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Earth Revealed on NOAA's Science On a Sphere at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. (Image credit: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
2015-2035 NOAA Education Strategic Plan
Goal 1: Science-Informed Society
Goal 2: Conservation & Stewardship
Goal 3: Safety & Preparedness
Goal 4: Future Workforce
Goal 5: Organizational Excellence
The ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate systems that NOAA studies affect people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, or education level. As such, NOAA works with partners in education to reach a diverse range of audiences. NOAA contributes scientific expertise, laboratories, field sites, monitoring systems, environmental satellites, weather radar, world class data centers, and more to these partnerships. NOAA’s assets can be incorporated into education programs that engage youth and adults from all backgrounds in locally and globally relevant, inquiry-based learning opportunities that are applicable to their daily lives.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
1.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds improve their understanding of NOAA-related sciences by participating in education and outreach opportunities.
1.2. Formal and informal educators integrate NOAA-related sciences into their curricula, practices, and programs.
1.3. Formal and informal education organizations integrate NOAA-related science content and collaborate with NOAA scientists on the development of exhibits, media, materials, and programs that support NOAA’s mission.
Strategies
1.A. Collaborate with education decision makers and curriculum developers to establish regionally relevant education materials and professional development programs that support the implementation of education standards.
1.B. Partner with informal education institutions and organizations to showcase and interpret NOAA-related science, data, and discoveries.
1.C. Develop and support local, regional, and national educator networks to promote and facilitate the teaching of NOAA-related content.
1.D. Promote and coordinate citizen science opportunities.
1.E. Develop and support collaborative learning opportunities for educators, students, and the public to interact directly with experts via face-to-face and distance learning venues.
1.F. Develop and support the creation and distribution of tools, exhibits, and learning materials.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
1.1.a. Developed more education and outreach opportunities for youth and adults from all backgrounds.
1.2.a. Increased integration of NOAA resources and topics by educators into their curricula, practices, and programs.
1.3.a. Expanded partnerships that lead to deeper integration of NOAA resources into the development of exhibits, media, materials, and programs.
NOAA is responsible for fulfilling conservation laws that protect ecosystems, conserve marine species, and promote sustainable use of living marine resources. Human actions have had a profound impact on natural systems and these laws have been enacted to conserve resources for generations to come. At NOAA, stewardship education aims to improve public understanding of NOAA’s role in management and the science behind it. Stewardship education provides opportunities for participants to connect with local ecosystems and tools that can help them understand how individual behavior impacts the environment. These activities give people an active voice in managing and protecting resources that affect them on both a local and global scale.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
2.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds are knowledgeable about conservation and stewardship practices and skilled in applying them to address local, regional, national, and global issues related to NOAA’s mission.
2.2. Formal and informal educators integrate NOAA-related conservation and stewardship concepts and activities into their curricula, practices, and programs.
2.3. Formal and informal education organizations establish guidance and provide support toward increasing participation of education audiences in conservation and stewardship activities related to NOAA’s mission.
Strategies
2.A. Participate in and coordinate with local, state, and national environmental education initiatives that support NOAA’s mission.
2.B. Develop and support opportunities for youth and adults to understand conservation policies and engage in stewardship actions.
2.C. Partner on education initiatives with organizations that share NOAA’s conservation and stewardship goals.
2.D. Deliver and support hands-on science education programs that explore the influences of human activity on ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
2.1.a. Increased participation of youth and adults from all backgrounds in education programs that promote conservation and stewardship.
2.2.a. Increased integration of NOAA-related conservation and stewardship information by educators into their curricula, practices, and programs.
2.3.a. Expanded partnerships that lead to increased participation of youth and adults in conservation and stewardship activities.
Safety and preparedness decisions not only protect lives and property, but also maintain safe access to recreational opportunities and support vibrant economies on land and sea. Awareness can help communities make the best choices to plan for long-term resiliency. Yet despite NOAA’s best efforts to produce the most accurate science and products, NOAA’s warnings and alerts do not always lead to effective responses. NOAA is increasingly aware that human responses to a threat are as diverse as people themselves. Social science, risk communication, and education all contribute to a safe and prepared nation. NOAA recognizes that, while the agency will continue to improve our ability to understand and predict hazards, it is also imperative for NOAA to understand the society it serves.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
3.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds are aware of, prepare for, and appropriately respond to environmental hazards that impact health, safety, and the economy in their communities.
3.2. Formal and informal educators use and produce education materials and programs that integrate and promote consistent science-based messaging on hazards, impacts, and societal challenges related to water, weather, and climate.
