New York Sea Grant and longtime partner New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA) share the value of the “train-the-trainer” approach to teaching marine science. A recent joint venture was the March 2012 Marine Science Share-A-Thon held at Columbia University’s Teachers College, where teachers shared and acquired innovative lesson plans and other materials for students while earning professional development credits.

As chair of NYSMEA’s Education Committee, NYSG Hudson Estuary Specialist Nordica Holochuck coordinated the event which featured lessons from over a half-dozen presenters, from an elementary “Sing Along to the Ocean” to “Beneath the Sea’s Marine Careers and Scholarship” program for upper level students. Teachers checked the Hudson River’s “vital signs” using near real-time data and traveled beneath the waves using Google Earth Ocean. I FISH NY’s Melissa Cohen played a version of Go Fish! with cards illustrated with New York State fishes which teach students about fish diversity and classification. NYSG Communications Manager Barbara Branca offered tips for bringing hot research topics to the classroom (see article: Atlantic Sturgeon population studies).

“This pilot program is a good opportunity to network with colleagues and for NYSMEA members new and old to learn some unique educational techniques,” says Holochuck. She sees this event as a catalyst to inspire similar resource sharing events throughout the NY Harbor Estuary watershed and along LIS.

In May 2012 Holochuck was honored for her contributions made to NYC science education through her work with NYSMEA. “I was very pleased to be nominated for and receive the 2012 Science Council of New York City (SCONYC) Resnick Award by NYSMEA, a longtime Sea Grant partner and one of SCONYC’s nine member organizations,” said Holochuck.

– Paul C. Focazio


Attendees of NYSMEA-NYSG’s teacher “Share-A-Thon” included (l-r) NYSG Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator Larissa Graham, hydroponics gardening and sustainability presenter Shakira Castronovo from Manhattan Children's School, NYSG Hudson Estuary Specialist Nordica Holochuck and I FISH NY’s Melissa Cohen. Photo by Paul C. Focazio