About NMEA

National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) is a dedicated, influential member-based organization of classroom teachers, informal educators, university professors, scientists, and more from around the world working together to advance the understanding and protection of our freshwater and marine ecosystems. From scientists working in the deep sea to students studying underwater archeology in the Great Lakes, NMEA members are dedicated to making known the world of water, both fresh and salt.

NMEA is a national organization powered by individual, regional chapters who provide the on-the-ground efforts that support and promote national initiatives in education and conservation such as ocean literacy.

NMEA has a rich history that spans over 45 years and hosts inspiring annual conferences in different locations across North America. NMEA has also recently inspired the creation of the European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) and the Asia Marine Educators Association (AMEA), and collaborates regularly with similar associations based in Australia (MESA) and beyond.

NMEA has developed a Code of Conduct, which outlines core principles that encourage constructive discourse, respectful interactions, and the creation of a positive environment where our members and friends can promote and support ocean literacy and making known the world of water, both fresh and salt.

Mission

To make known the world of water, both fresh and salt

NMEA Key Focus Areas

KEY FOCUS AREA: ADVANCE OCEAN LITERACY

NMEA will continue to focus on advancing ocean literacy at the local, national and global levels through:

• Encouraging, influencing and supporting the inclusion of ocean content in the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• Promoting the use of ocean literacy principles in both formal and non-formal education settings such as aquariums, museums, after-school programs and out-of-school learning opportunities

• Actively seeking out and supporting global initiatives to advance ocean literacy

STRATEGIES:

1. Promote the use of the Ocean Literacy Framework in formal and informal education.

2. Coordinate with NMEA committees to expand the use of the Ocean Literacy Framework with their diverse audiences.

3. Work with the International Committee and PC to establish and strengthen partnerships with international organizations to actively seek and support global initiatives to advance Ocean Literacy. (Note: This strategy is directly linked Strategy 3 under Key Focus Area: Advance Ocean Literacy)

4. Make connections to education and scientific associations to advance Ocean Literacy.

KEY FOCUS AREA: PURPOSEFULLY CULTIVATE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

NMEA will support and respond to the needs of like-minded people and organizations throughout the world through:

• Participating in international opportunities to promote excellence in marine education

• Maintaining an open, collaborative spirit to encourage shared learning and growth

• Providing leadership, guidance, and support as necessary to actively collaborate with people and organizations working towards similar mission-driven goals at the international level

STRATEGIES:

1. Cultivate strong relationships among global marine education community in synergy with the goals of NMEA.

2. Support international applications for NMEA conference scholarships, ensuring application suits needs of international audience, and increase advertising/awareness regarding availability of these funds.

3. Work with the Ocean Literacy Committee and PC to establish and strengthen partnerships with international organizations to actively seek and support global initiatives to advance Ocean Literacy. (Note: This strategy is directly linked Strategy 3 under Key Focus Area: Advance Ocean Literacy)

4. Support the growth of new marine education organizations globally.

5. Strengthen connections between IPMEN and developing marine education organizations in the Pacific region.

6. Increase NMEA’s presence at international marine education conferences.

KEY FOCUS AREA: ENGAGE STUDENT LEADERS

Youth are actively leading marine conservation initiatives and educating audiences of all ages. NMEA has an opportunity to engage youth (specifically high school aged and above) both to amplify their work and nurture future members of NMEA through:

• Connecting youth with mentors

• Establishing peer-to-peer networks to involve youth in NMEA

• Recruiting youth representation in NMEA leadership circles

STRATEGIES:

1. Continue to grow annual NMEA Student Conference and create guiding resources to help institutionalize and sustain this effort.

2. Develop year-round engagement opportunities for NMEA student members.

3. Work with NMEA chapters to develop an understanding of best practices for student engagement at the local level.

KEY FOCUS AREA: ACTIVELY INVOLVE DIVERSE AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES

NMEA will focus on becoming a more just, equitable, inclusive organization with a membership and board that reflects the demographics of the communities of the United States, and in particular the audiences marine educators serve or strive to serve. Diversity includes but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender identity and socioeconomic background of NMEA’s membership and event attendees.

NMEA will continue its focus on broadening participation and diversifying both its leadership and membership through:

• Strategically partnering with organizations that represent diverse and underrepresented communities and jointly establish achievable outcomes

• Supporting participation of diverse professionals in NMEA activities

• Fostering an organizational culture that attracts diverse professionals to NMEA

STRATEGIES:

1. Reach out to new audiences to increase the diversity of NMEA’s membership and event attendees.

2. Identify changes in the language and practices of marine education to make the field more inclusive and welcoming to communities of color.

