👋 Welcome, Seafoam Scoopers!
This newsletter was written by Narayani Shankar, the newsletter writer of Thriving Corals.
This is the twenty-seventh newsletter of Thriving Corals! Inside, we have included information about:
Ocean and environment-related opportunities for students and educators
News about World Ocean Day
📰 News
🌊 World Ocean Day
Every year on June 8th, people around the globe celebrate World Oceans Day. This special day is all about recognizing the important role that oceans play in our lives and increasing efforts to protect these beautiful bodies of water.
Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet's surface and are home to an incredible variety of life. From the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, marine ecosystems are very rich and diverse. Oceans also produce over half of the world's oxygen and help control our climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. They are a source of food, energy, and even medicine. Millions of people rely on oceans for their careers and lives, especially in coastal communities.
Despite their importance, oceans are under threat from human activities. Pollution, especially plastic waste, is a major problem, harming marine life and ecosystems. Overfishing has led to a decrease in many fish populations, affecting the balance of marine ecosystems. Climate change is also causing ocean temperatures to rise and making waters more acidic, which affects both coral reefs and other marine life.
However, World Oceans Day is a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our oceans. Here are some simple ways to make a difference:
1. Avoid single-use plastics like straws, bags, and bottles
2. Choose seafood that is sustainably sourced to help reduce overfishing
3. Join or organize beach clean-up events in your area to remove trash and debris from coastal areas
4. Learn about ocean conservation issues and share what you know with others. Education on this topic is also very useful.
🎉 Opportunities
Listed below are a few ocean and environment-related opportunities for both students and educators. We have internships, volunteering, and many more opportunities!
Disclaimer: Kindly note that we do not assume responsibility for the external opportunities recommended in this newsletter. While we aim to provide valuable suggestions, it is essential to exercise your own judgment and conduct thorough research before engaging with any external opportunities. Thank you for understanding.
🧑🎓 Students
Summer Field Program
The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) School of Ocean Science and Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to learn about coastal environments in an intensive field and lab-based setting. As part of the program, the classes are extremely intense and immerse you in the subject matter. Most classes are conducted in a focused laboratory and field setting. In addition to local boat and field trips, some classes take overnight trips to other areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Students fully embrace the beautiful Gulf and the unique habitats in our area.
The information above was obtained from the University of Southern Mississippi website, so please visit the following link for more information.
Palmetto Conservation Corps
This program will expose corps members to a variety of practical skills while they explore future careers and develop confidence in their leadership and teamwork skills.
The summer crew is ideal for college students or recent graduates who are looking to get experience in the field of conservation while giving back to their community. The summer crew will serve on Palmetto Trail Projects in the upstate of South Carolina as well as on projects with state parks, national forests, and community partners.
More information on the program is provided on the following website.
🧑🏫 Educators
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution(WHOI) Workshops
WHOI’s professional learning workshops offer educators a unique glimpse into the rapidly evolving world of ocean research and engineering. During the sessions, WHOI and WHOI Sea Grant scientists and engineers engage with teachers, sharing insights about their work and related exhibits at the WHOI Ocean Science Discovery Center.
These workshops provide teachers with first-hand knowledge of current ocean science and engineering topics, enabling them to incorporate cutting-edge research into their curriculum. Participants earn professional development points in "Topics in Oceanography," covering areas such as biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography, as well as marine engineering.
For more information, please click this link.
And finally, we have come to the end of this newsletter!
We hope you have enjoyed the opportunities, news, and information from Thriving Corals and that this newsletter has made you more interested in the environmental and ocean movement. Please leave a comment(whether to improve the newsletter or let us know what kinds of opportunities you are looking for) and we will be on the lookout to include these suggestions in future newsletter editions.