021 Hollings summer internship with He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. (Image credit: Courtesy of Sam Koeck)

Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Education Implementation Plan

Image credit: Courtesy of Sam Koeck
Overview
Goal 1: Science-Informed Society
Goal 2: Conservation and Stewardship
Goal 3: Ready, Responsive, Resilient
Goal 4: Future Workforce
Goal 5: Organizational Excellence

Overview

Learn what NOAA Education programs are up to in FY 2022.

Goal 1: Science-Informed Society

An informed society has access to, interest in, and understanding of NOAA-related sciences and their implications for current and future events.

Goal 2: Conservation and Stewardship

Individuals and communities are actively involved in stewardship behaviors and decisions that conserve, restore, and protect natural and cultural resources related to NOAA’s mission.

Goal 3: Ready, Responsive, Resilient

Individuals and communities are ready, responsive, and resilient to the increasing challenges and impacts of hazardous weather, changes in climate, and other environmental threats monitored by NOAA.

Goal 4: Future Workforce

A diverse and highly skilled future workforce pursues careers in disciplines that support NOAA’s mission.

Goal 5: Organizational Excellence

NOAA functions in a unified manner to support, plan, and deliver effective educational programs and partnerships that advance NOAA’s mission.

Each fiscal year, NOAA Education programs identify priority strategies that support the 2021-2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan. This effort is led by the NOAA Education Council, a forum of representatives from NOAA’s major education programs. Council members represent NOAA line offices, staff offices, and programs with education activities authorized by statute.

About this plan

The Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Education Implementation Plan identifies the strategies that NOAA Education programs will implement this year to support the goals and objectives of the 2021-2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan.

In fall of 2021, Council members and the NOAA education community revised a core set of implementation strategies that support the Strategic Plan’s goals and objectives. Each strategy describes the activities that are planned for the upcoming fiscal year. By using this framework of implementation strategies, we capture changes to activities as they are implemented and responses to external or unplanned events through the year.

As a community, we will develop a shared understanding of our collective effort over the next year. In addition, we identified and discussed areas of community concern: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); partnerships, evaluation, and community empowerment. From these discussions, more refinement of strategies and key results may be developed. 

Throughout fiscal year 2022, Council members will participate in evaluation consultations to monitor any progress on and update their program strategies and planned activities. This process will be overseen by the NOAA Education Council Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. At the end of fiscal year 2022, an internal report that summarizes the implementation outcomes will be shared with the Council.

Objective 1.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds engage with NOAA-related sciences through education and outreach opportunities.

Implementation strategies

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will participate in science outreach events for youth and adults.
  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will develop and disseminate online science resources designed for youth and adults.
National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will participate in science outreach events for youth and adults.
  • National Ocean Service will develop and disseminate science resources designed for youth and adults and educators.
National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will provide formal science education opportunities for students in classrooms.
  • Sea Grant will provide informal place-based and hands-on education opportunities for youth and adults.
National Weather Service Education

  • National Weather Service will develop and disseminate weather science and safety resources, ensuring focus on development and dissemination of materials for vulnerable populations, such as Deaf and hard of hearing communities, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and the visually impaired.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will support grantees and partners to provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEES) for students and youth.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide formal and informal science education opportunities for students, youth and adults in both virtual and in-person formats.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will develop and disseminate science resources about marine debris for youth and adults.
NOAA Research Education

  • NOAA Research will provide formal and informal science education opportunities.
  • NOAA Research will develop and disseminate science resources online designed for youth and adults.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration will provide science education webinars and videos for youth and adults.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will support the integration of citizen science into education projects through grant-funded projects.
  • Office of Education will support external science education competitions for youth.
  • Office of Education will create, disseminate, and promote products that educate and entertain people.
  • Office of Education will use outreach and communications to reach new and existing audiences.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will provide formal science education opportunities for students.
  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will provide informal science education opportunities for youth and adults.