3. Create an Emerging Leaders Program for young professionals of color.

4. Develop pathways into NMEA leadership for these audiences.

5. Create a culture within the organization that is inclusive of all audiences.

KEY FOCUS AREA: PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF AND RESPECT FOR TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

NMEA will continue its efforts to increase participation of Traditional Knowledge organizations in the activities of the organization and to increase its memberships knowledge and respect of Traditional Knowledge organizations’ roles and rights as they relate to in marine resources and ecosystems.

• Strategically partnering with Traditional Knowledge organizations

• Supporting participation of Traditional Knowledge organizations in NMEA activities both online and in-person

• Fostering an organizational culture that attracts Traditional Knowledge members to NMEA

STRATEGIES:

1. Improve and expand relationships with organizations that support t raditional knowledge, both nationally and internationally.

2. Increase NMEA members’ knowledge, respect and promotion of traditional knowledge.

KEY FOCUS AREA: DRIVE ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

NMEA will maintain and grow organizational integrity and sustainability through:

• Providing leadership, infrastructure and support for Chapters to grow

• Increasing membership numbers in all categories and establish renewal target to achieve annually

• Creating a consistent national conference experience for participants

• Establishing specific goals for funding and development to contribute to financial resilience of NMEA

• Developing a succession plan for organizational involvement and leadership

STRATEGIES:

1. Develop strategies for membership engagement and retention.

2. Improve the organization’s web site to serve as a better tool for recruiting new members and membership management.

3. Expand NMEA’s role to increase awareness and appreciation of marine and aquatic education.

4. The NMEA culture incorporates sustainable practices at all levels of the organization.

5. The NMEA community supports research and evaluation on marine and aquatic education.

Our Core Values

Excellence 

• We utilize and provide access to the best available science and educational practices and resources in everything we do. 

• We demonstrate integrity and lead by example, practicing what we teach at our conferences, in our work, and in our everyday lives. 

• We continually work to strengthen NMEA as a healthy, fiscally responsible organization. 

Camaraderie 

• We cherish the camaraderie among our members, building strong, lasting professional and personal relationships among colleagues who share common goals. 

• The relationships among members nurture and support us as individuals, allow us to leverage each other as resources, and lead to important collaborations and partnerships. 

• We enjoy working together and we take NMEA’s mission seriously – we know that in order to successfully fulfill our mission and vision, we must do it together. 

• Our leadership within NMEA provides links among all members and to other professional organizations, enabling the sharing of ideas, resources, and progress, lending fulfillment to our vision. 

Action 

• We educate and inspire people to understand and value their relationship with the ocean and all watersheds, so that they can make informed choices about their behavior. 

• We value the role of educators and support them with tools, conferences, publications, and resources so that they, in turn, can promote understanding and action in their students. 

• We empower the public to take an active role in protecting the global ocean and water resources. 

Inclusiveness 

• We believe that bringing together a wide variety of communities with diverse perspectives strengthens marine and aquatic education. 

• We encourage interdisciplinary approaches to our activities and strive to incorporate many disciplines into resources we provide. 

• We welcome and include many types of educators, and we honor and utilize the contributions of all our members. 

• We are passionate about reaching and inspiring broad audiences, and will stay open to new ideas, perspectives, and input. 

Leadership 

• We inspire and encourage our members to serve as tenacious, passionate leaders, both within and outside the organization. 

• We support our members as they serve in leadership positions in universities, government agencies, and in formal and informal education institutions and businesses. 

• We drive the conversation regarding marine and aquatic education, influencing policy, practice, and funding. 

Regional Chapters

We encourage you to join your regional chapter. Use this map to identify your region, and click the contact information below.  If your state is not listed, a chapter from a neighboring state would love to have you join.

NMEA Committees

We encourage NMEA members to check out and get involved in one or more of our committees! Find out more in our Membership Portal. You can join open committees once you have logged into your membership profile.

Note: NMEA has three types of committees:

1. Open: current members can join immediately

2. Closed: members can request to join these committees

3. Operational: not open to members to join

Scholarships

Interested in attending NMEA’s annual conference but could use some financial assistance? NMEA offers NMEA member-only and non-member scholarships to help you get there!

All scholarship nominations and applications are due on February 15, and notifications will be made by mid-March, so that everyone can register by the NMEA conference registration early-bird deadline!

Learn more on our Scholarships page >

Awards

NMEA offers awards in six categories, plus honorary membership. To nominate an individual or organization for any of these awards, complete and submit the award specific nomination form and all required materials. Please review the forms and instructions carefully and prepare and assemble ALL information and documents in advance so that the application can be completed easily. 

Nominations are accepted throughout the year but must be received before February 15 to be considered for the current award year.

Full details about these awards and the nomination process can be found on our Awards page >