Enhancing Stewardship and Sustainability

For the past decade, Discovery Hall Programs has used Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant omnibus funds to support professional development opportunities for classroom teachers and informal educators. Workshop topics have varied from year to year to reflect Sea Grant science, highlight new tools, and address emerging environmental issues of interest. Multiple workshops have been offered each year varying in format from virtual to in-person and from single session to overnight, immersive multi-day events. All have been offered free of charge to participants. This 'teach the teacher' approach allows the content to reach a wider audience than would be possible working with students directly promoting efficient use of available funds. The diversity of topics, mix of formats and open access has accommodated a wide range of participants' needs and schedules and promoted equitable access.


For the past decade, classroom teachers and informal education leaders received professional development in topics ranging from healthy coastal ecosystems, plankton ecology, watershed science, to fisheries management, ecosystem restoration, climate change, and ocean technology. In this time frame, MASGC-supported workshops reached more than 500 participants and delivered more than 13,200 contact hrs. As teachers in both MS and AL are required to achieve 50 contact hours over 5 yrs for recertification, MASGC funding supported the retention of more than 260 teacher positions over the past decade.


Over time and through routine evaluation by participants, we have developed a best practices professional development model that includes 3 components – 1) field-based experiences that give participants firsthand exposure to local organisms, habitats, facilities, work sites, and more; 2) new knowledge, typically from Sea Grant scientists and other area experts; and 3) activities either compiled and vetted by or developed by MASGC educators that are relevant, suitable for student use, and are experiential and engaging. 

"Community's Rise: A Sea-Level Rise Tumbling Tower Game" is an interactive educational tool, inspired by the classic game Jenga, designed to help participants of every age understand the impacts of sea-level rise on coastal communities. Through gameplay, participants explore various consequences of rising sea levels, from minor inconveniences to significant disruptions, and learn about actionable solutions suitable for all ages. The game aims to familiarize participants with sea-level rise and encourage the development of community-oriented solutions. An informed and prepared community can better adapt to and mitigate future impacts, ensuring resilience and growth.


Partnering with the Mississippi Aquarium, an unexpected venue for such an activity, allowed participants to see how sea-level rise can lead to community imbalance. The content is based on social science research about perceptions of sea-level rise and flood risk, with input from an advisory board of citizens with varying levels of experience in science outreach and climate education. The game's design uses engaging visuals and relatable examples from coastal towns and cities, making the experience memorable and impactful.


This session will explore the creation of the game's content and discuss the evaluation data collected from its use. This feedback has been instrumental in refining the game and enhancing its educational effectiveness by highlighting what resonates most with participants. The evaluation data reveals the game's strengths and identifies areas for improvement, allowing us to tailor the game more effectively to different audiences. Ultimately, this data-driven approach ensures that our educational tools remain relevant, engaging, and effective in fostering a proactive mindset toward climate resilience.

Biodiversity, Relationships, and Aquatic Chemistry Knowledge in Saline Habitats (BRACKISH) is a three-day, place-based education program that helps eighth grade students in Jackson County, Mississippi become more aware and knowledgeable of their environment. The program takes place at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GNDNERR), an estuary located in Moss Point, Mississippi with approximately 18,000 acres of protected coastal, terrestrial, and wetland habitats. 
On the first day of the program, the BRACKISH team visits participating schools, providing students with basic knowledge of the GNDNERR, species' adaptations, and the importance of water quality and other abiotic factors in the survival of estuarine organisms. During the second day, students are given the opportunity to explore their local estuary, utilizing scientific instruments to monitor water quality and examine fish populations. On the final day of the program, the program team returns to the school where students are introduced to mock case studies and participate in student-led discussions directly related to water quality issues. This activity challenges them to critically think about human impacts on the environment and encourages them to work together to find solutions to local environmental problems. During this session, I will discuss the program's implementation, lessons learned, and preliminary evaluation results. 

Join us to hear more about the Grand Bay NERR's efforts in designing a program for a visually impaired audience. Using the reproductive behavior of frogs, our scientists and educators created an inclusive identification class, with a supporting field guide and materials. Learn different tips for working with non-traditional audiences as we walk through the entire design process of creating this program. Make connections with our staff and be inspired to adapt programs at your facility for non-traditional audiences.   

'Postcards from the Past' is a classroom-based program in which middle and high school students investigate how human cultures have interacted with the coastal environment throughout history. Students learn about the animals of the Gulf of Mexico, human use of coastal resources, anthropogenic change, and the science of geochronology. Adopting an individual, radiocarbon-dated clam (0-9000 BCE) from one of several Gulf of Mexico sampling locations gives the students a starting point in their investigation of how human cultures used and affected the Gulf of Mexico during their clam's lifetime. Pre-recorded videos from partnering Alabama art educators inspire students to express their scientific and cultural understanding in a mixed media 'Postcard from the Past'. This program is a collaboration between Dr. Paul Harnik (Colgate University) and the Discovery Hall Programs at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.