The NOAA Office of Education and NAAEE 5-year partnership took place from 2019–2023 to increase environmental and science literacy among NOAA’s partners and external networks.
Education plays a significant role in supporting NOAA’s mission. The NOAA Office of Education coordinates activities across the agency and supports the integration of NOAA science into education programs. Through this partnership, NOAA and NAAEE aimed to create a more environmentally literate society that has the knowledge, skills, and motivation to conserve our natural resources and build more resilient communities across the country. NAAEE helped NOAA strengthen professional networks, disseminate best practices, support high-quality STEM education, and provide education and outreach for educators and other target audiences.
Administering the 21CCLC Partnership
Through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Watershed STEM Education Partnership grant program, NAAEE supported the mutual STEM education goals of NOAA and the U.S. Department of Education. These grants provided 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) with access to authentic STEM experiences that used NOAA's unique education mission as a context for engagement.
eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grants
Through the NOAA-NAAEE Collaborative Aquaculture Literacy mini-grants program, NAAEE supported partnerships sharing the mutual aquaculture literacy goals of NOAA's Office of Education, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and National Sea Grant Office. These mini-grants provided informal learning institutions (e.g., aquariums), aquaculture industry (e.g., shellfish, finfish, seaweed farmers), and NOAA partners with support for the co-development of innovative educational experiences that explore aquaculture topics. Successful proposals are using the unique education mission of NOAA’s Office of Education and NAAEE eeBLUE partnership as a context for engagement and advancement of public aquaculture literacy.
eeBLUE Young Changemakers Fellowship
The eeBLUE Young Changemakers Fellowship (YCF) empowers high school students across the country to create change, both within their local communities and within NOAA. Throughout this year-long program, participating young people meet regularly with NOAA leadership, lending their unique perspectives to top agency priorities. At the same time, they also design and lead a project in their home community that addresses a local ocean or environmental need. NAAEE and NOAA collaboratively implement this fellowship.
