It is with great enthusiasm that I share with you the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program’s 35th anniversary theme: Beyond the Horizon: 35 Years of Science, Education, and Inspiration. I feel honored to have been able to lead this program and be a part of an amazing team who works tirelessly to provide transformative opportunities for teachers across the country.
Since 1990, we’ve sailed close to 900 educators who hail from every state and territory and who teach a wide range of subjects to students from Pre-K to college to the general public. Through our program, these teachers sailed on surveys monitoring our nation’s fisheries, measuring physical ocean trends, and charting unknown regions of the seafloor. They continue to be advocates and ambassadors for us long after their time at sea.
Our theme of Science, Education, and Inspiration encapsulates our program’s achievements. First, we offer educators an unparalleled immersive research experience through which they engage first-hand with critical science at sea. Next, through their blogs, presentations, and lessons, our teachers educate their students about the methods, importance, and realities of NOAA’s science work. In doing so, they inspire their schools and communities to join NOAA’s mission of stewardship of our nation’s living marine resources.
We share in celebrating our anniversary with all of the NOAA scientists, NOAA Corps officers, wage mariners, Public Health Service officers, budget analysts, travel experts, and countless others who play a role in getting teachers out to sea. We deeply appreciate your commitment to providing this experience and sharing your work with so many enthusiastic educators.
Jennifer Hammond, Director
NOAA Teacher at Sea Program