NOAA Ocean Exploration: Science, Education and Ocean Literacy Online and in Social Media

"Engagement" in ocean science initially might seem like a simple concept, however within an agency like NOAA, with a broad mission and a wide variety of stakeholders, the concept of engagement becomes quite complex. Several years ago, a Kellogg Commission Report was submitted to NOAA's Science Advisory Board to assist the Agency with more closely defining-and refining-how it could more effectively engage with the multiple audiences with which it works. For NOAA, engagement is a two-way relationship that unfolds in a commitment of service to society. It is an Enterprise-wide capability represented in NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan and carries the same weight across the Agency as science and technology. NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) engages scientists, educators and the public through a variety of online and social media offerings explicitly tied to the exploration science of its expeditions. The principle platform for this engagement is the Ocean Explorer website (http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov). It is the single point of entry for formal and informal educators and the public to chronicled OER expeditions to little known regions of the world ocean. The site also enables access to live streaming video and audio from the United States' first ship solely dedicated to ocean exploration, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and the Institute for Exploration's E/V Nautilus. Video includes footage from the remotely operated vehicles, sonar displays, navigation displays, and mapping data displays. Through telepresence technologies and other online communication tools, scientists at remote locations around the world, including Exploration Command Centers, collaborate in deep-sea exploration conducted by the Okeanos Explorer. Those wanting access to the ship's track, oceanographic data, daily updates, web logs, and imagery during an expedition can access the online Okeanos Explorer Digital Atlas. Information on archived expeditions can be accessed through the OER Digital Atlas, a Google map application that displays expedition locations searchable by year, expedition theme or by a text-entry. Information on expedition-specific collection data, education and outreach is also provided. Educators have access to online interactive courses; entitled Why Do We Explore? and How Do We Explore?; that convey the exploration science, capabilities, and assets of the Okeanos Explorer. Hundreds of online lessons, multimedia learning tools, OceanAGE Career Connections and other resources assist educators with bringing authentic ocean exploration and the scientists behind it into classrooms. Live webcasts by San Francisco's Exploratorium and the use of social media; including Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, the Apple iTunes Channel, and conversations with ITunes University have had immediate and profound impacts on OER's ability to successfully engage diverse partners with a ride range of ocean exploration science and education needs. This presentation will highlight several OER's approaches to engaging scientists, educators and others in ocean exploration, including efforts associated with the upcoming Fall 2012 Submarine Ring of Fire: Lau Basin Expedition onboard the Scripps Institution of Oceanography R/V Roger Revelle.