Application deadline coming up: ocean acidification methodologies

The application deadline is coming up for the summer course on Ocean Acidification Methodologies offered at the Friday Harbor Laboratories of the University of Washington. This course will be offered by Dr. Jon Havenhand, Dr. Andrew Dickson, and and Dr. Moose O’Donnell from July 22 – August 23, 2013. There is space available for 15 students.

Ocean acidification communication workshop

COMPASS brought together 22 scientific leaders studying ocean acidification (OA) for an intensive communication workshop preceding the Third International Ocean in a HIgh-CO2 World Sympsium in Monterey, CA. Our goals were to help scientists to 1) crystallize their core messages to more effectively communicate their individual research, as well as the state of the science as a whole; 2) better understand each other’s work to catalyze new collaborations and build community; and 3) identify their stories that bring this science to light to answer the tough questions that policy makers and the public want to know: “So what? Why does this matter? And, what should we do about it?”

Friday Harbor research apprenticeship on ocean acidification

OCN492
Friday Harbor Research Apprenticeship on Ocean Acidification
Spring Quarter 2013 (15 units)
Lead Instructor: James Murray (UW, Ocean)
Additional Instructors: Evelyn Lessard (UW, Ocean), Bob Morris (UW, Ocean), Robin Kodner (WWU, UW, Ocean)

Friday Harbor Laboratories summer 2013 courses – Ocean acidification

Summer B 2013 #2
Ocean Acidification
Biol 533 B (9 credits)
Please note: course is offered under the “umbrella” course Biology 533: Advanced Organismal Biology. Thus transcripts from University of Washington will list the course title ADV ORG BIOL rather than the specific Friday Harbor Laboratories’ course title listed above.

Summer Term B: July 22 – August 23, 2013 (5 weeks)
Monday-Saturday (Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5 pm, plus Sat morning 8:30 am-noon, except final week no Saturday meeting)
Arrive Sunday, July 21 after 3 pm, depart Friday, Aug. 23 after lunch.

Studying ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems

Short Course: December 4- 6, 2012

Recent studies have demonstrated that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the oceans pose significant risks to marine organisms. This short course will introduce participants to the basics of CO2-system chemistry in seawater and its measurement, as well as how to design experiments to measure the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms. Emphasis will be on providing participants with the resources and training to jump-start their own research on ocean acidification research while avoiding some common mistakes.

CeMEB Advanced Course 2012: marine evolution under climate change

International course for PhD students, post docs and master students

Deadline for registration: 30th September 2012

19 – 23 November 2012, Kristineberg

What determines species-sensitivity to future environmental stressors and how does it relates to species recent evolutionary history? What life-history strategies will be selected in future ocean? How can we assess a species adaptation potential? What is the role of phenotypic plasticity in species resilience? What will be evolutionary rules in future oceans? What is the role of ecological interactions in future ecosystem changes?

This is an international course for PhD students and postdocs to learn more about how climate change (including global warming, ocean acidification, hypoxia) affects evolutionary rules that shape ocean ecosystem.

“CO2 Toolkit” curriculum project announcement

CO2 Toolkit Curriculum Project
June 2011; May 2012
UGA Campus
Athens, GA

CALLING ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS in the Athens- Clarke County area!

COSEE SE will be hosting a multi facetted curriculum development opportunity geared at middle and high school educators focusing on carbon dioxide and ocean acidification. This one year project, the CO2 Toolkit Curriculum Project, will consist of web meetings, a 3 day non residential workshop based in Athens, GA from June 28-30, 2011, lab time with UGA professor and scientist, Dr Brian Hopkinson, to test and try out your activities/curriculum, and the opportunity for you to take this curriculum to your students and provide feedback on your experience. Space is limited to 3 educators.   

Participants completing all requirements will receive $500 stipend, monies for activity supplies, and travel in addition to access to resources from UGA and COSEE SE for support in their curriculum development efforts throughout this year long project.  Deadline to apply is May 6th, 2011!

Ocean acidification: Hands-on experiments to explore the causes and consequences

Ocean acidification is one of the most serious environmental issues facing the planet (e.g., Doney 2006; Guinotte and Fabry 2009). It is caused by excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels put CO2 and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, which causes the Earth’s average temperature to increase. This increase is commonly referred to as “global warming” or “climate change,” but the problem doesn’t stop there. The two lessons presented here familiarize middle school students with the causes and consequences of ocean acidification. They also provide students with an opportunity to generate hypotheses, collect data through hands-on experimentation, and analyze results. These lessons can be successfully integrated into Earth science, biology, environmental science, marine science, or chemistry curricula.

Friday Harbor Laboratories SUMMER 2011 COURSES: Experimental approaches to understanding ocean acidification

Please note: course is offered under the “umbrella” course Biology 533: Advanced Organismal Biology. Thus transcripts from University of Washington will list the course title ADV ORG BIOL rather than the specific Friday Harbor Laboratories’ course title listed above.

Session A: June 20 – July 22, 2011 (5 weeks)
Monday-Saturday (Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, plus Sat morning 8 am-noon, except final week no Saturday meeting)
Arrive Sunday, June 19 after 3 pm, depart Friday, July 22 after lunch.

Dr. Michael O’Donnell and Dr. Terrie Klinger

As new researchers turn their attention to studying the effects of ocean acidification on a broad range of biological systems they are frequently stymied by the inherent complexities of manipulating and documenting experimental conditions. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the skills to design and conduct experimental manipulations of biological systems that are consistent with the current state of the field.

Changing Planet: Ocean acidification – The chemistry is less than basic!

Summary: Students will use a pH indicator solution to detect the presence of carbon dioxide and changes in acidity, and to model ocean-atmosphere interactions.

Source: Adapted by NESTA/Windows to the Universe team members Missy Holzer, Jennifer Bergman, and Roberta Johnson from the Carbon Dioxide Sources and Sinks activity on Windows to the Universe.

Time: This activity requires careful preparation including some set-up the previous day. It is recommended that the directions be read carefully before beginning this activity.

• Materials preparation: 40 minutes
• Class time: 40 minutes
• Discussion and review: 30 minutes

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to explain the concept of ‘sources’ and ‘sinks’ as they relate to carbon dioxide.
• Students will understand the use of an indicator solution (BTB) to reveal the presence of carbon dioxide as well as levels of acidity.
• Students explain the cause and effect relationship between lower pH levels of seawater and carbonate ion availability for shell formation in marine organisms.