1. Mid-Ocean Ridge Science Education for Teachers Ridge 2000 National Science Foundation Penn State University

2. Purpose of Meeting To explore ways that Conferences and Institutes can work with the Ridge 2000 Program to bring this exciting science to the K-12 community.

3. Agenda  Background  What is Ridge 2000?  E&O Goals  Why Ridge Science for Teachers?  Ridge 2000 E&O Plans  Integrated Ridge Science Education Program  Possible Workshop Offering  Discussion

4. What is Ridge 2000?  Ridge 2000 is a research initiative focused on understanding the geological and biological processes of the mid-ocean ridges.  It is a community of scientists from multiple disciplines and research institutions across the country.  The program is currently administered at Penn State under Dr. Charles Fisher.  This research initiative is funded by the National Science Foundation.

5. Ridge 2000 Education Outreach Goal  To bring exciting research-based science into middle and high school classrooms. The best way to do this is to provide teachers with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to incorporate real science into their curriculum. - Mystic Workshop participants

6. Why Ridge Science?  For the last 20 years, ridge spreading centers have been very active areas of research, yielding fundamental discoveries regarding plate tectonics and life in extreme environments.  Although groundbreaking science, its not typically covered well in schools.  It’s really exciting, engaging science!

7. Ridge 2000 E&O Plans Integrated Ridge Science Education Program  Curriculum modules tied to National Education Standards.  “Participation” in research cruises via interactive web sites.  Teacher Professional Development.

8. Ridge 2000 E&O Plans Teacher Professional Development  REVEL - Teacher at Sea Program  Distance Education Course for Teachers  On-line Short Course (e.g. JASON Academy)  Local Teacher Workshops

9. Target Audience  Primary Audience  In-service secondary school science teachers (primarily earth science, but also biology, physics, and chemistry teachers)  Pre-service teachers?  Why are teachers interested?  Continuing ed credits to maintain certification  Advanced degrees to increase salary

10. Course/Workshop Objectives Students will gain an understanding of --  mid-ocean ridge science  basic geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biology, and ecology of these systems and how these disciplines are integrated  deep-sea technology and applications  how to incorporate this science into their curriculum

11. Specific Topics Covered  Basic Earth Structure (core, mantle, crust)  Plate motion/tectonics,  Earthquakes & volcanic eruptions  Seismology as a diagnostic tool  Geochemistry  Rock/Sea water interactions, formation of chimneys  Sulfides and other vent chemistry  Geophysics  Physical characteristics of the environment (temp, pressure, light)  Water column and plume dynamics  Biology/Ecology  Microbes and subsurface biosphere  Chemosynthesis as basis of food web  Organisms living at vent sites / Communities  Diversity and Adaptations  Colonization and Succession

12. Specific Topics (continued)  Deep-sea Technology  History of submersibles, how it enables, drives, limits research  Types of technology (ALVIN, ABE, ROV’s)  Challenges of conducting research in remote environment  Major Discoveries  Plate tectonics  Life in the extreme  Communities without sunlight  Applications in the classroom  Geosciences / Earth Sciences classes  Biology  Chemistry  Physics

13. What Ridge 2000 and Ocean Sciences Community Brings  Access to current research topics and expertise.  Guest lecturers drawn from Ridge 2000 community.  Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) may provide venues for workshops nationwide.

14. Other Considerations  We are currently developing a Student Experiment at Sea Program  We also plan to provide “live” web- based coverage of 1-2 research cruises per school year (student level)  These efforts will significantly help teachers bring this science to life in their classrooms!

15. Discussion of Workshop Offering  Does this fit with PSU teacher workshop offerings?  How do we address a national audience of teachers?  What role can C&I play?  Funding?