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The Ocean Gyre KEEPING CURRENT WITH THE NATIONAL OCEAN SCIENCES BOWL Students Showcase Their Ocean Acidification Awareness Issue Number 5, August 2014

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The Ocean GyreKEEPING CURRENT WITH THE NATIONAL OCEAN SCIENCES BOWL

Students Showcase

Their Ocean Acidification Awareness

Issue Number 5, August 2014

Letter from the NOSB DirectorIn May, we held the 17th annual NOSB National Finals in Seattle, WA. Twenty-two teams gave it their all and should be extremely proud of their performances. Congratulations to the 2014 champs from Boise High School – our first ever champs from a state that does not border the ocean or a Great Lake. A big “thank you” goes out to our hosts at the University of Washington and Washington Sea Grant and to Liz Creed, who secured sponsorship from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceanic Engineering Society (IEEE/OES) for ALL the Finals prizes and awards. A great weekend was had by all thanks to the dedication of all our teams, coaches, regional coordinators, volunteers, and, of course, all our sponsors!

During Finals, participants, family members and supporters contributed to the NOSB’s first online fundraising campaign, Get in the Game. Throughout Finals, and through World Oceans Day on June 8th, our community helped us raise more than $13,000 toward scholarships and Finals costs. Thank you all for your belief in the benefits of the program. At the end of the campaign, we announced that the Dolphin Challenge in Galveston, Texas was our top Get in the Game regional bowl, raising $2,730 through the commitment of its bowl participants. Way to go!

The program is still feeling the effects of the loss of its core support in 2013. We continue to seek new partnerships and funding opportunities, of which crowdsourcing is just one. But it is an important one; this commitment from ALL our participants shows our current and prospective funders that the NOSB community is serious about the program’s success and is invested in its future. We ask all of you to continue to be diligent in spreading the word about the NOSB and your experiences with the program.

On a brighter note, June brought some high level visibility to NOSB teams! Students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology took part in the U.S. Department of State’s Our Ocean 2014 Conference, asking a question that highlighted their study of ocean acidification. Our 2014 National Champs participated in the White House’s “We the Geeks: Submerged,” discussing the importance of ocean literacy alongside a prestigious line-up of researchers. They made a really great case for the NOSB, too. You can read more about these opportunities on page 9.

Thank you for reading and keeping current with the NOSB. And thank you for your continued support and patience during this critical time for the program.

Sincerely,

Kristen Yarincik Director, NOSB

Inside This Issue...The NOSB Volunteer Highlight . . . . 2

2014 Finals Competition . . . . . . 3-4

RC Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Where Are They Now? . . . . . . . . 6

Call For 2015 Question Writers . . . . 7

Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2014 Video Contest Winners . . . . . 8

Student Opportunities . . . . . . . . 9

2014 Finals Sponsors . . . . . . . 10

Alumni Information Form . . . . . . 11

2015 Finals Competition Information . 12

Calendar & Social Media Links . . . . 12

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The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceanic Engineering Society

Melissa Brodeur: How and when did you become involved with the NOSB?Wayne Sternberger: I am a member of the Marine Technology Society (MTS). In 2008, MTS announced that the NOSB was looking for ocean scientists and technologists to participate on the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) to review competition questions. The NOSB accepted my offer to volunteer on the TAP. That led to me volunteering at the Chesapeake Bay Bowl (CBB) and writing questions.MB: Why do you continue to participate each year?WS: I keep coming back for selfish reasons. Primarily, I do this because I sincerely respect ALL of the people that I encounter: the students, advisors, volunteers, interns, staff, and parents. I am able to re-charge my outlook when I associate with the people that make the NOSB tick. Second, I learn more and more about the oceans—as a result of the NOSB process and events—than I did in college and the more than three decades on the job as an ocean systems engineer. The breadth and depth of information that flows is humbling to me and I’m truly impressed that the students have done such a great job of mastering the details. Finally, volunteerism has been a significant part of my life going back to my youth. I can’t think of a better way to invest my time than to help educate and motivate the people who will follow in my footsteps.MB: Do you have a favorite memory from your years as a volunteer?WS: The whole experience is always very positive. My favorite memory is from the 2014 CBB. One of the

students approached me during the pre-competition ice cream social. He said that he recognized me from a previous CBB. He shook my hand and thanked me for taking the time and making the effort to volunteer for the CBB and the NOSB. That meant more to me than any form of compensation could ever begin to match.MB: How has volunteering for the NOSB benefited you?WS: To start, I remind you of the reasons that I continue to volunteer with the NOSB. It doesn’t take much to become concerned about the global state of affairs. Five minutes of nightly news is all it takes to cause a person to go hermitlike because of violence, environmental decline, and economic instability. Through my work with the NOSB, I see a very positive indication that future generations: have good heads on their shoulders; are socially responsible; and are committed to preserving our natural resources.

The Stewards: Highlighting the Dedicated Volunteers of the NOSB

Dr. Wayne Sternberger works at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. He has been a volunteer with the Chesapeake Bay Bowl for the past five years and has served as a national office Technical Advisory Panelist reviewing questions related to ocean engineering and marine technology.

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Wayne Sternberger

The 17th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl® Finals Competition was held in Seattle, WA from May 1 to 4, 2014. Teams from twenty-two high schools from around the United States competed in this year’s Finals Competition, hosted by Washington Sea Grant and the University of Washington (UW).

The theme for this year’s competition was ocean acidification; it explored the progressive increase in ocean acidity caused by excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its ramifications on marine ecosystems and organisms, as well as the role that humans play in the process. Students were immersed accordingly in field trips, presentations, activities, and questions that highlighted the causes and environmental and societal effects of ocean acidification. They became more aware of ocean acidification’s potential to disrupt ecosystems in a way that endangers the ocean and its role as a food source, storm buffer, and more. The theme was particularly relevant for a Finals Competition in Seattle, as the U.S. Pacific Northwest is already seeing the direct effects of ocean acidification, especially on its shellfish industry. UW stepped up to the challenge and became an example for the nation in coordinating research and monitoring of ocean acidification and its effects on local oysters, clams and fish.

Students Master Blue Knowledge in the

Emerald City

The students arrived in Seattle and participated in an engaging speed-career exploration event where they were given the opportunity to meet with 15 professionals, ask questions about their career paths and receive advice on college and career aspirations and goals. The students met individuals working at UW, Washington Sea Grant, NOAA, the Sierra Club and the Marine Conservation Alliance. On Friday, the students and coaches took part in interactive field trips around the Seattle area, including: a water sampling cruise with the Ocean Inquiry Project; an exploration of the mercer Slough Nature Park; a water pollution patrol with the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance; a tour of NOAA’s Western Regional Center laboratories; a tour of NOAA’s Fisheries Research Station; a guided low-tide beach walk; kayaking and sailing; zip-line tours; and guided tours of Seattle landmarks. The students ended their day with a private tour of the Seattle Aquarium and an inspirational presentation from Dr. Brian Baird, President of Antioch University Seattle and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

As expected, Saturday morning arrived and the teams were excited and ready for a full day of difficult questions and their Scientific Expert Briefing presentations, during which they made recommendations on the reauthorization of the FOARAM act on ocean acidification. The mock congressional briefing and the preparation for it provides students with a broader understanding of the interconnections between science, policy and the public. Saturday activities also included a presentation by Matthew Huelsenbeck, Team Relations Manager for the Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE and university tours for teams no longer in competition, including tours of the Argo Float lab, the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team lab, the UW Fish Collection repository facility, the Molecular Ecology Research lab and the Wetland Ecosystem Team lab. For a quick, fun break, the students were able to put their coaches and Regional Coordinators to test in a mock competition.

After some nerve-wracking double elimination rounds on Sunday morning, including the final tie-breaking round between Arcadia High School (2013 champions) and Boise High School that left the audience thinking “how did they know that,” the team from Boise took first place, becoming our first champions from a state that does not border the ocean or a Great Lake! However, the team’s coach, Tony Baca, will be the first to tell you that there is a seaport in Idaho - the Port of Lewiston is Idaho’s only seaport and is navigable for barges transporting goods up and down the Columbia River. This was their first time taking first place, and they were awarded a week-long experiential trip to oceanographic institutions and marine sites in New Hampshire and Maine as a reward for their achievement. In recognition of their hard work, the second place team from Arcadia High School (Arcadia, CA) was awarded an experiential trip to Washington, DC and Maryland, while the students and coach of the third place team from Juneau-Douglas High School (Juneau, AK) each received GoPro cameras. Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School (Virginia Beach, VA) took home a gavel plaque for the highest Science Expert Briefing score and Langham Creek High School (Houston, TX) won the James D. Watkins Sportsmanship Award, which is voted upon by the volunteers for demonstrating the best sportsmanship throughout the weekend-long competition. All the prizes were made possible with generous support from the IEEE / Oceanic Engineering Society.

