THE CENTER FOR OCEAN SCIENCE EDUCATION EXCELLENCE - PACIFIC PARTNERSHIPS: CONNECTING OCEAN SCIENTISTS WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACULTY AND STUDENTS

The mission of the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) network is to engage scientists and educators to transform ocean sciences education. COSEE - Pacific Partnerships (COSEE - PP) is a regional center in the COSEE network based at marine laboratories in Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawai'i. COSEE - PP is specifically focused on integrating marine research and education for community college faculty and students, an audience that historically has been underserved by the ocean sciences community. One role of the COSEE centers is to assist ocean scientists in developing and implementing successful outreach opportunities for their research. To assist scientists in this role COSEE-PP has increased opportunities for community college faculty and students to connect with scientists to increase the inclusion of marine science instruction in community colleges, and to provide faculty and students with research and career exposure experiences. In the past three years we have developed a series of professional development opportunities for community college faculty covering current ocean science topics, and have offered a summer internship program for community college students to experience research at marine laboratories. Specific examples of the COSEE – PP programs that involve community college faculty and students and ocean scientists will be presented.