3.3. Formal and informal education institutions integrate water, weather, and climate hazard awareness, preparedness, and response information into curricula, exhibits, and programs that create learning opportunities for youth and adults.
Strategies
3.A. Collaborate and coordinate with partners on national risk awareness and response education campaigns to integrate science content and expertise.
3.B. Build and partner on education products and programs focused on improving economic and health conditions in response to weather, water, climate, and other environmental threats.
3.C. Engage youth and adults directly and through partners in multi-generational learning activities to improve community awareness and involvement in preparedness and response efforts.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
3.1.a. Increased awareness of environmental hazards, their impacts, and preparedness actions by youth and adults from all backgrounds.
3.2.a. Increased integration of safety and preparedness information by educators in their formal and informal education and professional development programs.
3.3.a. Expanded partnerships that lead to increased integration of safety and preparedness information into curricula, exhibits, and programs.
NOAA relies on a world-class workforce with the scientific and technical skills needed to address the environmental challenges confronting our Nation and the planet. Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited (National Academy of Sciences, 2010), states that building a workforce literate in STEM is crucial to maintaining America’s competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy. As the global population increases, there is greater demand on the Earth’s natural systems; this creates a greater need for education and research to understand the complexities of human impacts and develop strategies for sustainable solutions. To maintain a pipeline of innovative talent, NOAA strives to cultivate a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Nation. As communities become more vulnerable to natural disasters and pressures on our natural resources intensify, we need the best and brightest from all backgrounds to develop solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
4.1. Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, consider education and career pathways in disciplines that support NOAA’s mission.
4.2. NOAA and partner institutions leverage federally funded assets to provide students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, with experiential learning, research, and scholarship opportunities.
4.3. Postsecondary students, particularly from underrepresented groups, pursue and complete degrees in disciplines critical to NOAA’s mission.
4.4. Graduates completing NOAA-supported student opportunities continue education, enter the workforce, and advance in careers that support NOAA’s mission.
Strategies
4.A. Support local, regional, and national career exploration programs and education resources that target youth and young adults, particularly those from underrepresented communities.
4.B. Provide scholarships, fellowships, internships, and student training opportunities that promote experiential learning.
4.C. Establish and maintain partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, professional associations, and other organizations to improve graduation rates of underrepresented students.
4.D. Collaborate with academic partners to align student preparation with NOAA’s scientific and workforce needs.
4.E. Strengthen the links between education initiatives and career pathways at NOAA and related organizations with emphasis on high-need career fields and underrepresented groups.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
4.1.a. Increased integration of college and career information into education programs.
4.2.a. Increased the number of students, particularly from underrepresented groups, who participate in experiential learning, research, and scholarship opportunities.
4.3.a. Increased the proportion of trained students from underrepresented groups pursuing careers in disciplines critical to NOAA’s mission.
4.4.a. Improved understanding of the trajectories of NOAA-supported students along their education and career pathways.
NOAA strives to use taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively. Given the magnitude of the challenges facing the nation and the increasing role that NOAA science plays in maintaining resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies, NOAA’s education efforts must be coordinated, monitored, and continually improved.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
5.1. Leaders internal and external to NOAA recognize and support education investments as a way to achieve agency mandates, mission, and goals.
5.2. The NOAA Education community develops implementation plans and establishes agency education priorities informed by stakeholder needs and national initiatives.
5.3. NOAA educators and partners collaborate at local, regional, and national levels to coordinate efforts, build capacity, and better serve educational audiences.
5.4. NOAA and partner organizations use effective evaluation, performance monitoring, and evidence-based approaches in the design and management of educational programs, products, and services.
5.5. NOAA develops and supports a coordinated portfolio of products, programs, and partnerships that improves education opportunities in NOAA-related content areas for underserved audiences.
Strategies
5.A. Collect and present to key decision makers the best available evidence to demonstrate the connection between NOAA’s education investments and the agency’s mission.
5.B. Collaborate with federal and non-federal partners to leverage expertise and funding.
5.C. Establish and support NOAA educator networks with emphasis on cross-agency communication, coordination, and professional development.
5.D. Develop consistent and coordinated educational approaches across NOAA for high priority educational topics.
5.E. Create and adopt common performance measures and evaluation practices in NOAA-funded education programs.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
5.1.a. Increased recognition by leaders of the importance of education in achieving NOAA’s mission.
5.2.a. Implemented systematic approaches for collecting data about constituent needs to inform NOAA’s education priorities.
5.3.a. Expanded opportunities for communication and learning within the NOAA Education community.
5.4.a. Improved the practice of evaluation by educators to inform the improvement and management of NOAA Education programs.
