The Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE): a national success story

This manuscript will focus on the success achieved over a three year period by the COSEE Network of seven, regional Centers and one Central Coordinating Office (CCO). This success is based on a Network of professionals who are proactive and passionate about oceans sciences and education; embrace a common focus; exhibit extraordinary teamwork; involve multiple partners; understand the need in grass-roots and national leadership; work toward making its unique infrastructure seamless; and implement effective strategic planning. Specifically, the authors will focus on the following COSEE topics: serving as a catalyst and portal in engaging scientists and formal/informal educators to "bridge the gap" between their research and the relevance of those data to precollege teachers and their students, informal educators, and the general public within museums, science centers, and aquariums; determining "what" all audiences should know about our watery planet to be more ocean literate; working toward enhanced diversity in the workforce; implementing regional and national evaluation and assessment plans; developing a mechanism to infuse ocean sciences within existing State and National Science Education Standards; and disseminating high-quality COSEE resources, based on sound science. The COSEE Network is sponsored primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR).