NOAA's Teacher at Sea program is an incredible opportunity for teachers to engage in scientific research aboard NOAA vessels, while connecting with their students via daily logs, emails, pictures, and videos. Scientific missions include fisheries and ecosystem research, oceanographic research, servicing oceanic tsunami, seismic, and data buoys, and mapping and surveying, on NOAA ships in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. Teachers have the opportunity to long-line sharks, photograph whales, tag lobsters, map shoaling areas after hurricanes, or do a bottom survey after a tsunami! Teacher responsibilities after the cruise include creating lesson plans to incorporate the science learned into the classroom and giving presentations at education conferences. Past participants of this program will share their excitement and experiences at sea, with examples of lesson plans and units developed as a result of their missions. The audience will discover what a rewarding professional development experience this can be, along with information on applying and being selected. For the landlubbers, learn how to access the scientists on NOAA ships and set up dialogues with your students.

NOAA Teachers at Sea also have the opportunity to sail on NOAA's ship Okeanos Explorer, the only Federal vessel dedicated to exploring our largely unknown ocean. The vessel is designed for science operations under the command of scientists working from shore-based “Exploration Command Centers.” Virtually linking the expedition in real time through telepresence technology, scientists will be able to visualize the ocean through high-definition video, and communicate instructions to onboard technicians and supporting scientists through audio connections. Those connected ashore will include scientists, educators, the general public and media, providing greater intellectual capital to ocean exploration to increase the tempo, scope, and scale of global ocean exploration. Collaborations between scientists and educators within the Ocean Exploration program to enhance ocean science literacy will also be discussed.