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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The oceans are a valuable resource and affect all of us in one way or another. Oceans are particularly stressed in urban areas, where coastal ecosystems suffer from
environmental problems such as habitat loss or degradation, toxic chemicals, pathogen contaminants, and overall decline in water quality and biodiversity. It is increasingly important to reach out to the public, in general, but more specifically to young people, and particularly in urban ocean areas, to increase awareness, education, and concern about the value of the marine environment.
We need more programs that
encourage students to be citizen-stewards in protecting the future of the oceans. This awareness can be fostered through bringing what has been learned scientifically in the research community and "translating it" into environmental education curricular materials and programs for schools. We need to help students understand the connections between environmental health and water quality and the health of living organisms, including human health as it pertains to their own coastal communities. We propose to develop innovative and cost-effective education materials based on monitoring of coastal marine organisms to educate students about the ocean.
INVESTIGATORY QUESTIONS
How effective is this program in fostering understanding of the connections between the health of living organisms and the health of coastal ecosystems and urban oceans?
How well can this ecotoxicological testing and monitoring method, the CAPMON procedure, be adopted and adapted for use in educational settings?
How effective is the program in promoting networks, particularly online networks,in understanding of these issues between scientists, Sea Grant educators, schools and
students?
What other monitoring techniques can be used to support ecotoxicological monitoring of crabs' heartbeats that are pragmatic, economically feasible and scientifically valid
and useful and that can be used in educational settings?
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