5.5.a. Developed a coordinated portfolio of products, programs, and partnerships that target underserved audiences.
The ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate systems that NOAA studies affect people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, or education level. As such, NOAA works with partners in education to reach a diverse range of audiences. NOAA contributes scientific expertise, laboratories, field sites, monitoring systems, environmental satellites, weather radar, world class data centers, and more to these partnerships. NOAA’s assets can be incorporated into education programs that engage youth and adults from all backgrounds in locally and globally relevant, inquiry-based learning opportunities that are applicable to their daily lives.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
1.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds improve their understanding of NOAA-related sciences by participating in education and outreach opportunities.
1.2. Formal and informal educators integrate NOAA-related sciences into their curricula, practices, and programs.
1.3. Formal and informal education organizations integrate NOAA-related science content and collaborate with NOAA scientists on the development of exhibits, media, materials, and programs that support NOAA’s mission.
Strategies
1.A. Collaborate with education decision makers and curriculum developers to establish regionally relevant education materials and professional development programs that support the implementation of education standards.
1.B. Partner with informal education institutions and organizations to showcase and interpret NOAA-related science, data, and discoveries.
1.C. Develop and support local, regional, and national educator networks to promote and facilitate the teaching of NOAA-related content.
1.D. Promote and coordinate citizen science opportunities.
1.E. Develop and support collaborative learning opportunities for educators, students, and the public to interact directly with experts via face-to-face and distance learning venues.
1.F. Develop and support the creation and distribution of tools, exhibits, and learning materials.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
1.1.a. Developed more education and outreach opportunities for youth and adults from all backgrounds.
1.2.a. Increased integration of NOAA resources and topics by educators into their curricula, practices, and programs.
1.3.a. Expanded partnerships that lead to deeper integration of NOAA resources into the development of exhibits, media, materials, and programs.
NOAA is responsible for fulfilling conservation laws that protect ecosystems, conserve marine species, and promote sustainable use of living marine resources. Human actions have had a profound impact on natural systems and these laws have been enacted to conserve resources for generations to come. At NOAA, stewardship education aims to improve public understanding of NOAA’s role in management and the science behind it. Stewardship education provides opportunities for participants to connect with local ecosystems and tools that can help them understand how individual behavior impacts the environment. These activities give people an active voice in managing and protecting resources that affect them on both a local and global scale.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
2.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds are knowledgeable about conservation and stewardship practices and skilled in applying them to address local, regional, national, and global issues related to NOAA’s mission.
2.2. Formal and informal educators integrate NOAA-related conservation and stewardship concepts and activities into their curricula, practices, and programs.
2.3. Formal and informal education organizations establish guidance and provide support toward increasing participation of education audiences in conservation and stewardship activities related to NOAA’s mission.
Strategies
2.A. Participate in and coordinate with local, state, and national environmental education initiatives that support NOAA’s mission.
2.B. Develop and support opportunities for youth and adults to understand conservation policies and engage in stewardship actions.
2.C. Partner on education initiatives with organizations that share NOAA’s conservation and stewardship goals.
2.D. Deliver and support hands-on science education programs that explore the influences of human activity on ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
2.1.a. Increased participation of youth and adults from all backgrounds in education programs that promote conservation and stewardship.
2.2.a. Increased integration of NOAA-related conservation and stewardship information by educators into their curricula, practices, and programs.
2.3.a. Expanded partnerships that lead to increased participation of youth and adults in conservation and stewardship activities.
Safety and preparedness decisions not only protect lives and property, but also maintain safe access to recreational opportunities and support vibrant economies on land and sea. Awareness can help communities make the best choices to plan for long-term resiliency. Yet despite NOAA’s best efforts to produce the most accurate science and products, NOAA’s warnings and alerts do not always lead to effective responses. NOAA is increasingly aware that human responses to a threat are as diverse as people themselves. Social science, risk communication, and education all contribute to a safe and prepared nation. NOAA recognizes that, while the agency will continue to improve our ability to understand and predict hazards, it is also imperative for NOAA to understand the society it serves.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
3.1. Youth and adults from all backgrounds are aware of, prepare for, and appropriately respond to environmental hazards that impact health, safety, and the economy in their communities.
3.2. Formal and informal educators use and produce education materials and programs that integrate and promote consistent science-based messaging on hazards, impacts, and societal challenges related to water, weather, and climate.
3.3. Formal and informal education institutions integrate water, weather, and climate hazard awareness, preparedness, and response information into curricula, exhibits, and programs that create learning opportunities for youth and adults.
Strategies
3.A. Collaborate and coordinate with partners on national risk awareness and response education campaigns to integrate science content and expertise.
