Environmental Education

Young scientists

Young scientists studying specimens with a microscope. Photo credit: Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors' Action Plan

Long-term Alliance Partnership Goal

Increase both awareness and stewardship of Gulf coastal resources.

The Governors’ Action Plan identifies two associated actions:

ED-1: Galvanize local communities to protect the Gulf of Mexico through targeted education
ED-2: Conduct a public awareness campaign for the Gulf of Mexico

 


ED-1: Galvanize local communities to protect the Gulf of Mexico through targeted education

Action: Build awareness and a stewardship ethic among Gulf citizens by coordinating education and outreach activities across the Gulf States to increase access to materials and programs that address Alliance priority issues. Translate, communicate, and disseminate relevant scientific data and information to the public, including students, educators, resource managers, local decision-makers, and the business community.

36-Month Outcomes:

  • Convene a bi-national Gulf of Mexico Alliance Environmental Education Network, with dedicated staff, to coordinate educational and outreach activities that address Alliance priority issues and establish effective methods to disseminate materials and programs throughout Gulf coastal communities.
  • Expand the existing Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center network to include one facility in each of the five U.S. Gulf States and the Mexican Gulf State of Veracruz.
  • Develop an environmental education pilot program that targets underrepresented and underserved communities in the Gulf region.

ED-2: Conduct a public awareness campaign for the Gulf of Mexico

Action: Promote an environmentally literate citizenry who understands the relevance of the Gulf of Mexico watersheds and coasts to the quality of their everyday lives and to the economic vitality of the region and the nation. Increase environmental stewardship in the practices and activities of Gulf coast local governments and businesses.

36-Month Outcome:

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive, 36-month (minimum) public awareness campaign to promote stewardship messages associated with the other four Alliance priority issues and community hurricane preparedness.

 

Sea Turtles

Baby sea turtles along a Texas beach. Photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife Division

Highlights of Governors’ Action Plan Accomplishments

Gulf of Mexico Alliance EEN: Partners and Their Progress - December 2007 (pdf, 277 KB)

Gulf of Mexico Alliance Environmental Education Clearinghouse

The Gulf of Mexico at a Glance publication presents memorable representations of selected social, economic, and environmental attributes with the intent of building public awareness about the linkages between the Gulf of Mexico region’s ecological health, the high quality of residents’ everyday lives, and the economic vitality of the region.

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Contact Information

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Priority Issue Team Lead
Phillip Hinesley
Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Phone: 251-621-1216
Email: phillip.hinesley@
dcnr.alabama.gov

Priority Issue Team Coordinator
Lee Yokel
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Phone: (251) 861-8201
Email: lyokel@disl.org

Other State Leads
John Dindo
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Phone: (251) 861-7558
Email: jdindo@disl.org

Tabitha Whalen Stadler
Florida
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Phone: (239) 417-6310, x209
Email: tabitha.stadler@dep.
state.fl.us

Robyn Schoessel
Florida: Alliance Educator
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Phone: (239) 417-6310, x219
Email: robyn.schoessel@
dep.state.fl.us
 

Bridget Washburn
Florida: Alliance Educator
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Phone: (239) 417-6310 ext.229
Email: bridget.washburn@
dep. state.fl.us

Sharon Walker
Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi
Phone: (228) 374-550
Email:Sharon.Walker@
usm.edu

Scott Jones
Texas
Galveston Bay Estuary Program
Phone: (281) 486-1245
Email: sjones
@tceq.state.tx.us

Tara Schultz
Texas
Texas State Aquarium
Phone: (361) 881-1218
Email: tschultz@
txstateaq.org

Louisiana State Lead - vacant

Federal Co-facilitators
Sharon Hayes
EPA - GMP
Phone: (228) 688-3506
Email: hayes.sharon-E@
epa.gov

Ann Weaver
NOAA - Gulf Coast Services Center
Phone: (228) 688-2061
Email: ann.weaver@
noaa.gov

Click here to visit the GOMA Environmental Education Network listserve.