The 2014 host and Regional Coordinator of the Orca Bowl, Maile Sullivan, deserves a ‘thank you’ for her time and in hosting the Finals Competition and ensuring the students had a fabulous experience in Seattle. The NOSB national office would also like to thank all the RCs, Orca Bowl staff and local volunteers (who dress up in costumes), and our many sponsors for helping to make the 2014 NOSB Finals a fun, engaging and educating event.

A photo slide show of the 2013 Finals competition weekend is available on the NOSB website and photos are also available on Ocean Leadership’s Flickr site.

2014 NOSB Champions, Boise High School!

RCSpotlight

By Phyllis Shoemaker, Regional Coordinator of the Tsunami Bowl, University of Alaska Fairbanks Seward Marine Center

In June of 2014 the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (UAF-SFOS) took delivery of the newest research vessel in the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet. R/V SIKULIAQ is a 261 foot ice capable global class ship owned by the National Science Foundation, but operated on their behalf by UAF-SFOS. As part of my job at the Seward Marine Center, I traveled to Marinette WI, where the ship was built, to help with outfitting and finishing touches. I had seen the ship during construction over the past few years, and it was wonderful to see the completed project.

A co-worker (and Alaska Tsunami Bowl volunteer) was in Marinette with me. She was wearing her 2014 Tsunami Bowl t-shirt, with a big NOSB logo on the back, while walking to the shipyard office when someone called out to her “Are you part of the NOSB?” When she confirmed that she was a volunteer for the Alaska competition, he said he had been a competitor in high school. He is now in the Navy and was at the shipyard as part of his work with several Navy ships currently under construction.

That’s one of the things I like

about the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. Each

region has its own flavor, but we are all part of one big organization. However

and wherever you get involved in the ocean there is a good chance you will meet someone connected

with the NOSB. And they are such a great bunch of people!

I was asked to be a volunteer at the first Tsunami Bowl back in 1998. My boss, Judy McDonald, was the Regional Coordinator (RC). I was glad to help for the next several years, and when she retired in 2001, I was happy to take over the RC duties. I enjoy learning new things every year as we review the questions. And I really enjoy meeting the students, teachers and volunteers who come to Seward every year for the Alaska competition. It is so great to see the growth and improvement in students’ knowledge and skills as they return year after year. It is also fun to see the different areas of the U.S. at the NOSB Final Competitions, and learn how different regions and institutions organize their bowls.

A career in oceanography or marine science can take many paths. Mine has included everything from studying effects of crude oil on plankton to working as marine technician on research vessels. I’m very glad it has also given me the opportunity to participate in the NOSB since it was started in 1998. I hope I can continue to be involved for many more years.

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Alex loves competition and, aptly, got involved in the Manatee Bowl during his junior year at the Maritime and Science Technology (MAST) Academy in Miami, FL. He was introduced to the NOSB through his Environmental Science teacher who coached the school’s teams. During his senior year, Alex captained his team to the 2006 National Finals competition in Pacific Grove, CA, where they took 5th place. He most enjoyed the team camaraderie, which the team expressed through a mascot, passed down through teams each year, and matching embroidered team shirts.

In addition to conducting research in a government lab during high school, participating in the NOSB has influenced Alex to stay involved and pursue an academic career in ocean sciences. The NOSB introduced Alex to many subject areas that he would later go on to study further.

Alex took on his undergrad studies at Duke University, where he graduated with dual degrees in Earth and Ocean Sciences and Physics (and a minor in Mathematics!). While at Duke, Alex researched both the surface trajectories of sea turtles and Lagrangian coherent structures in the Florida Current using finite time Lyapunov exponents.

He is currently in his fourth year as a PhD candidate in the Climate Dynamics Group of the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. His research interests focus on the dynamics of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and cryosphere-climate variability of the past. Alex hopes to stay in academia and continue working on problems in climate science.

