NMEA NEWSLETTER SPRING 2026 |
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JOIN US Your NMEA membership opens the door for you to network with like-minded professionals all over the world, working to advance marine science education. JOIN OR RENEW NOW > |
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NMEA EVENTS
April 15-18, 2026: NMEA @ NSTA in Anaheim, CA July 12-16, 2026: NMEA Annual Conference in Cambridge, MD
FIND OUT MORE HERE > |
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It was an honor to represent NMEA at the Ocean Sciences Meeting last month in Glasgow, Scotland. With more than 6,000 participants from around the world, this jointly organized conference is the largest global meeting focused on ocean sciences. The conference is a collaboration between the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), and The Oceanography Society (TOS).
This year there was also a strong presence from the UN Ocean Decade, with several meetings throughout the week focused on collaboration and planning for the UN Ocean Decade Conference in 2027. I was able to participate in these discussions and gather information for NMEA about the Decade committee’s proposed solutions and priorities for the second half of the decade and beyond. As part of our strategic partnerships work, NMEA also co-hosted a lively networking event with ASLO and the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS).
As a classroom teacher representing the educators of NMEA, I was determined to make the most of attending my first major science conference in 25 years. I attended a wide range of talks, e-lightning sessions, and poster presentations. I learned about emerging areas of ocean science, new approaches to communicating research, and spoke with scientists and educators from around the world about the value of partnering with teachers and organizations like NMEA to strengthen outreach and education.
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Have you ever heard of mixoplankton? Dr. Aditee Mitra delivered a fascinating plenary on the functional and evolutionary diversity of mixoplankton and how they fundamentally reshape how we think about ocean ecosystems compared to terrestrial systems. It’s a concept that deserves a place in our classrooms!
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Dr. Eleanor Frajka-Williams shared exciting new insights on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). New data suggest that deep water formation may not occur on the west side of Greenland as previously believed, and that the circulation varies far more seasonally than scientists once expected. Her talk highlighted the wide range of tools used to measure and model ocean circulation—and reminded us that even systems we think we understand are often more dynamic and complex than we imagined.
- I was also struck by the growing use of artistic expression, infographics, and innovative data visualization to communicate scientific ideas. The e-lightning sessions were especially engaging: three-minute elevator pitches followed by digital poster discussions. It was a powerful reminder that creativity plays an important role in communicating science effectively.
Several NMEA members were also present at the conference, sharing their work, organizing sessions, and exhibiting. You are all doing such inspiring work and it was wonderful to see so many NMEA members contributing their expertise by leading oral sessions, posters, and lightning talks that highlighted Ocean Literacy, K–12 partnerships, workforce pathways, robotics, art-science collaborations, and more. Save the date for more networking, as we will be hosting another marine-themed Share-a-thon at the NAAEE conference in Portland, Oregon in October! Registration to participate in our Share-a-thon will be through NMEA, but if you would like to submit to present at NAAEE, their call for presentations is open now and proposals are due by April 10!
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As we ramp up for our own incredible conference in July in Cambridge, Maryland, I hope you are getting excited! Our planning team has done a remarkable job putting together a week of learning and collaboration in a beautiful location. The new Blue Technology Workshop and expanded scholarships are particularly exciting additions that broaden the opportunities we offer through NMEA.
Please read on to learn more about the incredible work happening across our organization and the many ways you can get involved.
With appreciation and purpose, |
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Empower Your Students: Call for Student Presenters at NMEA 2026 Student Day
Do you have a student (age 13+) with a passion for marine science or a compelling conservation project? We invite you to encourage the next generation of ocean advocates to take the stage at Student Day 2026 in Cambridge, Maryland!
Student Day (July 14, 2026) is a dedicated program for students ages 13+ to connect with peers and professionals. Presenting at a national conference is a premier professional development opportunity that builds confidence and strengthens college applications and resumes. Ways Your Students Can Participate: - In-Person Lightning Sessions: A fast-paced, 7-minute live presentation at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay. (Perfect for building public speaking skills!)
