The Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) initiative: a network-wide perspective

Seven Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence were established in 2002 to promote the integration of ocean science research into high-quality education programs aimed at both formal and informal audiences throughout the United States. The network includes Centers in New England, the MidAtlantic region, the Southeast, Florida and the Central Gulf of Mexico as well as two complementary Centers in California. A Central Coordinating Office in Washington DC has also been funded to provide administrative support for the network and help the group develop into a cohesive and focused national collaborative. Initial funding has been provided by the National Science Foundation with additional support from the Office of Naval Research and multiple units within the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (specifically the National Ocean Service, the Office of Ocean Exploration and the National Office of the National Sea Grant College Program). NSF´s presentation will focus on the expectations that the Foundation has for the network as a whole and the benefits that COSEE can provide for the oceanographic and marine technology communities.