Alex stays involved with the NOSB by volunteering as a Moderator at the Blue Lobster Bowl each year. He enjoys how his continuing involvement with the NOSB gives him a connection to marine science education at the secondary level. He finds that it provides very useful context in preparing for teaching undergraduate and graduate level students. He particularly enjoys the more interactive and problem-solving based components that have increasingly become a part of both the national and regional bowls.

Where Are They Now?

Alumni Spotlight:

Alexander (Alex) RobelHarvard PhD candidate

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Are you looking for a way to use your knowledge of the NOSB competition or marine science, AND give back to the NOSB program? The national office is in need of volunteer question writers willing to submit 20 buzzer questions (equal numbers of multiple choice toss-ups and short answer bonuses) or 1-2 Team Challenge Questions (TCQs) each.

The NOSB is looking to broaden our question creation in 2014 and beyond, and you can help!

Calling all NOSB Alumni!Opportunity for

ocean science professionalsAre you looking for a way to use your knowledge of ocean science and support the next generation of ocean scientists and stewards? The national office is in need of volunteer question writers willing to submit 25 buzzer questions (multiple choice toss-ups and short answer bonuses) or 1-2 Team Challenge Questions (TCQs) each.

If you have expertise in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Marine Policy, Technology, Social Science or Geography, please help us ensure the competition questions are of the highest quality possible. Please visit www.nosb.org/volunteers/question-writers/ for the question writing guidelines and templates. Please be sure to read through the guidelines – any questions that do not follow the guidelines and templates may not be accepted.

Please email your questions, the 2015 NOSB Confidentiality & Quality Agreement (available online with the guidelines), your name and email address to Amanda Holloway at [email protected] by Friday, August 29, 2014. Please also contact Amanda with any questions.

PLEASE NOTE: Questions from current high school students and coaches will not be accepted.

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Book ReviewThe Shark Whisperer: Tristan Hunt and the Sea GuardiansBy Ellen Prager

Many of you know Ellen Prager from her popular nonfiction science books, including Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime and Chasing Science at Sea. In Dr. Prager’s first foray into fiction, she continues to impart the wonders of the sea and its creatures, this time against the backdrop of a fanciful sea camp and students with incredible powers. Ordinary kids become extraordinary as they discover special talents that mimic the physiological and evolutionary traits of marine creatures—from octopus camouflage to dolphin echolocation to hagfish slime production—and the power to thwart ocean evildoers. In this first book of a series written for a middle school audience, the campers face a villain shark finner and treasure hunter who is blasting a coral reef in search of a sunken ship. In reality, humans do not possess these special powers, but, as the fantasy unfolds, the campers (likewise, the reader) learn about real conservation issues

and ocean phenomena. Have any of you heard of ooids before?! (Wait, I’m talking to NOSBers… of course you have!) Like the Harry Potter books, The Shark Whisperer forces readers to suspend their disbelief, but, unlike Harry Potter, where the magic and make believe end, there is a real world to explore and a potential future in ocean science or conservation. Pick up a copy of The Shark Whisperer so you can dream about swimming as fast as a shark and organizing seabird guano warfare on your enemies… and learn some real science in the process. Available at AmazonSmile (remember AmazonSmile will make a donation to NOSB if you set your charity to Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Inc.).

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2014 LIVING ON THE

OCEAN PLANETVIDEO CONTEST Winners

The 6th annual “Living on the Ocean Planet” video contest, sponsored by the NOSB in partnership with the National Marine Educators Association, offered all high school students the opportunity to creatively express their knowledge of ocean acidification through a one- to three-minute video.Through creative storyline and visualization, the theme of “Ocean Acidification” addressed human actions that increase carbon dioxide and explained the carbon dioxide cycle and the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems in a fun and engaging way.The students did an excellent job portraying their understanding of ocean acidification in creative, entertaining and informative ways. Thank you to all of our participants for submitting such fantastic films and congratulations to our national winners!

1st “Ocea

n Acidific

ation” by C

helsea

Aure, To

mmy Fent

on, and To

m

Ertle o

f Marine

Academy o

f Techn

ology and En

vironm

ental Scie

nce in

New Jer

sey

2nd “The Human Ele

ment” by Joshua Weinberg, Mitchell

Cairns and William Bates of Marine Academy of

Technology and Environmental Science in New Jersey

3rd “The Environmental Rendition of Guys and

Dolls” by Sierra Cleveland, Ryan Kang and Terese

Yoon of Los Alamitos High School in California

We also held a “Fan Favorite” contest; the top three videos from each division were posted to YouTube for the public

to view and “like.” The “Fan Favorite” prize also went to “The Human Element.”

