How the Maury Project Supports Teaching and Learning about Marine and Coastal Environments

The Maury Project has been an important component of the AMS education program since 1994. In its nearly seven-year tenure, over 175 educators from kindergarten through university levels have attended one of its two-week summer workshops at the U.S. Naval Academy. This unique partnership of AMS, the Naval Academy, the Navy and NOAA that focuses on the physical foundations of oceanography. This papersummarizes how the Maury Project promotes the study of the marine and coastal environments, areas of vital interest to the agencies sponsoring this program.

The unique feature of the Maury Project is its focus on physical processes. Nearly all other teacher enhancement programs in oceanography have a strong biological component. Teachers who attend the Maury Project summer workshops are provided with a learning experience that enables them to understand the structure and dynamics of the oceans and methods for measuring its physical properties. They learn about the agencies that are involved with oceanic research and operational activity and why the oceans are important to these agencies. In addition, teacher trainer modules are provided to the workshop participants so they can conduct workshops for their peers. These peer-training sessions have been a highly effective mechanism to involve teachers both nationally and internationally. Modules include such topics as wind-driven circulation systems, deep ocean water waves, and coastal upwelling. To date, over 1000 Maury peer-training sessions have reached over 18000 teachers both nationally and internationally in using the oceans to enhance teaching of science and mathematics. This partnership comprised of a professional society, scientific and operational agencies working as colleagues with precollege educators provides an excellent model for enhancing the study of the marine and coastal environments.