Enhancing ocean science literacy in the U.S. and abroad through NOAA Ocean Exploration

In the summer of 2010, an international team of scientists and educators from the United States and the Republic of Indonesia collaborated to explore little-known deep-sea ecosystems off Indonesia. Using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Okeanos Explorer along with the Indonesian Research and Fisheries Vessel Baruna Jaya IV, the Indonesia-USA Deep-Sea Exploration of the Sangihe Talaud Region Expedition (INDEX 2010) was the first major step in a multi-year partnership between the two governments to mutually advance ocean science, technology and education. The expedition, also the maiden voyage of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, was the first joint international mission with two ships sending live video and audio via telepresence to ocean explorers in Exploration Command Centers ashore in both countries. Both governments were deeply committed to education and outreach to raise awareness of the importance of exploring Indonesia´s deep sea. NOAA´s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) produced robust education materials/offerings to bring the science of the expedition into classrooms, aquariums and science museums/centers. Several of the education products were translated into Bahasa Indonesian. There were productive collaborations with SeaWorld-Indonesia in Jakarta and The Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA to ensure success of these efforts. Concurrent with the expedition, OER developed the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection (Collection) to encourage educators and students to become personally involved with the voyages and discoveries of the Okeanos Explorer - America´s first Federal ship dedicated to ocean exploration. An online workshop in the use of Volume 1 in the Collection: Why Do We Explore? was also hosted in partnership with the College of Exploration. This paper focuses on the education efforts associated with INDEX 2010.