Each member of the 1st place national winning team received a Kodak Playsport Video Camera. The 2nd place winners each

received an Amazon gift certificate and 3rd place winners each received a copy of Smithsonian Ocean: Our Water,

Our World by Deborah Cramer.

All of these videos, and more, can be viewed on NOSB’s YouTube Channel. Click here

to see the full list of 2014 Divisional Winners!

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NOSB Students Showcase Their Knowledge!June brought two fantastic opportunities for the NOSB program to highlight its amazing and intelligent students:U.S. Department of State’s Our Ocean 2014 Conference, on June 17th: NOSB students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (2014 Chesapeake Bay Bowl regional winners from Alexandria, Virginia) were given the opportunity to attend a high level conference where ocean science and conservation leaders and world leaders came together to communicate international ocean issues and make commitments to address these challenges, and to ask a question of an esteemed panel of ocean acidification experts. Based on the students’ Science Expert Briefing research of ocean acidification around the FOARAM Act, they asked panel members how they saw local and international stakeholders supporting efforts to deploy monitoring systems, enable data sharing, archiving and analysis, and implement policy to better monitor and respond to ocean acidification. Watch the ocean acidification panel recording to see the students in action. Additional photos and highlights from #OurOcean2014, visit NOSB’s Tumblr blog!

White House’s “We the Geeks: Submerged!” on June 25th: The 2014 NOSB National Champions from Boise High School participated in a White House-organized Google+ Hangout and were able to share their thoughts on the importance of the ocean to our way of life, along with a prestigious line-up of researchers including Sam Champion of the Weather Channel, Fabien Cousteau, ocean explorer, Sylvia Earle, National Geographic’s Explorer-in-Residence, and Beth Kertula, Director of the National Ocean Council. Please watch the recorded video and see our next generation of ocean stewards explain that everyone, even those in land locked states, depend on a healthy ocean and can do something (carpool or recycle, for example) in their daily lives to help protect the important marine environment.

Congrats to both teams and THANK YOU for making the NOSB community proud!

A word from the generous sponsor of all the 2014 NOSB Finals Competition awards and prizes!

The IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES) is one of 38 technical societies under the IEEE umbrella. An international organization, the OES was formed in 1968. Its membership, 2000 strong, is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students and professionals interested in the field of oceanic engineering. Our

members study the physical, chemical and biological phenomena in the oceans, atmospheric-oceanic interactions, satellite communications with oceanographic instrumentation, underwater acoustics, pelagic events, benthic communities and structures, and subsea structures. Complimenting that they also design, develop and build the vehicles (ROVs, AUVs and manned submersibles) and instrumentation used to carry out such research. Areas of employment include academic institutions, consulting firms, oceanic equipment manufacturers and operators, and government agencies.

The OES holds two OCEANS Conferences each year, one located in North America and the other alternating between Europe and Asia-Pacific. These conferences bring together the oceanographic community to discuss recent advances as well as upcoming research projects and the hot topics of the day. In addition several workshops and symposia are held each year. This year’s workshops and symposia will cover topics in acoustics and underwater vehicle technology. Two of the topics included in next year’s workshops will be current measurement and emerging technologies.

In addition to bringing oceanographic experts together at our Conferences, Workshops and Symposia the OES is also keenly interested in providing educational opportunities to students, our next generation of scientists and engineers. Seeing the benefits of the NOSB program in encouraging students to enter the fields of science and engineering, the OES, a sponsor of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) for a number of years, increased their support ten-fold in light of the budget issues the NOSB faced in 2014. Continued sponsorship at the 2014 level is planned. In addition, the OES also encourages students by supporting their attendance at OCEANS Conferences, sponsored workshops and symposia and as competitors in the OCEANS Conference Student Poster Competition. The OES also provides funding to support a pre-collegiate and collegiate ROV Competition (MATE Competition).To learn more about the OES go to: www.ieeeoes.orgNew members are always welcome!

