Introduction - This Teacher Enhancement Program (TEP) is designed to enable teachers to present topics in marine biology and oceanography using the scientific method. It was developed at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), which is host to a graduate program in marine science for a consortium of seven campuses in the California State University system. The director of TEP is Dr. Simona Bartl, an adjunct professor at MLML with research interests in comparative immunology, molecular biology and science education. The program has several components:
  • Summer Institutes for Teachers
  • Classroom Visits and Webcasts
  • Academic Year Support
  • On-site Tours
  • Special on-site programs
Marine research topics and supporting curricula are presented to teachers who have participated in periodic Marine Science Research Summer Institutes (MSRSI). Each participant receives the curriculum packet at the end of the institute and classroom support during the upcoming school year. Curriculum topics are based on the work of researchers at MLML. Graduate students with expertise in a particular topic help teach in the institutes, assist in curriculum development, visit classrooms, and support teachers.

Current and Upcoming Programs - Announcing two programs with Marine Science Research Summer Institutes:

Lab and Field Explorations in Marine Science - June 23 - June 27, 2008

Join this continuing program for middle and high school teachers that: 1) provides techniques for incorporating meaningful watershed and marine-related experiences into core curricula, and 2) demonstrates how research data are collected, analyzed and used in resource management and protection of the marine environment.
Download registration form (pdf)
Download flyer(pdf)

Marine Biotechnology and Bioinformatics - Three Saturdays: May 3, 17, 31, 2008 plus two weeks in the Summer: July 7 - 19, 2008

Teachers will start with a marine organism and use biotechnology techniques to generate their own DNA data which they will then analyze using bioinformatics software. They will learn how to incorporate these cutting edge science techniques into their instructional programs.
Download registration form (pdf)
Download flyer (pdf)

Past Programs - The Marine Biotechnology and Bioinformatics program was established in 2004 and runs summer institutes annually. The program will be expanded in size and scope starting in 2006. The Lab and Field Explorations in Marine Science program began in 2004. New content will be incorporated into the 2006 summer institute.

Three units were developed during the summer of 2000: Phycology, Ichthyology, and Marine Mammalogy. Four units were developed during the summer of 2002: Natural History, Biological Oceanography, Ecology/Physiology, and Evolution of Traits. Each unit package should be taught in the classroom in a minimum of three 50-minute class sessions. This curriculum is targeted to biology and marine science courses in secondary schools (grades 9-12) and meets California Academic Standards for Investigation and Experimentation.

The established curriculum can be supplemented by either classroom visits or tours of MLML. Teachers who are using the curriculum can request classroom visitations from program staff and MLML graduate students. During the visits, teachers receive assistance with the curriculum, access to biological samples and specimens, and/or presentations on current, relevant research at MLML. On-site tours of MLML can be scheduled through the Friends of MLML.

In addition the above on-going projects, program staff participate in special programs such an all-day workshop for middle school students and their parents through the Center for Talented Youth (Nov. 2002).

Support - Past and present support for this program was/is provided by:

  • Moss Landing Marine Labs
  • The Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Duke Energy Foundation
  • Friends of MLML
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Useful links - Sites that may be useful for teaching about marine science research are listed: