PCEP Update: December 2014

We’ve got a new look

Now that we have our new web portal, we’re giving our email updates a facelift! MailChimp allows us to share photos and information in a more exciting format.

But as always, we look forward to your feedback. Please send comments and questions to Corrin (barrosc@prel.org) and Ming Wei (kohmw@prel.org)

Hōkūleʻa in American Sāmoa & New Zealand

PCEP staff member Daniel Lin just returned to Hawaiʻi from a 3-week sail on the Hōkūleʻa in New Zealand. We’re glad to have him home again!

In September, Daniel sailed on the Hōkūleʻa for the Sāmoa leg of the Worldwide Voyage. This leg culminated in American Sāmoa, where crew members hosted tours and talk story sessions to engage schools and the broader community in discussion around marine conservation issues, including the role of marine protected areas in conservation and the impacts on climate change.

Daniel’s visit to American Sāmoa renewed partnership among a group of stakeholders interested in connecting climate change to lessons learned from the Worldwide Voyage. Partners include PCEP, University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, Hawaiʻi Department of Education, American Sāmoa Department of Education, NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries in American Sāmoa, American Sāmoa National Parks, and the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Read more about the Worldwide Voyage and Daniel’s adventures on his National Geographic blog: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/blog/worldwide-voyage/

External Advisory Committee Meeting

PCEP held its regular External Advisory Committee (EAC) meeting on November 12-14 in Honolulu. The meeting opened with the recognition of the climatic and geologic challenges of the Pacific Region, followed by Dr. Chip Fletcher sharing about the indicators and impacts of climate change in the Pacific Region.

Over two days, EAC members and PCEP staff reviewed the past 2 years, discussed emerging ideas and practices, and identified ways to approach Years 3-5 to ensure sustainability beyond PCEP’s funding from the National Science Foundation. Among the topics to be acted upon was the role of place in PCEP, including how we rely on local environments and perspectives in the development and implementation of our resources and initiatives.

front L-R: Megan Bang (University of Washington), Corrin Barros (PREL), Janet Gordon (Mekinak Consulting), Joan LaFrance (Mekinak Consulting), Art Sussman (WestEd), Marylin Low (PREL), Sharon Nelson-Barber (WestEd); back L-R: Lorenzo Sartilug (Yap Department of Education), Doug Herman (Smithsonian), Ming Wei Koh (PREL), Danko Taborosi (iREi), Don Hess (College of the Marshall Islands), Kalani Souza (Olohana Foundation); not pictured: Chip Fletcher (University of Hawaiʻi), Igor Krupnik (Smithsonian), Liz Reichebei (CMNI Public School System), Bora Simmons (North American Association for Environmental Education), Shirley Heath (Stanford University), Charles Kaʻaiʻai (Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council)

PCEP receives national recognition

PCEP was honored to receive recognition from two national agencies in November.

Our response to the White House Call to Action to Advance Climate Education and Literacy sparked interest from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), especially around our work with Hawaiʻi and CNMI on NGSS and in our new book, Mangroves: Adapting to a Changing Environment, expected in 2015.

Additionally, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Office of the Environment and Emergency included PCEP’s work in its country report to the United Nations. FSM specifically recognized PCEP’s role in the adoption of new climate science standards by the FSM National and State Departments of Education, as well as our place-based curriculum materials and the project-based and service learning activities emerging from our local professional learning communities (LPLCs).

iREi wins UNESCO award

Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) was recently awarded the 2014 UNESCO Wenhui Award for Education Innovation. The award recognizes iREi’s significant contributions to education in Micronesia with local content textbooks and children’s books. Read more…

Congratulations iREi! We’re proud to be partnering with such a great organization.

PREL welcomes new CEO

Nicole M. Forrester joined PREL as President & Chief Executive Officer this November. Forrester most recently served as director of the Young Leaders Program at Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She brings to us a strong background as a non-profit executive, deep experience in the Asia Pacific, passion for effective change, and an energetic, collaborative leadership style. Read more…

Additional resources on web portal

We are always adding to the PCEP web portal @ http://pcep.prel.org. Go check out the new resource we added this month!

And l ike us on Facebook for photos, articles, and announcements on climate in the Pacific region.