2014 PEP interns receive training in the field.

2014 PEP interns receive training in the field. (Image credit: Northeast Fisheries Science Center)

2021-2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan

1
Science-Informed Society
2
Conservation and Stewardship
3
Ready, Responsive, Resilient
4
Future Workforce
5
Organizational Excellence

Goal 1: Science-Informed Society

An informed society has access to, interest in, and understanding of NOAA-related sciences and their implications for current and future events.

Goal 2: Conservation and Stewardship

Individuals and communities are actively involved in stewardship behaviors and decisions that conserve, restore, and protect natural and cultural resources related to NOAA’s mission.

Goal 3: Ready, Responsive, Resilient

Individuals and communities are ready, responsive, and resilient to the increasing challenges and impacts of hazardous weather, changes in climate, and other environmental threats monitored by NOAA.

Goal 4: Future Workforce

A diverse and highly skilled future workforce pursues careers in disciplines that support NOAA’s mission.

Goal 5: Organizational Excellence

NOAA functions in a unified manner to support, plan, and deliver effective educational programs and partnerships that advance NOAA’s mission.

NOAA Education engages people in our mission by providing opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to learn science. We aim to inspire students and the public, help educators incorporate NOAA resources into their teaching, and build enduring relationships with partners whose expertise complements our own. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 1.1

Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, engage with NOAA-related sciences through education and outreach opportunities.

Plan strategies

  • 1.1.1. NOAA will provide formal science education opportunities for students at places and facilities that NOAA manages.

  • 1.1.2. NOAA will provide formal science education opportunities for students in classrooms.

  • 1.1.3. NOAA will provide informal place-based and hands-on education opportunities for youth and adults.

  • 1.1.4. NOAA will participate in science outreach events for youth and adults.

  • 1.1.5. NOAA will support citizen science opportunities that advance learning for youth and adults.

  • 1.1.6. NOAA will support science and engineering competitions for youth.

  • 1.1.7. NOAA will develop and disseminate science resources designed for youth and adults.


Objective 1.2

Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate NOAA-related sciences into their teaching and programs.

Plan strategies

  • 1.2.1. NOAA will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences and resources for educators.

  • 1.2.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate science resources designed for educators.

  • 1.2.3. NOAA will support educator networks to promote and facilitate the teaching of NOAA-related sciences.


Objective 1.3

Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen science, education, and outreach initiatives.

Plan strategies

  • 1.3.1. NOAA will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA's science and education assets.

  • 1.3.2. NOAA will support formal education systems with NOAA-related science programs and resources.

  • 1.3.3. NOAA will work with partner networks to improve science teaching and programs.

NOAA Education provides opportunities for learners to connect with their local ecosystems and gives them tools to help them understand how individual behavior impacts the environment. We help people have an active voice in managing and protecting the resources they care about. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 2.1

Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand and apply conservation and stewardship in their lives and communities.

Plan strategies

  • 2.1.1. NOAA will provide formal stewardship education and action opportunities for students.
  • 2.1.2. NOAA will provide informal stewardship education and action opportunities for youth and adults.
  • 2.1.3. NOAA will provide conservation and stewardship outreach for youth and adults.

Objective 2.2 

Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate conservation and stewardship into their teaching and programs.

Plan strategies

  • 2.2.1. NOAA will deliver professional development programs on conservation and stewardship for educators.
  • 2.2.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate resources on conservation and stewardship designed for educators.
  • 2.2.3. NOAA will work with educators to implement stewardship action projects.

Objective 2.3

Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen conservation and stewardship initiatives.

Plan strategies

  • 2.3.1. NOAA will work with partner organizations to implement conservation and stewardship initiatives.
  • 2.3.2. NOAA will support formal education systems with conservation and stewardship programs and resources.

NOAA Education helps individuals and communities learn how to make informed decisions about the environmental hazards they face. Everyone, including the most vulnerable populations with the highest risk to impacts from hazards and the fewest resources to respond, needs to be empowered to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 3.1

Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand the environmental hazards facing their communities and act to increase their community resilience.

Plan strategies

  • 3.1.1. NOAA will provide formal education opportunities on resilience, readiness, and responsiveness for students.
  • 3.1.2. NOAA will provide informal education opportunities on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for youth and adults.
  • 3.1.3. NOAA will participate in outreach events on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for youth and adults.

Objective 3.2

Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate environmental hazards and resilience into their teaching and programs.

Plan strategies

  • 3.2.1. NOAA will deliver professional development programs on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for educators.
  • 3.2.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate resources on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for educators.

Objective 3.3

Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen environmental hazards- and resilience-related initiatives.

Plan strategies

  • 3.3.1. NOAA will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA's readiness, responsiveness, and resilience assets.
  • 3.3.2. NOAA will work with partners to engage vulnerable populations in becoming ready, responsive, and resilient.

