K–12 Education

Ocean Immersion Center at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps 

Summer Ocean Immersion Workshop
The development of an Ocean Immersion Center at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps (BAS) was formally launched this past summer with a three-day summer workshop for teachers. The Ocean Immersion Workshop, held August 3-5, took place was held on the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) campus with sessions located at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps (BAS). While most of the twenty-three K-8 teachers who participated in the workshop came from the San Diego County area, five commuted in daily from Tijuana, Mexico. Workshop teaching staff included members of the MARE Program, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and scientists from SIO. 

Participants included twenty-three K-8 teachers, from the San Diego County area. A group of five teachers commuted daily to the workshop from Tijuana, Mexico. Teaching staff included members of the MARE Program, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and scientists from SIO. 

Fieldwork included a beach walk surveying the local cliffs with Scripps scientist Dr. Neil Driscoll

Teachers participated in hands-on activities from the MARE curriculum. A fish lab from the 4th grade Kelp Forest guide explored the form and function of fish.

Habitat Workshop Series
A series of seven, one-day "Habitat Workshops", co-taught by MARE and BAS staff, will take place over this coming fall and winter. Workshops will match up the expertise of SIO scientists to the habitat/content focus appropriate for each grade level of the MARE Program. These workshops will provide opportunities for teachers and the school community to connect with cutting-edge ocean science research. For more information on workshops or registration call the Birch Aquarium Education Department at 858-534-8665 or go to http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu