Cool Science
Cool Science is a collaborative effort between the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston’s School for the Environment; UMass Lowell’s College of Education and Art and Design Department; the Massachusetts College of Art and Design; the Transportation Center at the University of Kansas; the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas; Kansas State University; the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston; and Goodman Research Group, Inc and is funded by the National Science Foundation.
This program engages students, teachers, parents, and the general public from Massachusetts, Kansas, and Missouri. Cool science is a statewide art contest that focuses and educates about climate change. Educators from each region participate in a day long workshop where they learn about the science of extreme weather and art techniques. These educators will then be mentors for students participating an art competition focusing around the years challenge questions. Winners from each region will be chosen and the artwork will be displayed on city busses.
Cool Science has been a program in Massachusetts over the past 5 years. The program won awards and was honored by the White House as an exemplary project to improve climate literacy across a community.
Because of its proven popularity and effective engagement with all ages, Cool Science added partners in the nation’s heartland in Kansas and Missouri. Now, buses with children’s winning artwork will ride in four regions (Merrimack Valley, Worcester, Kansas City, and Topeka). During each year of this 3-year program, roughly hundreds of youth, hundreds of adult mentors, and tens-of-thousands of bus riders will have the chance to learn about the science of extreme weather. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation as a part of its Advancing Informal STEM learning program.
https://www.coolscience.net/
This program engages students, teachers, parents, and the general public from Massachusetts, Kansas, and Missouri. Cool science is a statewide art contest that focuses and educates about climate change. Educators from each region participate in a day long workshop where they learn about the science of extreme weather and art techniques. These educators will then be mentors for students participating an art competition focusing around the years challenge questions. Winners from each region will be chosen and the artwork will be displayed on city busses.
Cool Science has been a program in Massachusetts over the past 5 years. The program won awards and was honored by the White House as an exemplary project to improve climate literacy across a community.
Because of its proven popularity and effective engagement with all ages, Cool Science added partners in the nation’s heartland in Kansas and Missouri. Now, buses with children’s winning artwork will ride in four regions (Merrimack Valley, Worcester, Kansas City, and Topeka). During each year of this 3-year program, roughly hundreds of youth, hundreds of adult mentors, and tens-of-thousands of bus riders will have the chance to learn about the science of extreme weather. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation as a part of its Advancing Informal STEM learning program.
https://www.coolscience.net/
Competition
2020 submission deadline has passed. Stay tuned for 2021.
Find Cool Science @
COSEE
Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence: Transforming the Learning and Doing of Ocean Science
With a National COSEE Office and 12 Centers located throughout the United States, each Center is a consortium of one or more ocean science research institutions, informal science education organizations, and formal education entities. The COSEE program is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. COSEE's mission is to engaging scientists and educators to transform ocean sciences education for all.
http://www.cosee.net/
http://www.cosee.net/
Ocean Literacy
- Ocean Literacy Principle #1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
- Ocean Literacy Principle #2: The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth.
- Ocean Literacy Principle #3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
- Ocean Literacy Principle #4: The ocean made the Earth habitable.
- Ocean Literacy Principle #5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
- Ocean Literacy Principle #6: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
- Ocean Literacy Principle #7: The ocean is largely unexplored.
Science Festivals
The Chen Lab participates in events like Neponset RiverFest in Dorchester, MA and Submerge Marine Science Festival in Manhatten, NY. We invite locals to participate in hands-on science activities to increase awareness of environmental issues and teach science. Activities such as plankton races help educate the public about the life strategy of phytoplankton as well as general science principles such as density in a friendly competition that is accessible to all ages and interest levels.