Building and supporting a diverse and skilled future STEM workforce is critical to NOAA’s mission. Our programs cultivate the next generation of scientists and experts, supporting  students of all levels and recent graduates. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 4.1

Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, become aware of and interested in education and career pathways in NOAA mission disciplines.

Plan strategies

  • 4.1.1. NOAA will provide career interest programs.
  • 4.1.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate career awareness resources.

Objective 4.2

Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, explore and prepare for careers in NOAA mission disciplines.

Plan strategies

  • 4.2.1. NOAA will provide scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
  • 4.2.2. NOAA will provide work-based learning for students.
  • 4.2.3. NOAA will work with minority serving institutions and other partners to increase opportunities for students from communities that are underrepresented in NOAA mission fields.
  • 4.2.4. NOAA will work with academic partners to prepare students for NOAA’s future workforce needs.

Objective 4.3

Graduates, particularly from underrepresented groups, enter the NOAA mission workforce.

Plan strategies

  • 4.3.1. NOAA will provide fellowship and postdoctoral opportunities for recent graduates.
  • 4.3.2. NOAA will remove barriers to bringing NOAA-supported students into the NOAA workforce.
  • 4.3.3. NOAA will coordinate agency-wide recruitment efforts for the NOAA workforce.
     

The NOAA Education community works together to improve how we collaborate, evaluate, and communicate. Focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity not only helps us better reach our audiences, but also strengthens our community. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 5.1

The NOAA Education community works together to better serve all educational audiences.

Plan strategies

  • 5.1.1. NOAA will support collaborative networks of NOAA educators.
  • 5.1.2. NOAA Educators will collaborate across programs and offices.

Objective 5.2

The NOAA Education community is strategic, coordinated, and continually improving.

Plan strategies

  • 5.2.1. NOAA will monitor and evaluate education programs.
  • 5.2.2. NOAA will develop strategic partnerships, networks, and policy priorities to support education.
  • 5.2.3. NOAA will use communications to share the impact of NOAA education programs.

Objective 5.3

The NOAA Education community advances diversity, equity, and inclusion within our programs.

Plan strategies

  • 5.3.1. NOAA will undertake all appropriate measures to make programs inclusive and equitable.
  • 5.3.2. NOAA will create inclusive spaces for internal dialogue and learning for educators on equity, inclusion, and cultural relevance.
Page 1 of 5
Goal 1: Science-Informed Society
An informed society has access to, interest in, and understanding of NOAA-related sciences and their implications for current and future events.

NOAA Education engages people in our mission by providing opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to learn science. We aim to inspire students and the public, help educators incorporate NOAA resources into their teaching, and build enduring relationships with partners whose expertise complements our own. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 1.1

Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, engage with NOAA-related sciences through education and outreach opportunities.

Plan strategies

  • 1.1.1. NOAA will provide formal science education opportunities for students at places and facilities that NOAA manages.

  • 1.1.2. NOAA will provide formal science education opportunities for students in classrooms.

  • 1.1.3. NOAA will provide informal place-based and hands-on education opportunities for youth and adults.

  • 1.1.4. NOAA will participate in science outreach events for youth and adults.

  • 1.1.5. NOAA will support citizen science opportunities that advance learning for youth and adults.

  • 1.1.6. NOAA will support science and engineering competitions for youth.

  • 1.1.7. NOAA will develop and disseminate science resources designed for youth and adults.


Objective 1.2

Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate NOAA-related sciences into their teaching and programs.

Plan strategies

  • 1.2.1. NOAA will deliver professional development programs on NOAA-related sciences and resources for educators.

  • 1.2.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate science resources designed for educators.

  • 1.2.3. NOAA will support educator networks to promote and facilitate the teaching of NOAA-related sciences.


Objective 1.3

Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen science, education, and outreach initiatives.

Plan strategies

  • 1.3.1. NOAA will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA's science and education assets.

  • 1.3.2. NOAA will support formal education systems with NOAA-related science programs and resources.

  • 1.3.3. NOAA will work with partner networks to improve science teaching and programs.

Page 2 of 5
Goal 2: Conservation and Stewardship
Individuals and communities are actively involved in stewardship behaviors and decisions that conserve, restore, and protect natural and cultural resources related to NOAA’s mission.

NOAA Education provides opportunities for learners to connect with their local ecosystems and gives them tools to help them understand how individual behavior impacts the environment. We help people have an active voice in managing and protecting the resources they care about. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 2.1

Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand and apply conservation and stewardship in their lives and communities.

Plan strategies

  • 2.1.1. NOAA will provide formal stewardship education and action opportunities for students.
  • 2.1.2. NOAA will provide informal stewardship education and action opportunities for youth and adults.
  • 2.1.3. NOAA will provide conservation and stewardship outreach for youth and adults.

