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EDUCATION - Stuff for Kids
I'm Annette deCharon and although I too am an oceanographer, I enjoy my role as an "interpreter", for non-oceanographers, of ocean-related scientific research. My job is made much easier by the Internet, which is revolutionizing the way we communicate and access timely information. We now can immediately share current data and research results with the public; however, the science 'lingo' has to be translated so everyone can understand it. Multimedia, computer-based interactivity, graphics and animations are used to deliver concepts in fun and interesting ways. My favorite activity is broadening the awareness of oceanography and life within our oceans, especially for students. I do this primarily by developing on-line educational resources and hands-on activities. One of the most important parts of my job is working with teachers to make sure that the information in the materials I develop align with educational standards. I cannot do my job well unless I understand what the "end users" really need to do THEIR jobs.
Since 1998, I have worked as Director of Outreach at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, located on the beautiful coast of Maine, USA. Bigelow Laboratory is the state's largest oceanographic institution. Our principal scientific concern is the biological productivity of the oceans and our scientists work on projects world-wide. One of our most ambitious educational products is Phytopia: Discovery of the Marine Ecosystem, an educational CD-ROM. It has a wealth of images, animations, microscope- and satellite-derived data sets, and multimedia tools to discover why the marine ecosystem is critical to human existence. Phytopia also has an interactive satellite image tool that helps students understand seasonal changes in environmental factors that affect phytoplankton productivity and ocean health. You can find out more about or order this CD at http://www.docnet.com/bigelow/index.jsp
Prior to Bigelow, I spent seven years at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, including work as the Outreach Education Leader for Earth Science Flight Projects such as the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite mission. I was lucky enough to have this job during one of the largest El Niño events in recorded history (1997-1998). For many months, our team had our "hands full": people around the world wanted to know how the El Niño was progressing and how it might affect their lives. We did our best to make the data available and interpret its meaning for the public. We received a lot of attention -- and even a few awards -- for our efforts. It taught us much about the value of good outreach and the importance of teamwork.
My educational background is in oceanography (M.S. Oregon State University 1988) and geology (B.S. University of California at Davis 1985). Through work at NASA/JPL and Brown University, I also have experience using satellite-derived data. This remote sensing experience will come in handy as I lead the education efforts for Aquarius, a NASA satellite mission that will provide the first global maps of salt concentration on the ocean surface. Salt concentration is a key area of scientific uncertainty in the oceans' capacity to store and transport heat, which in turn affects Earth's climate and water cycle. As part of the Aquarius team, I will coordinate activities among groups in NASA centers, several states, and with our satellite mission partners in Argentina. Everyone knows seawater is salty; our challenge is helping people understand how the ocean salinity affects our everyday lives. And thanks to the Internet, e-mail and other forms of telecommunication, I'll be able to do this from my office that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean!
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