From Marine Science Summer Workshop for NYS Master Teachers in the Capitols and Communities – News From The Office of Government and Community Relations Newsletter on August 26, 2019
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences engaged some of New York’s best STEM teachers through a four-day immersive summer workshop sponsored by the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP). The workshop was held at Stony Brook Southampton Marine Science Lab where the teachers interacted with various ShiRP scientists and experts throughout the week.
The workshop is an idea of SoMAS staff member Christine Santora and combines two successful state programs developed by Governor Andrew Cuomo – the NYS Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP) and the Long Island Shellfish Program, (LISP). NYSMTP is based at nine SUNY campuses, including Stony Brook University, and consists of the state’s highest-performing K-12 STEM teachers. ShiRP is an effort created by SoMAS scientists to restore the bay’s degraded water quality through the replenishment of shellfish and eelgrass, and helped inspire Governor Cuomo’s statewide investment in shellfish restoration. During the workshop, teachers explored the Shinnecock Bay ecosystem, conducted surveys, sampled fisheries, measured water quality and observed eelgrass beds and oyster reefs.
A primary goal of this workshop was to enable these Master Teachers to become more knowledgeable in the marine sciences and develop teaching tools for colleagues and students in their home school districts. Marine Sciences is mostly underrepresented in K-12 curricula throughout the state.
