Contact:

Larissa Graham, Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator, NYSG, E: ljg85@cornell.edu; P: 631.632.9216

Stony Brook, NY, April 05, 2010 – New York Sea Grant (NYSG) and the New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA) announces the re-launch of the Association’s Web site, www.nysmea.org.

“The redesign offers teachers a more interactive experience, one that better connects them together throughout the State,” says Paul C. Focazio, NYSG’s Web Content Manager. “Visitors can now easily become members, find more on upcoming events and sign up to receive alerts from NYSMEA’s Strandline newsletter.”

"It's been a pleasure working with NYSMEA, especially on a new look for the Web site,” adds Larissa Graham, NYSG’s Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator. “The site is a valuable resource for New York teachers, featuring lesson plans, field trip destinations, job opportunities, and much, much more.”

"The launch of the new NYSMEA website demonstrates the increasing collaboration between NYSMEA and New York Sea Grant in the marine education arena,” says NYSG Director James Ammerman.  “Dedicated Sea Grant staff members like Larissa Graham help to make such collaboration easy."

Graham is a recent recipient of the 2010 Science Council of New York City (SCONYC) Jerry Resnick Memorial Presidential Award. She was nominated for the award by NYSMEA, a SCONYC-member association she has worked closely with for several years.

"Larissa is a talented and dedicated educator, and NYSMEA is lucky to have her working so hard on our behalf,” says Meghan Marrero, NYSMEA president and Director of Curriculum at U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc. “She is most deserving of this award. We are proud to work with her, and of all of the work that she does on behalf of marine education."

The SCONYC award, which Graham will be presented with at the April 24th SCONYC conference at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, is named in honor of Jerry Resnick, a teacher, science chairperson and principal who was at the forefront of Science education in New York City and New York State for over 25 years.

“It is especially appropriate that Larissa receive this award as she shares Jerry's love of nature and the marine environment,” says Lou Siegel, NYSMEA member and Science Coordinator for South Shore Estuary Reserve. “Jerry then, and Larissa now, both also share a dedication and competence that inspires others to meet their level of performance.”

NYSMEA, which includes educators from all levels, promotes marine awareness and encourages the growth and exchange of instructional resources within the scientific, commercial, and educational communities. Members include educators from all levels: museum, aquarium, and environmental center staff, research scientists, laboratory technicians and those with interests in SCUBA, fishing, boating, maritime history, folklore, archeology and the arts.

Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 32 university-based programs that work with coastal communities. The National Sea Grant College Program engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training, and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources.