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prepared to tap other data sources and/or broker necessary contacts (including
interactions with other parts of the IOOS network) to address these high priority
user needs.
This recommendation will be addressed in future SEACOOS work plans and
through a merged SEACOOS/SECOORA extension and education program.
· It is necessary to develop specific educational objectives and defined target
audiences and develop a funding plan that ensures comprehensive education
program coverage of the SEACOOS domain
The specific educational objectives are present in the E&E portion of the
SEACOOS Strategic Plan with first objectives being directed toward the
development of OOS awareness among educators within the SEACOOS
domain. At present, the target audience for SEACOOS is K-16 teachers and
instructors, which coincides with those of COSEE SE, COSEE FL and
COSEE Gulf of Mexico, and aligns with the work plans of the four Sea Grant
marine education specialists in the region. It is expected that the educational
plan will evolve with the SEACOOS strategic and implementation plans as
those processes continue.
· The definition of the Education programming is too limited considering the broad
societal mandate for ocean observing. Therefore educational programming for
future business managers/leaders to familiarize them with the potential benefits of
incorporating environmental information into business planning and operations
should be developed.
The recommended broadening of educational audiences is an excellent
suggestion, but presupposes vastly increased funding or a change in direction
for the educational element of SEACOOS. If additional funding were
available the E&E WG would seriously consider such engagement.
Realistically, this is a direction the E&E WG sees as appropriate for the
regional association, SECOORA.
Detailed Findings
Background
This review was requested by the SEACOOS project team itself and was not conducted at
the request of the sponsoring agency, The Office of Naval Research. It is understood by
the review committee that the findings in this report are to serve as guidance for the fine
tuning of the future direction of the program and are not to be used as indication that the
commitment to the sponsor has been fulfilled. That is ONRs purview. It is further
understood that these findings are to be shared with all of the members of the SEACOOS
project as well as with ONR. It has been stated that these findings will not to be used to