Objective 1.2. Formal and informal educators from all backgrounds integrate NOAA-related sciences into their teaching and programs.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office and partners will deliver and support professional development on climate science and solutions for educators.
  • Climate Program Office will develop and disseminate climate and education resources to educators.
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences and resources for educators.
  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will develop and disseminate online science resources designed for educators to use in the classroom.
National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will support a range of educator networks to promote and facilitate the teaching of NOAA-related sciences.
  • National Ocean Service will assess the multimedia, distance learning, and educational resource needs of educators.
  • National Ocean Service will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences to formal and informal educators.
National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences and resources for educators.
  • Sea Grant will develop and provide curriculum and other resources to P-12 formal and informal educators.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will fund grantees to provide professional development around Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for educators.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will deliver professional development opportunities for educators.
  • NOAA Fisheries will develop and disseminate science resources designed for educators and offer these resources in multiple languages.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will develop and disseminate marine debris resources designed for educators.
  • Marine Debris Program will deliver professional development trainings and workshops on marine debris to educators.
NOAA Teacher at Sea Program

  • Teacher at Sea Program will provide teacher research experiences on research cruises.
  • Teacher at Sea Program will support alumni through workshops and other opportunities.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration will develop and disseminate science educator resources through the Ocean Explorer website.
  • Ocean Exploration will deliver nationwide online educator professional development programming on Ocean Exploration sciences and resources.
Office for Coastal Management

  • National Estuarine Research Reserve System will provide and improve Teachers on the Estuary workshops for educators.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will deliver professional development opportunities for educators.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will deliver weather science and safety presentations and trainings for educators.

Objective 1.3. Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen science, education, and outreach initiatives.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office will support a national network of regional and local climate education and professional development organizations.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will build capacity of the educational community in states and school districts to be prepared to implement Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will work with science centers, museums, and aquariums to host fisheries exhibits and programming.
NOAA Research Education

  • NOAA Research will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA’s science assets into education.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration, Ocean Exploration Trust, and Schmidt Ocean Institute will develop a new cooperative Ocean Exploration education resources website to support formal and informal education.
  • Ocean Exploration will work with partners in the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute to foster cooperative ocean exploration education efforts. 
  • Ocean Exploration will support partner organizations to integrate Ocean Exploration science and education assets.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA science and education assets.
  • Office of Education will work with Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) network members to share lessons learned and promote the use of best practices.
  • Office of Education will work with Science on a Sphere (SOS) users to ensure timely integration of NOAA's science and education assets.

Objective 2.1. Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand and apply conservation and stewardship in their lives and communities.

Implementation strategies

Office for Coastal Management

  • National Estuarine Research Reserve System will deliver Conservation Action Education programs and improve the approach used.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide fisheries outreach opportunities for youth and adults.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will provide formal marine debris education and stewardship projects to students.
  • Marine Debris Program will provide informal marine debris education projects and outreach to youth and adults.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will provide resources and informal ocean stewardship action opportunities for youth.

Objective 2.2. Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate conservation and stewardship into their teaching and programs.

Implementation strategies

National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will work with and support partners and educators to integrate conservation and stewardship initiatives and implement stewardship action projects.

Objective 2.3. Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen conservation and stewardship initiatives.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will support formal education systems with student-driven conservation and stewardship programs and resources.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will work with partner organizations to host exhibits and displays about marine debris at partner sites.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will work with partner organizations to implement aquaculture literacy initiatives.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will support Ocean Guardian Schools with stewardship programs and resources.

Objective 3.1. Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand the environmental hazards facing their communities and act to increase their community resilience.

Implementation strategies

Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will support projects that provide active learning opportunities that integrate NOAA assets and use resilience plans to engage community members in resilience-related planning and practices.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will provide formal and informal education opportunities on weather science and safety for students, focusing on engaging minority-serving and vulnerable populations.
  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will provide informal education and outreach opportunities on weather safety and science for youth and adults, focusing on engaging minority-serving and vulnerable populations.

Objective 3.2. Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate environmental hazards and resilience into their teaching and programs.

No implementation strategies planned for FY 2022

Objective 3.3. Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen environmental hazards- and resilience-related initiatives.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office will advise and support climate education and resilience partnerships through federal educational grants.
  • Climate Program Office will work with partners to embed an Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) strategy in U.S. climate policy frameworks.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will emphasize approaches that address disparate vulnerabilities, as articulated in Theory of Change causal pathways, with grantees and other organizations.
  • Environmental Literacy Program will advance the development of community resilience education.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will work with partners to integrate NOAA's readiness, responsiveness, and resilience assets (including training and education) and to engage minority-serving and vulnerable populations.

Objective 4.1. Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, become aware of and interested in education and career pathways in NOAA mission disciplines.

Implementation strategies

National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will grow awareness among the nation’s diverse population of career paths that support the needs of the nation’s coastal communities.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide career interest programs and disseminate career awareness resources.
Office of Education: Higher Education

  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will provide career development programming and mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will promote career and student opportunities for students and recent graduates.

Objective 4.2. Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, explore and prepare for careers in NOAA mission disciplines.