Objective 2.2 

Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate conservation and stewardship into their teaching and programs.

Plan strategies

  • 2.2.1. NOAA will deliver professional development programs on conservation and stewardship for educators.
  • 2.2.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate resources on conservation and stewardship designed for educators.
  • 2.2.3. NOAA will work with educators to implement stewardship action projects.

Objective 2.3

Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen conservation and stewardship initiatives.

Plan strategies

  • 2.3.1. NOAA will work with partner organizations to implement conservation and stewardship initiatives.
  • 2.3.2. NOAA will support formal education systems with conservation and stewardship programs and resources.
Page 3 of 5
Goal 3: Ready, Responsive, Resilient
Individuals and communities are ready, responsive, and resilient to the increasing challenges and impacts of hazardous weather, changes in climate, and other environmental threats monitored by NOAA.

NOAA Education helps individuals and communities learn how to make informed decisions about the environmental hazards they face. Everyone, including the most vulnerable populations with the highest risk to impacts from hazards and the fewest resources to respond, needs to be empowered to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 3.1

Youth and adults, particularly from underserved groups, understand the environmental hazards facing their communities and act to increase their community resilience.

Plan strategies

  • 3.1.1. NOAA will provide formal education opportunities on resilience, readiness, and responsiveness for students.
  • 3.1.2. NOAA will provide informal education opportunities on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for youth and adults.
  • 3.1.3. NOAA will participate in outreach events on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for youth and adults.

Objective 3.2

Formal and informal educators with diverse backgrounds integrate environmental hazards and resilience into their teaching and programs.

Plan strategies

  • 3.2.1. NOAA will deliver professional development programs on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for educators.
  • 3.2.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate resources on readiness, responsiveness, and resilience for educators.

Objective 3.3

Organizations partner with NOAA to strengthen environmental hazards- and resilience-related initiatives.

Plan strategies

  • 3.3.1. NOAA will work with partner organizations to integrate NOAA's readiness, responsiveness, and resilience assets.
  • 3.3.2. NOAA will work with partners to engage vulnerable populations in becoming ready, responsive, and resilient.

Page 4 of 5
Goal 4: Future Workforce
A diverse and highly skilled future workforce pursues careers in disciplines that support NOAA’s mission.

Building and supporting a diverse and skilled future STEM workforce is critical to NOAA’s mission. Our programs cultivate the next generation of scientists and experts, supporting  students of all levels and recent graduates. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 4.1

Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, become aware of and interested in education and career pathways in NOAA mission disciplines.

Plan strategies

  • 4.1.1. NOAA will provide career interest programs.
  • 4.1.2. NOAA will develop and disseminate career awareness resources.

Objective 4.2

Students, particularly from underrepresented groups, explore and prepare for careers in NOAA mission disciplines.

Plan strategies

  • 4.2.1. NOAA will provide scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
  • 4.2.2. NOAA will provide work-based learning for students.
  • 4.2.3. NOAA will work with minority serving institutions and other partners to increase opportunities for students from communities that are underrepresented in NOAA mission fields.
  • 4.2.4. NOAA will work with academic partners to prepare students for NOAA’s future workforce needs.

Objective 4.3

Graduates, particularly from underrepresented groups, enter the NOAA mission workforce.

Plan strategies

  • 4.3.1. NOAA will provide fellowship and postdoctoral opportunities for recent graduates.
  • 4.3.2. NOAA will remove barriers to bringing NOAA-supported students into the NOAA workforce.
  • 4.3.3. NOAA will coordinate agency-wide recruitment efforts for the NOAA workforce.
     
Page 5 of 5
Goal 5: Organizational Excellence
NOAA functions in a unified manner to support, plan, and deliver effective educational programs and partnerships that advance NOAA’s mission.

The NOAA Education community works together to improve how we collaborate, evaluate, and communicate. Focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity not only helps us better reach our audiences, but also strengthens our community. 

2021 - 2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (full text PDF)

Objective 5.1

The NOAA Education community works together to better serve all educational audiences.

Plan strategies

  • 5.1.1. NOAA will support collaborative networks of NOAA educators.
  • 5.1.2. NOAA Educators will collaborate across programs and offices.

Objective 5.2

The NOAA Education community is strategic, coordinated, and continually improving.

Plan strategies

  • 5.2.1. NOAA will monitor and evaluate education programs.
  • 5.2.2. NOAA will develop strategic partnerships, networks, and policy priorities to support education.
  • 5.2.3. NOAA will use communications to share the impact of NOAA education programs.

Objective 5.3

The NOAA Education community advances diversity, equity, and inclusion within our programs.

Plan strategies

  • 5.3.1. NOAA will undertake all appropriate measures to make programs inclusive and equitable.
  • 5.3.2. NOAA will create inclusive spaces for internal dialogue and learning for educators on equity, inclusion, and cultural relevance.