3.B. Build and partner on education products and programs focused on improving economic and health conditions in response to weather, water, climate, and other environmental threats.
3.C. Engage youth and adults directly and through partners in multi-generational learning activities to improve community awareness and involvement in preparedness and response efforts.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
3.1.a. Increased awareness of environmental hazards, their impacts, and preparedness actions by youth and adults from all backgrounds.
3.2.a. Increased integration of safety and preparedness information by educators in their formal and informal education and professional development programs.
3.3.a. Expanded partnerships that lead to increased integration of safety and preparedness information into curricula, exhibits, and programs.
NOAA relies on a world-class workforce with the scientific and technical skills needed to address the environmental challenges confronting our Nation and the planet. Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited (National Academy of Sciences, 2010), states that building a workforce literate in STEM is crucial to maintaining America’s competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy. As the global population increases, there is greater demand on the Earth’s natural systems; this creates a greater need for education and research to understand the complexities of human impacts and develop strategies for sustainable solutions. To maintain a pipeline of innovative talent, NOAA strives to cultivate a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Nation. As communities become more vulnerable to natural disasters and pressures on our natural resources intensify, we need the best and brightest from all backgrounds to develop solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
4.1. Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, consider education and career pathways in disciplines that support NOAA’s mission.
4.2. NOAA and partner institutions leverage federally funded assets to provide students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, with experiential learning, research, and scholarship opportunities.
4.3. Postsecondary students, particularly from underrepresented groups, pursue and complete degrees in disciplines critical to NOAA’s mission.
4.4. Graduates completing NOAA-supported student opportunities continue education, enter the workforce, and advance in careers that support NOAA’s mission.
Strategies
4.A. Support local, regional, and national career exploration programs and education resources that target youth and young adults, particularly those from underrepresented communities.
4.B. Provide scholarships, fellowships, internships, and student training opportunities that promote experiential learning.
4.C. Establish and maintain partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, professional associations, and other organizations to improve graduation rates of underrepresented students.
4.D. Collaborate with academic partners to align student preparation with NOAA’s scientific and workforce needs.
4.E. Strengthen the links between education initiatives and career pathways at NOAA and related organizations with emphasis on high-need career fields and underrepresented groups.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
4.1.a. Increased integration of college and career information into education programs.
4.2.a. Increased the number of students, particularly from underrepresented groups, who participate in experiential learning, research, and scholarship opportunities.
4.3.a. Increased the proportion of trained students from underrepresented groups pursuing careers in disciplines critical to NOAA’s mission.
4.4.a. Improved understanding of the trajectories of NOAA-supported students along their education and career pathways.
NOAA strives to use taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively. Given the magnitude of the challenges facing the nation and the increasing role that NOAA science plays in maintaining resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies, NOAA’s education efforts must be coordinated, monitored, and continually improved.
Full Text (PDF) Executive Summary (PDF)Objectives
5.1. Leaders internal and external to NOAA recognize and support education investments as a way to achieve agency mandates, mission, and goals.
5.2. The NOAA Education community develops implementation plans and establishes agency education priorities informed by stakeholder needs and national initiatives.
5.3. NOAA educators and partners collaborate at local, regional, and national levels to coordinate efforts, build capacity, and better serve educational audiences.
5.4. NOAA and partner organizations use effective evaluation, performance monitoring, and evidence-based approaches in the design and management of educational programs, products, and services.
5.5. NOAA develops and supports a coordinated portfolio of products, programs, and partnerships that improves education opportunities in NOAA-related content areas for underserved audiences.
Strategies
5.A. Collect and present to key decision makers the best available evidence to demonstrate the connection between NOAA’s education investments and the agency’s mission.
5.B. Collaborate with federal and non-federal partners to leverage expertise and funding.
5.C. Establish and support NOAA educator networks with emphasis on cross-agency communication, coordination, and professional development.
5.D. Develop consistent and coordinated educational approaches across NOAA for high priority educational topics.
5.E. Create and adopt common performance measures and evaluation practices in NOAA-funded education programs.
Evidence of progress
As evidence of advancing this goal and supporting objectives in the next five years, NOAA will have:
5.1.a. Increased recognition by leaders of the importance of education in achieving NOAA’s mission.
5.2.a. Implemented systematic approaches for collecting data about constituent needs to inform NOAA’s education priorities.
5.3.a. Expanded opportunities for communication and learning within the NOAA Education community.
5.4.a. Improved the practice of evaluation by educators to inform the improvement and management of NOAA Education programs.
5.5.a. Developed a coordinated portfolio of products, programs, and partnerships that target underserved audiences.