INFORMAL COASTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES: REACHING TARGET AUDIENCES IN THE CAROLINAS

Coastal and ocean observing systems couple data collected by automated sampling systems with data analysis and modeling to provide information that describes the present state of our coastal waters. These efforts improve our ability to detect changes in marine coastal environments, manage coastal resources, and educate local and regional communities on issues related to better stewardship of the coastal zone. The Carolinas Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (RCOOS), a sub-regional component of the Southeast Coastal Ocean Regional Association (SECOORA) and the larger NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), collects marine and environmental information in the coastal waters of North Carolina and South Carolina. At the core of the observing system is an outreach and education program that works within the region to improve the relevancy of coastal and ocean observing system data. The Carolinas RCOOS works with a wide range of community partners, ranging from National Weather Service Offices to civic organizations, in order to increase awareness of the benefits of coastal and ocean observing. The Carolinas RCOOS outlets for informal geoscience education include: kiosks at local fishing piers, partnerships with local providers of summer education camps, presentations to civic organizations and workshops for formal and informal educators. This poster presentation will focus on examples of partnership activities which have fostered the dissemination of coastal and ocean observing data within the local community as well as examples of informal educational efforts targeting audiences across the southeastern U.S.