- Asynchronous Presentations: A 15- to 30-minute pre-recorded video featured on our conference platform for students who cannot travel to Maryland.
Beyond presenting, students will hear from inspiring speakers like Imani Black (Minorities in Aquaculture) and Karen McDonald (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), and can even join an exclusive tour of the Horn Point Lab. It’s a chance for them to find mentors and see firsthand where a career in marine science can take them. Key Deadline: The call for student presentations is open now through May 1, 2026.
Help your students make waves! Direct them to the NMEA Student Day page for submission guidelines and registration details. |
Meet Glow-ria: The "Lighthouse" of NMEA ‘26!
Get ready to make a splash at our 50th Anniversary celebration with our official mascot, Glow-ria the Anglerfish. Surfacing from her home in the Midnight Zone, Glow-ria is here to serve as our "Lighthouse" and remind us that education is the light that guides the way, even in the deepest waters.
A Deep-Sea Diva with a 1976 Heart
Glow-ria’s story began in the summer of 1976, the same year NMEA held its very first conference. While other anglerfish were busy hunting, Glow-ria was busy dreaming of "sparkling" after discovering a stray 8-track tape of I Will Survive. She swapped her standard lure for a multi-faceted disco ball and has spent the last five decades highlighting the wonders of the ocean. Don't miss the chance to "boogie for the ocean" with this disco-loving deep-sea explorer. As Glow-ria says, "Keep your fins moving, your mind open, and your lure shining bright." See you on the dance floor at NMEA 2026! 2026 CONFERENCE > |
New Deadlines for Awards and Blue Tech
Awards Deadline Extended to March 15
Good news! The deadline for NMEA Awards submissions has been extended to March 15. This extra time gives you a chance to complete your nomination and recognize the incredible work happening across our community. NMEA Awards celebrate inspiring educators, passionate youth leaders, outstanding programs, and deserving colleagues who are making a difference in marine and ocean education. If someone in your network is advancing ocean literacy, supporting learners, or building connections with the ocean, we encourage you to nominate them. Don’t miss this opportunity to highlight their impact and help us celebrate excellence across the NMEA community. Submit your nomination before March 15!
Blue Technology Scholarship Extended to March 31
The application deadline for the Blue Technology Education Workshop Early-Career Scholarship has been extended through March 31! This scholarship, offered in partnership with NOAA Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Educators Association, supports early-career classroom teachers and STEM coordinators (within their first five years) to attend both the 2026 NMEA Annual Conference and the Blue Technology Education Workshop in Cambridge, Maryland. One recipient from each NMEA chapter will receive $1,200 to help cover conference registration and travel costs.
If you know an early-career educator interested in bringing ocean technology, robotics, and real-world data into their classroom, please encourage them to apply or share this opportunity. |
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USA Blue Schools Requests
Join Slack! Not in our Slack group yet? Slack is the fastest and easiest way to hear about Blue Schools' happenings in the USA and beyond. Join today by clicking this link. Any teacher who shares an update or resource in Slack will get some USA Blue Schools swag!
Follow us! Follow our Instagram @usablueschools or Facebook page for fun highlights and the latest happenings, or sign up for our newsletter online. Let us know if you’d like to be featured, and have your school tag us in their posts!
Want to be a featured Blue School? Please fill out this form if you’d like to be featured in a newsletter and on social media! Updates and Announcements
Save the Date: Our next student webinar, Pathways to the Blue Economy, will be held on Friday, March 13th at 1:30 PM Eastern/10:30 AM Pacific/8:30 AM Hawaii. Look for the flyer coming soon, but this webinar will feature diverse speakers sharing their perspectives and unique career pathways. Register your class here. |
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NMEA @ NSTA in Anaheim—April 2026
NMEA is heading to the 2026 National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference in Anaheim, California, April 17–20, and we'd love to see you there! As part of the conference theme, "Growing Together: Collective Insights for Lifelong Learning," NMEA will be making waves in several ways. On Thursday, April 16, don't miss our interactive Whale of a Share-a-Thon (2:00–4:00 PM in the exhibit hall), where NMEA members will share hands-on lessons and classroom-ready resources. - Our Marine Education Pathway on Friday, April 17 features three hand-picked presentations on ocean and aquatic science education, including sessions from WHOI, MBARI, and NOAA Ocean Exploration.