NOSB would like to thank the following sponsors of its 2014 National Program:

Eric & Wendy SchmidtOffice of Naval ResearchNational Science FoundationInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceanic Engineering SocietyNational Aeronautics & Space AdministrationShell Exploration and Production Company Washington Sea GrantUniversity of WashingtonThe Paul G. Allen Family FoundationBureau of Ocean Energy ManagementKhaled bin Sultan Living Oceans FoundationBigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencesGulf of Maine Research InstituteUniversity of Maine Darling Marine CenterUniversity of New HampshireShoals Marine LaboratorySmithsonian Nation Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian Environmental Research and Education CenterSmithsonian National Zoological ParkNational Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Cooperative

Oxford LaboratoryEllen PragerThe University of Chicago PressOcean ConservancyNational Marine Educators Association

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Hey NOSB Alumni! Are you interested in receiving our biannual newsletter? If so, please fill out and submit the following form via the “Submit Form” button in the purple task bar above.

First Name: ______________________________________ Last Name: ______________________________________

Current Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________________ State: _________________ Zip: _____________________

Email Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone: _____________________________________ Cell Phone: ______________________________________

High School: ________________________________________________ Graduation Year (MM/YY): ____________

How many years did you participate in NOSB? _______ In which Bowl? ___________________________________

College/University Attended: ________________________________________________________________________

Graduation Year (MM/YY): _________________________ Major/Degree: __________________________________

Graduate School: __________________________________________________________________________________

Graduation Date (MM/YY): ________________________ Degree: _________________________________________

Since graduating high school, have you volunteered at any NOSB events? Yes No

If yes, at what location? _______________________________________________ Most recent year: _____________

If you are not already, would be interested in volunteering at an NOSB event? Yes No

Would you be interested in potentially being contacted to be interviewed by NOSB? Yes No

Do you have email addresses of former NOSB teammates that you would be willing to share so that they to can receive the Ocean Gyre Newsletter by listserv? (All email addresses will be kept confidential by NOSB.)

Alumni Name: ____________________________________ Email: __________________________________________

Alumni Name: ____________________________________ Email: __________________________________________

Alumni Name: ____________________________________ Email: __________________________________________

Alumni Name: ____________________________________ Email: __________________________________________

*All information provided will only be used by NOSB to stay in contact with Alumni and will not be shared with outside sources.

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2015 NOSB Finals CompetitionMississippi’s Gulf CoastApril 23-26, 2015(hosted by the Hurricane Bowl in Ocean Springs)

2015 will be a milestone for the Hurricane Bowl for two reasons: it is the 10 year anniversary since they last hosted the NOSB Finals Competition in 2005 and, more importantly, it is also the 10 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the region on August 29, 2005, destroying numerous buildings and structures along the shoreline, including the Biloxi Bay Bridge which connected Ocean Springs to Biloxi, and flooding other buildings. Scars of the devastation can still be seen, but the cities of Ocean Spring and Biloxi continue to rebuild and heal.2015 NOSB Finals Competition participants will be immersed in the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s maritime history, culture, recreation and scientific research.

Today’s high school students will become tomorrow’s leaders charged with ensuring the health of the ocean and our planet. The NOSB is a national program that engages high school students in ocean science, prepares them for ocean science-related careers, and helps them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards. The NOSB provides students an interactive educational opportunity

in a team setting that develops critical thinking and workforce skills and enhances STEM learning, while offering regional and national recognition for their hard work. The NOSB has had great success in exposing 27,000 high school students over 17 years to ocean science and related careers, each year with the support of about 1,200 volunteers from the professional ocean science community.

The NOSB is managed by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, a Washington DC-based nonprofit organization that represents the leading public and private ocean research and education institutions, aquaria and industry. We are generously supported by U.S. government agencies, corporations, individuals, foundations and other non-governmental organizations.

To contact the NOSB National Office, please email us at [email protected].

There are many ways to stay up to date with NOSB happenings… and share your own stories!Do you know them all?

www.facebook.com/nosb.org

http://twitter.com/NOSBRocks

http://instagram.com/NOSBRocks

http://nosbrocks.tumblr.com

http://bit.ly/NOSBNews

Photo Credit: University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

2014 CALENDARAug 4 U.S. Coast Guard Day

Aug 12 Middle Child’s Day

Sept 8 International Literacy Day

Sept 16 National Play-Doh Day

Sept 22 Elephant Appreciation Day