Implementation strategies

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service will provide early career opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will work with partner organizations to provide opportunities and career exposure to students from communities that are underrepresented in NOAA mission fields.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide internships, scholarships, and fellowships for high school, undergraduate and graduate students.
NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will provide internal coordination and resources to the NOAA Student Opportunities Community of Practice. 
Office of Education: Higher Education

  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will provide internships with NOAA mentors, scholarships, and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students.
  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will implement strategic recruitment of undergraduates from underrepresented groups.
  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will work with minority serving institutions and other partners to increase opportunities for students and build institutional capacity to offer degrees in NOAA-related fields.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration will provide training and internships for undergraduate and graduate students.
NOAA Research Education

  • NOAA Research will host work-based learning for undergraduates and graduate students.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will support the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, internships, and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will provide scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will provide work-based learning opportunities to students, with a special emphasis and focus on minority, underrepresented, and vulnerable populations, when possible.

Objective 4.3. Graduates, particularly from underrepresented groups, enter the NOAA mission workforce.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office will provide climate postdoctoral opportunities for recent graduates.
National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service will remove barriers to bringing NOAA-supported early-career graduates into the NOAA workforce.
Office of Education: Higher Education

  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will work with the Office of Human Capital Services and line offices to support agency-wide recruitment efforts, particularly underrepresented minority applicants.

Objective 5.1. The NOAA Education community works together to better serve all educational audiences.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will improve its support of community-building among Education Council members.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will enable NOAA citizen science educators and researchers to collaborate across programs and offices.

Objective 5.2. The NOAA Education community is strategic, coordinated, and continually improving.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will improve the monitoring and evaluation of education programs.
NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will monitor and evaluate the portfolio of education programs.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will improve the quality of communication and storytelling about the impact of NOAA education programs. 
  • Office of Education will communicate with Congress about the impact of NOAA education programs.

Objective 5.3. The NOAA Education community advances diversity, equity, and inclusion within our programs.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will develop and implement diversity and inclusion policies that identify and remove barriers to inclusion.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will advance inclusion in, diversity of, equity of, and access to educational resources and opportunities.
Page 1 of 6
Overview
Learn what NOAA Education programs are up to in FY 2022.

Each fiscal year, NOAA Education programs identify priority strategies that support the 2021-2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan. This effort is led by the NOAA Education Council, a forum of representatives from NOAA’s major education programs. Council members represent NOAA line offices, staff offices, and programs with education activities authorized by statute.

About this plan

The Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Education Implementation Plan identifies the strategies that NOAA Education programs will implement this year to support the goals and objectives of the 2021-2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan.

In fall of 2021, Council members and the NOAA education community revised a core set of implementation strategies that support the Strategic Plan’s goals and objectives. Each strategy describes the activities that are planned for the upcoming fiscal year. By using this framework of implementation strategies, we capture changes to activities as they are implemented and responses to external or unplanned events through the year.

As a community, we will develop a shared understanding of our collective effort over the next year. In addition, we identified and discussed areas of community concern: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); partnerships, evaluation, and community empowerment. From these discussions, more refinement of strategies and key results may be developed. 

Throughout fiscal year 2022, Council members will participate in evaluation consultations to monitor any progress on and update their program strategies and planned activities. This process will be overseen by the NOAA Education Council Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. At the end of fiscal year 2022, an internal report that summarizes the implementation outcomes will be shared with the Council.

Page 2 of 6
Goal 1: Science-Informed Society
An informed society has access to, interest in, and understanding of NOAA-related sciences and their implications for current and future events.

Objective 1.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds engage with NOAA-related sciences through education and outreach opportunities.

Implementation strategies

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will participate in science outreach events for youth and adults.
  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will develop and disseminate online science resources designed for youth and adults.
National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will participate in science outreach events for youth and adults.
  • National Ocean Service will develop and disseminate science resources designed for youth and adults and educators.
National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will provide formal science education opportunities for students in classrooms.
  • Sea Grant will provide informal place-based and hands-on education opportunities for youth and adults.
National Weather Service Education

  • National Weather Service will develop and disseminate weather science and safety resources, ensuring focus on development and dissemination of materials for vulnerable populations, such as Deaf and hard of hearing communities, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and the visually impaired.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will support grantees and partners to provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEES) for students and youth.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide formal and informal science education opportunities for students, youth and adults in both virtual and in-person formats.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will develop and disseminate science resources about marine debris for youth and adults.
NOAA Research Education

  • NOAA Research will provide formal and informal science education opportunities.
  • NOAA Research will develop and disseminate science resources online designed for youth and adults.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration will provide science education webinars and videos for youth and adults.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will support the integration of citizen science into education projects through grant-funded projects.
  • Office of Education will support external science education competitions for youth.
  • Office of Education will create, disseminate, and promote products that educate and entertain people.
  • Office of Education will use outreach and communications to reach new and existing audiences.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will provide formal science education opportunities for students.
  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will provide informal science education opportunities for youth and adults.