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We will be highlighting NMEA Member Sessions featuring marine or aquatic science resources. If you are a current member and will be presenting, be sure to share the details with us so we can help spread the word. You can find the NMEA session sharing form in the Forms tab in the NMEA Member Portal.
You can also find us at the NMEA Exhibit Booth all week long. If you'll be at NSTA, please contact nmea@marine-ed.org if you are interested in helping out at the exhibit booth.
We hope to see you there! |
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Current: the Journal of Marine Education
Greetings, fellow educators! We’re set to publish 2 issues of Current this year, so keep an eye out for those! Take a look at our most recent, Volume 40, Issue 3. Check out classroom plans covering everything from Japanese fish printing to murder mysteries in the diel vertical migration. Our authors discussed Ocean Literacy programs in the landlocked center of North America, some of which utilize the Great Lakes. Finally, we’re joined by Craig Strang, who writes to us on the heels of the European Marine Science Educators Association’s 2025 conference to give us a look at the future of Ocean Literacy.
Want to be involved in Current? We have potential space for a few more passionate educators to be involved in the Editorial Board. The main role of an Editorial Board member is to act as an advocate for Current: A Journal of Marine Education, assist in policy creation and journal management, and help advance submissions and reputation, as well as occasional help in the processing or reviewing of submissions. If you’re interested, please reach out to current@marine-ed.org.
If you’re interested in writing a piece for Current, we’re now taking submissions for our 2026 issues. Have your work officially published! If you’re considering being a first-time writer, feel free to reach out to us, we’d love to work with you to make the publication process accessible.
Current would like to thank its dedicated readers, authors, and reviewers, and we’re always looking to expand. If you’re interested in writing or reviewing for us, visit our website at https://current-journal.com or send an email to current@marine-ed.org.
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Conservation Committee Mapping Project
The Conservation Committee would like to extend a sincere thank you to our regional chapter leads for taking the time to meet with the co-chairs recently to discuss the upcoming Mapping Project—we truly appreciate your insight and thoughtful feedback. For chapters we haven’t connected with yet, we’d still love to hear from you and welcome your input as the project continues to take shape!
As a preview of what’s ahead, we are currently partnering with MAMEA to develop the initial iteration of the map, which we look forward to sharing with everyone at NMEA 2026 in Cambridge, MD this July. After the conference, we’ll be excited to reconnect with chapters to launch the next phase of the broader Mapping Project, highlighting the many important and unique waterways that are special to NMEA and that merit greater appreciation, protection, and visitation.
Please reach out to the Conservation Committee co-chairs, Frances Lang (flang@ucsd.edu) and Jesse Gwinn (jessekgwinn@gmail.com) to learn more about the Mapping Project or to share feedback.
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Equity & Belonging Town Hall
The Equity & Belonging Committee hosted the "Marine Education Resources: Sharing Inventory & Identifying Gaps" town hall as part of the ongoing NMEA Webinar Series. The main objective of creating this space is to have the NMEA community come together to share resource inventory and identify gaps in current marine education resources available that may limit inclusivity and accessibility.
As we wanted an open, candid space, this session was not recorded. However, if you would still like to be involved in the community think tank please feel free to add to the Community Resources spreadsheet.
