NMEA @ NSTA

The 68th Annual NSTA National Conference on Science Education will be held in Boston, Massachusetts from April 2–5, 2020. Each year, NMEA holds its mid-year board meeting the day before the NSTA annual conference.

On the first day of the NSTA conference, NMEA sponsors a series of presentations, all in one location and all by NMEA members. The day starts with our Whale of a Share-a-Thon—an opportunity for NMEA chapters to promote their regional organizations and provide formal and informal science educators resources and activities for all grade levels. The Share-a-Thon is followed by a track of sessions by NMEA members that are related to marine and aquatic education.

If you missed presenting at this year’s conference, the deadline to submit a proposal for next year is April 15, 2019!

Schedule-aT-a-glance

Time Title Presenter
8:00 – 9:00 am Whale of a Share-A-Thon NMEA Chapter Representatives
9:30 – 10:30 am Marine Science and Technology in the Classroom Sandra Ryack-Bell
12:30 – 1:30 pm Bridge DATA Series: Sea Level Trends Celia Cackowski
2:00 – 3:00 pm Using the NGSS To Explore The Oceans: Engaging Students in the Phenomena of Inner Space Peter McLaren, April Tucker, Susan Haynes

Whale of a Share-a-thon

Thursday, April 2, 2020 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 052AB

The National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) invites you to engage in hands-on activities and take home resources for your classroom. Join us to discover how you can become involved in both ocean and freshwater initiatives from local and national organizations to promote ocean and climate literacy.


Share-a-thon Presenters

Presenter Institution
Kate Achilles NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Celia Cackowski Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Dawn Chegwidden Lewisville High School
Linda Chilton USC Sea Grant
Valerie Cournoyer Amity Regional High School
Kaitlin Gannon Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve
Greg Graeber Dauphin Island Sea Lab
William Hanshumaker Oregon Sea Grant
Kate Leavitt Seacoast Science Center
Alie LeBeau Aquarium of the Pacific
Katie Lodes St. Joseph Academy
Jenna LoDico Canterbury School of Florida, Knowlton Campus
Meghan Marrero Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry Campus
George Matsumoto Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Bruce Moravchik NOAA National Ocean Service
Kim Morris-Zarneke Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources/Project WILD
Sarah Nuss Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Joanna Philippoff University of Hawaii at Manoa
Sarah Richards Saint Ann's School
Leann Winn Trevor Day School, New York, NY
Anne Smrcina Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

NMEA Track of Sessions

Thursday, April 11, 2019, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

After the Share-A-Thon, stay for the day for the NMEA track of sessions in the same room!

Marine Science and Technology in the Classroom

Sandra Ryack-Bell, Museum Institute for Teaching Science
9:30 - 10:30 am

NMEA Chapter: Massachusetts Marine Educators (MME)

Ocean Literacy Principles addressed:
Principal 6 - The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
Principal 7 - The ocean is largely unexplored.

Abstract: Immerse yourself in investigations linking engineering and marine science. Design ocean animal prosthetics, explore engineering solutions based on ocean animals and investigate aquaculture best practices.


Celia Cackowski / Bridge Ocean Education, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary
12:30 - 1:30 pm

NMEA Chapter: Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association (MAMEA)

Ocean Literacy Principles Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 6

Abstract: For decades, we've been hearing the terms "global warming" or "global climate change," but what do those terms mean to each of us? How is our world changing and why? This lesson is designed as an introductory activity exploring one facet of global climate change: sea level rise. With the help of the presenter, participants will access real scientific data to investigate and compare long-term changes in sea level from different coastal locations around the United States.


Using the NGSS To Explore The Oceans: Engaging Students in the Phenomena of Inner Space

Peter McLaren, April Tucker, Susan Haynes
2:00 - 3:00 pm

Abstract: This session is designed to support educators engage students with the rich phenomena that Ocean Exploration provides through lessons aligned to the NGSS.