Hello and welcome to the inaugural edition of our COSEE-OLC online newsletter! We are very excited to begin what will be quarterly issues of the newsletter. In this edition you will learn more about the recent Exploring the Spectrum of Citizen Science Workshop, meet a member of the online community, meet a COSEE-OLC team member, and get a few tips on maneuvering through the website.

Thanks to our partnering organizations Washington Sea Grant, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and Puget Sound Partnership; and to the more than 160 participants and presenters the April 10th and 11th Citizen Science workshop was a great success! Participants included marine volunteers/leaders, scientists, natural resource managers, educators, university students, and citizens from more than 45 different organizations, institutions and agencies. COSEE-OLC was excited to meet its goals of a) providing an opportunity to bring together a diverse group of people interested in citizen science to share successes, challenges, and strategies; and b) allowing for   the individual identification of personal/professional next steps to advance citizen science.

The two day workshop kicked off on Friday with a day long research cruise in the Salish Sea  co-hosted by Ocean Inquiry Project, Service, Education and Adventure and COSEE-OLC. Over 20 workshop participants had the opportunity to attend. In the evening Bruce Lewenstein, Professor of Science Communication at Cornell University, gave an opening address titled, What Makes It Science? What Makes It Citizen? This was followed by a dessert reception where new and renewed connections were made among participants. On Saturday ten different panel sessions were held on topics such as starting up a citizen science program, training and managing volunteer participation, data issues-successes and challenges, data gaps-monitoring needs and how citizens can be involved and engaging students in citizen science. In an afternoon poster session over 20 posters covering topics related to citizen science and current ocean research were on display (poster topics).   

 Participant Comments:

Adam Lorio is an Interpretive Specialist with Washington State Parks working at Deception Pass. One of the projects Adam is working on is to use citizen science to create a Rocky Intertidal Restoration Zone and Intertidal Trail System at Rosario Beach. According to Adam this is the second year that they are operating a designated trail through the tide pools with the intent of accelerating recovery of the area from extreme human impacts. "Our goal is to have a system that will help restore this natural area without limiting exploration and potential for visitors to connect with a special public beach."                      

COSEE-OLC thanks Adam for his participation and contributions at our events and programs. He has been a consistent presence and advocate for advancing marine education in the Puget Sound region. To contact Adam go to meet the community, search for his profile, and click on contact me.
 

COSEE-OLC.net what is it good for? Prior to designing our new website we talked with and listened to many of you express a desire to have access to an ocean/marine related website that would provide the opportunity to connect with fellow marine volunteers, scientists, and educators; learn about up to date ocean/marine science; learn about each others work and how to get in contact; share materials and resources; find out about upcoming events or post an event; request a speaker; learn about education and outreach opportunities; to have a place where you could network and learn more about what is happening locally and nationally. We took your input and designed a website tool that has the potential to address many of your requests. In March of 2009 we launched coseeolc.net and since that time the online membership and web content has steadily grown. Like other social networking sites it takes the ongoing addition of members and content to make the online community a success. Here is where you play a key role through updating your profile, submitting content, and encouraging others to join we can continue to build the online tool you are looking for.

Highlights and Features

Every week we add new items on "2 minutes of cool science" (contact us with ideas/suggestions)

Want to contact other members of the online community? Once you log onto the website you can search the community list, click on the "contact me" link and send an email to the person via our web system. 

If you want to submit content for the website go to your login profile where you can find links to submit resources, tips, events, blogs, videos and photos. Your request is sent to our web administrator for review and if appropriate it gets posted to the website.

Phil Bell is a Co-PI of the COSEE-Ocean Learning Communities Center and associate professor of Learning Sciences in the UW College of Education. Phil studies how and why people learn about science and technology — and how it relates to what they want or need to accomplish in their lives. As someone who works in the learning sciences field, he has studied everyday learning, cognition and expertise in science; children's argumentation; the use of digital technologies within youth culture; the design and use of novel learning technologies; and new approaches to inquiry instruction in science. In his past work he has built web-based learning platforms and designed and studied K-12 science curricula. He presently spends most of his time conducting learning ethnographies of youth and families across social settings.  Through his work with COSEE-OLC Phil is researching learning in a girls' school that is adopting a year-long ocean focus.  Through this work COSEE-OLC helps educators develop materials and experiences that enrich student engagement and learning.

Phil directs the ethnographic and design-based research of the Everyday Science and Technology Group, directs the University of Washington Science and Mathematics Education Institute, and is a Co-Lead of informal learning research for the Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (LIFE) Center. Phil currently serves as a member of the Board on Science Education with the National Academy of Sciences and co-chaired the National Research Council Consensus Volume on Learning Science in Informal Environments. Phil has a background in human cognition and development, science education, computer science, and electrical engineering.