Objective 1.2. Formal and informal educators from all backgrounds integrate NOAA-related sciences into their teaching and programs.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office and partners will deliver and support professional development on climate science and solutions for educators.
  • Climate Program Office will develop and disseminate climate and education resources to educators.
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences and resources for educators.
  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service will develop and disseminate online science resources designed for educators to use in the classroom.
National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will support a range of educator networks to promote and facilitate the teaching of NOAA-related sciences.
  • National Ocean Service will assess the multimedia, distance learning, and educational resource needs of educators.
  • National Ocean Service will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences to formal and informal educators.
National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences and resources for educators.
  • Sea Grant will develop and provide curriculum and other resources to P-12 formal and informal educators.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will fund grantees to provide professional development around Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for educators.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will deliver professional development opportunities for educators.
  • NOAA Fisheries will develop and disseminate science resources designed for educators and offer these resources in multiple languages.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will develop and disseminate marine debris resources designed for educators.
  • Marine Debris Program will deliver professional development trainings and workshops on marine debris to educators.
NOAA Teacher at Sea Program

  • Teacher at Sea Program will provide teacher research experiences on research cruises.
  • Teacher at Sea Program will support alumni through workshops and other opportunities.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration will develop and disseminate science educator resources through the Ocean Explorer website.
  • Ocean Exploration will deliver nationwide online educator professional development programming on Ocean Exploration sciences and resources.
Office for Coastal Management

  • National Estuarine Research Reserve System will provide and improve Teachers on the Estuary workshops for educators.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will deliver professional development opportunities for educators.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will deliver weather science and safety presentations and trainings for educators.

Objective 1.3. Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen science, education, and outreach initiatives.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office will support a national network of regional and local climate education and professional development organizations.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will build capacity of the educational community in states and school districts to be prepared to implement Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will work with science centers, museums, and aquariums to host fisheries exhibits and programming.
NOAA Research Education

  • NOAA Research will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA’s science assets into education.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration, Ocean Exploration Trust, and Schmidt Ocean Institute will develop a new cooperative Ocean Exploration education resources website to support formal and informal education.
  • Ocean Exploration will work with partners in the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute to foster cooperative ocean exploration education efforts. 
  • Ocean Exploration will support partner organizations to integrate Ocean Exploration science and education assets.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA science and education assets.
  • Office of Education will work with Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) network members to share lessons learned and promote the use of best practices.
  • Office of Education will work with Science on a Sphere (SOS) users to ensure timely integration of NOAA's science and education assets.
Page 3 of 6
Goal 2: Conservation and Stewardship
Individuals and communities are actively involved in stewardship behaviors and decisions that conserve, restore, and protect natural and cultural resources related to NOAA’s mission.

Objective 2.1. Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand and apply conservation and stewardship in their lives and communities.

Implementation strategies

Office for Coastal Management

  • National Estuarine Research Reserve System will deliver Conservation Action Education programs and improve the approach used.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide fisheries outreach opportunities for youth and adults.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will provide formal marine debris education and stewardship projects to students.
  • Marine Debris Program will provide informal marine debris education projects and outreach to youth and adults.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will provide resources and informal ocean stewardship action opportunities for youth.

Objective 2.2. Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate conservation and stewardship into their teaching and programs.

Implementation strategies

National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will work with and support partners and educators to integrate conservation and stewardship initiatives and implement stewardship action projects.

Objective 2.3. Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen conservation and stewardship initiatives.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will support formal education systems with student-driven conservation and stewardship programs and resources.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will work with partner organizations to host exhibits and displays about marine debris at partner sites.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will work with partner organizations to implement aquaculture literacy initiatives.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will support Ocean Guardian Schools with stewardship programs and resources.
Page 4 of 6
Goal 3: Ready, Responsive, Resilient
Individuals and communities are ready, responsive, and resilient to the increasing challenges and impacts of hazardous weather, changes in climate, and other environmental threats monitored by NOAA.

Objective 3.1. Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand the environmental hazards facing their communities and act to increase their community resilience.