This session is the start of a long-term goal for the NMEA Equity & Belonging Committee to facilitate the co-creation of a "Guidelines and Considerations for Creating Inclusive Marine Education Materials." |
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Ocean/Great Lakes Literacy Chapter Champions
NMEA’s Ocean and Great Lakes Literacy Chapter Champions advance Ocean/Great Lakes Literacy through professional learning nationwide. From regional workshops to national conferences, Champions equip educators with tools, strategies, and networks to strengthen Ocean Literacy among learners and colleagues. Efforts include hybrid Chapter Conference for GAME, virtual presentations for Hawaii Blue Schools/OCEANIA, daylong workshops at an aquarium for SWMEA and MAMEA, presentations for Delaware educators on the overlap between Ocean and Environmental Literacy, and a workshop at the Tall Ships America Conference. These varied formats expand access and impact across diverse audiences. Interested in becoming a Chapter Champion? To learn more and get involved, visit NMEA’s Chapter Champions webpage.
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Student Engagement NMEA Student Scholarships & Conservation Grants – Apply by April 1! The NMEA Student Engagement Committee is proud to announce two funding opportunities for student members dedicated to the ocean and education. - NMEA Student Scholarship ($500) Open to student members (18+) pursuing a career in marine education, research, or conservation. Funds can be used for certifications, specialized training, or academic studies.
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Student Conservation Project Grants (Up to $250) Open to student members (ages 13–18) leading their own community-based marine education or conservation projects.
Key Information: |
Making Waves: 2025 NMEA Student Awardees in Action
NMEA is thrilled to spotlight the next generation of marine science leaders through our scholarship and grant recipients. -
PhD student Katie Pelon built a thriving marine science community at UC Irvine, founding a club that connects students to mentorship and research opportunities.
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IMBRSea student Camila Rimoldi Ibañez is conducting international research across Europe, from studying Marine Protected Areas in Italy to investigating bivalve responses to climate change at the Sorbonne.
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High school student William Tan is pushing boundaries with his "Build A Reef" project, which uses 3D-printed reef structures and AI-powered smart reef technology to protect local ecosystems.
These recipients exemplify the innovation and dedication that NMEA is proud to support.
Read More about these student projects > |
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Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA)
FMSEA Virtual PD Series
We are excited to share monthly virtual professional development opportunities for our members! Tune in every third Tuesday of the month to hear from fellow educators or researchers from around the state share their knowledge and resources. Please RSVP to receive the link to attend live, and we will also share the recording and follow-up resources as they are available. All times are Eastern Standard Time, and you can also find more details on our social media pages as each event gets closer!
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Georgia Association for Marine Education (GAME)
GAME Annual Conference
Save the date for the Georgia chapter annual conference. More details to come! Check out our website and Facebook page to stay up to date!
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Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science (GLEAMS)
GLEAMS Event Member Forum on Challenges in EJ Thursday, March 19, 2026 6:00 PM (EDT) Zoom
Join other GLEAMS members for an open conversation on how formal and non-formal educators can navigate challenges implementing programs with an Environmental Justice focus. How can we manage issues like shifts in funding or pressure to self-censor? Come ready to share challenges you have faced and strategies for working around them. Together we can brainstorm possible solutions. Register here https://gleamschapter.wildapricot.org/event-6587071 |
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NMEA is proud to have a diverse group of member organizations, including non-profits, government agencies, and corporations. We are happy to share the following news and events from these organizations. |
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Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation
Bow Seat’s 15th Ocean Awareness Contest is now open! This year's theme, “Your Story, Our Ocean,” invites young people to explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us and to express it through art, writing, film, performance, or multimedia. Students ages 11-18 can submit their pieces for a chance to earn cash prizes of up to $1,000 while contributing to the world's largest environmental youth program for the creative arts. Learn more and submit your work at bowseat.org/contest. Educators who effectively and creatively bring the Contest into their classroom are also eligible for a $500 Educator Innovation Award!
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Our community is full of inspiring work, and we want to showcase what NMEA members have been up to, including projects, achievements, and moments worth celebrating. If you have something to share, email social@marine-ed.org and we’ll feature it on our social media or in an upcoming newsletter! |
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Pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) swimming in the Gulf of Mexico during a research cruise in summer 2019. Photo by Sandra Bilbo, Director and Technology Committee Chair. |
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