GOMA’s Education and Engagement Team focuses on public relations, expanded partnerships, and other actions to involve their members as well as those in the other five Teams.

The Education and Engagement Team has one overarching goal:

  • Engage and educate people to become stewards who enhance the environmental, ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico

The GOMA Education and Engagement Team is led by the State of Alabama, but has active participation from all five Gulf States and federal agencies working in the region, as well as academia, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Learn more about the focus areas and actions of the Team in Action Plan III.

The GOMA Education and Engagement Team meets every other month or as needed via virtual sessions. The Team has three working groups that correspond with their Action Plan III focus areas. The Team held a mid-year meeting in January 2020. The Team is planning a virtual workshop, “Fully Serving the Underserved,” for January 2021. Contact the Team Coordinator for updates.

Photo Competitions

2019 Photo Competition – Embrace the Gulf winning images.

2017 Photo Competition – See the winning images.

Team Tools and Publications

  • Sharing Science to Positively Impact Society
    A flow chart to help scientists and resource managers navigate the inclusion of outreach and education in their programming.
  • Alliance Videos
    These short videos showcase Gulf of Mexico Alliance projects in marine debris, coastal resilience, and more.
  • Environmental Education Listserv - To join the Environmental Education listserv send an email to lyokel@disl.org and put the text "GOMAEEN Listserv" in the subject.
  • Coastal Training Workshops - A unique regional collaboration designed to deliver relevant information to key stakeholders on issues related to the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers - A network of learning centers at aquariums and marine educational facilities across the Gulf, sponsored by the Coastal America Foundation.
  • Smart Yard, Healthy Gulf Campaign - A public education campaign designed to reduce fertilizers entering local waters by helping people make responsible lawn fertilizer decisions.

Team Co-Chairs

  • Angela Underwood, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
  • Ilka Porter, Mobile Baykeeper

Coordinator

  • Anna Buford, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources