Clients in the News: Ocean Discovery Institute
Interview with Shara Fisler, Ocean Discovery Institute
By: Michael Shaughnessy
EdNews.org
September 17, 2009
1) Shara, first of all, how did you get involved with the ocean, the seas and underwater life?
After college, I was working in Haiti for a hospital in their community development department. We had many agriculture projects to create sustainable sources of food, increase soil fertility, and natural pesticides. I became very interested in the intersection between food for people and environmental health and sustainability and because I had always loved the ocean, decided to pursue a graduate degree studying fisheries.
2) What exactly is Ocean Discovery and when did it get started?
Founded 10 years ago, Ocean Discovery Institute uses science exploration to engage urban and diverse young people in 3 ways: education, scientific research and environmental stewardship. Through our programs youth are empowered to transform their lives and make a difference in the world as scientific and environmental leaders. Their discoveries will reveal new ways to protect the ocean and nature, improve the health of our communities, and strengthen the quality of life in our world.
3) What is the primary focus of this organization?
For the past decade, Ocean Discovery Institute has been empowering urban and diverse youth to protect our ocean and natural environment, improve the health of our communities, and strengthen our quality of life. Ocean Discovery Institute is the only non-profit in the San Diego region expressly dedicated to educating urban and diverse youth through ocean science.
WHY THE OCEAN?
The ocean and our coastlines are an extraordinary educational resource intrinsic to San Diego. All of the primary concepts in science and conservation can be taught through ocean science including: mathematics, engineering, physics, biochemistry, geology, astronomy, ecology, physiology, molecular/biotechnology, environmental sciences, technology/computer science, and biomechanics. Using the ocean as an educational tool capitalizes on young people’s instinctive attraction to the sea and builds knowledge of our planet’s defining feature.
Ocean Discovery Institute heads up a series of initiatives that incorporate education, scientific research, and environmental stewardship. Currently these initiatives reach 4,500+ low-income students and community members each year. All of Ocean Discovery Institute’s programming is provided tuition-free. To ensure continued effectiveness, regular program assessments are conducted by a professional external evaluator with a doctorate from Harvard University.
Our Mission is to engage, educate, and inspire youth from urban and diverse backgrounds through science-based exploration of the ocean and nature, preparing them to be tomorrow’s scientific and environmental leaders.
Our Vision is to empower urban and diverse youth to protect our ocean and natural environment, improve the health of our communities, and strengthen the quality of life in our world.
4) What activities do you foster?
We do everything from molecular biology to engineering with ocean science as the vehicle. We connect young people with science and conservation through three major initiatives – Ocean Leaders (intensive programming and support services 5th grade through college), Ocean Science Explorers (formal education for students and teachers 3rd grade through 6th grade), and Wetland Avengers (habitat restoration). Our model combines education, scientific research, and environmental stewardship.
5) Do you have a web site where people can get more information?
www.oceandiscoveryinstitute..org
6) How do you get kids in the San Diego area interested?
That’s the great thing about science. People always ask how we get students interested and the reality is that we just provide it. Young people have a natural curiosity about science and nature. Recruitment for our programs is done a number of ways – through partnerships with schools, presentations and then applications and interviews, etc.
7) What are some typical activities that you promote?
Our students conduct scientific research in Baja California, conduct experiments, explore nature and make observations and collections, learn molecular biology running DNA gels etc, and much more.
8) What have I neglected to ask ?
We are very proud of our impacts to date. For example, each year thousands of our students improve their science knowledge as demonstrated on tests based on state science standards. 9 out of 10 of our intensive program students go on to 4 year universities as compared with less than 3 out of 10 at their school.
See the interview at Education News
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