Implementation strategies

Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will support projects that provide active learning opportunities that integrate NOAA assets and use resilience plans to engage community members in resilience-related planning and practices.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will provide formal and informal education opportunities on weather science and safety for students, focusing on engaging minority-serving and vulnerable populations.
  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will provide informal education and outreach opportunities on weather safety and science for youth and adults, focusing on engaging minority-serving and vulnerable populations.

Objective 3.2. Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate environmental hazards and resilience into their teaching and programs.

No implementation strategies planned for FY 2022

Objective 3.3. Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen environmental hazards- and resilience-related initiatives.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office will advise and support climate education and resilience partnerships through federal educational grants.
  • Climate Program Office will work with partners to embed an Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) strategy in U.S. climate policy frameworks.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Environmental Literacy Program will emphasize approaches that address disparate vulnerabilities, as articulated in Theory of Change causal pathways, with grantees and other organizations.
  • Environmental Literacy Program will advance the development of community resilience education.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will work with partners to integrate NOAA's readiness, responsiveness, and resilience assets (including training and education) and to engage minority-serving and vulnerable populations.
Page 5 of 6
Goal 4: Future Workforce
A diverse and highly skilled future workforce pursues careers in disciplines that support NOAA’s mission.

Objective 4.1. Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, become aware of and interested in education and career pathways in NOAA mission disciplines.

Implementation strategies

National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will grow awareness among the nation’s diverse population of career paths that support the needs of the nation’s coastal communities.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide career interest programs and disseminate career awareness resources.
Office of Education: Higher Education

  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will provide career development programming and mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will promote career and student opportunities for students and recent graduates.

Objective 4.2. Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, explore and prepare for careers in NOAA mission disciplines.

Implementation strategies

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service will provide early career opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
National Ocean Service Education

  • National Ocean Service will work with partner organizations to provide opportunities and career exposure to students from communities that are underrepresented in NOAA mission fields.
NOAA Fisheries Education

  • NOAA Fisheries will provide internships, scholarships, and fellowships for high school, undergraduate and graduate students.
NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will provide internal coordination and resources to the NOAA Student Opportunities Community of Practice. 
Office of Education: Higher Education

  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will provide internships with NOAA mentors, scholarships, and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students.
  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will implement strategic recruitment of undergraduates from underrepresented groups.
  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will work with minority serving institutions and other partners to increase opportunities for students and build institutional capacity to offer degrees in NOAA-related fields.
Ocean Exploration Education

  • Ocean Exploration will provide training and internships for undergraduate and graduate students.
NOAA Research Education

  • NOAA Research will host work-based learning for undergraduates and graduate students.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will support the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, internships, and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
National Sea Grant College Program Education

  • Sea Grant will provide scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Education

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist network will provide work-based learning opportunities to students, with a special emphasis and focus on minority, underrepresented, and vulnerable populations, when possible.

Objective 4.3. Graduates, particularly from underrepresented groups, enter the NOAA mission workforce.

Implementation strategies

Climate Program Office

  • Climate Program Office will provide climate postdoctoral opportunities for recent graduates.
National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service Education

  • National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service will remove barriers to bringing NOAA-supported early-career graduates into the NOAA workforce.
Office of Education: Higher Education

  • José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions and Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will work with the Office of Human Capital Services and line offices to support agency-wide recruitment efforts, particularly underrepresented minority applicants.
Page 6 of 6
Goal 5: Organizational Excellence
NOAA functions in a unified manner to support, plan, and deliver effective educational programs and partnerships that advance NOAA’s mission.

Objective 5.1. The NOAA Education community works together to better serve all educational audiences.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will improve its support of community-building among Education Council members.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will enable NOAA citizen science educators and researchers to collaborate across programs and offices.

Objective 5.2. The NOAA Education community is strategic, coordinated, and continually improving.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

  • Bay Watershed Education and Training Program will improve the monitoring and evaluation of education programs.
NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will monitor and evaluate the portfolio of education programs.
Office of Education: K-12 and Informal Education

  • Office of Education will improve the quality of communication and storytelling about the impact of NOAA education programs. 
  • Office of Education will communicate with Congress about the impact of NOAA education programs.

Objective 5.3. The NOAA Education community advances diversity, equity, and inclusion within our programs.

Implementation strategies

NOAA Education Council

  • Education Council will develop and implement diversity and inclusion policies that identify and remove barriers to inclusion.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Education

  • Marine Debris Program will advance inclusion in, diversity of, equity of, and access to educational resources and opportunities.