Congratulations to Our 2024 Art Contest Winners! madison.piascik Mon, 04/15/2024 - 11:15

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! We received many colorful, creative, and informative entries from around the country, and although we wish we could showcase them all, we are excited to share the winners of this year’s contest with you.

• Read more about Congratulations to Our 2024 Art Contest Winners!

Tags art contest art education

The 2024 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! madison.piascik Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:02

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2024 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download!

• Read more about The 2024 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available!

Tags art contest art education

Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! madison.piascik Mon, 10/16/2023 - 10:24

Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 15.

• Read more about Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest!

Tags art contest education

Reducing Single-Use Plastics on College Campuses neil.mccoy Mon, 01/30/2023 - 11:00

Eckerd College, located along the sunny coast of the Gulf of Mexico, has been working hard to reduce single-use plastic consumption on campus for years. Following a successful NOAA Marine Debris Program prevention grant focused on reducing single-use plastic at Eckerd, the Reduce Single-Use Project teamed up with the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. On both campuses the team has encouraged college students to rely less on plastics through events, beach cleanups, and even an app.

• Read more about Reducing Single-Use Plastics on College Campuses
• 1 comment

Tags Florida prevention education

Capturing Debris and Inspiring Action Along the Anacostia River Posted Thu, 12/08/2022 - 11:00

The Anacostia River has a long and important history. Today, the Anacostia River watershed is home to more than 800,000 people, encompassing portions of Washington, DC, and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland. Unfortunately, each year hundreds of tons of trash from surrounding lands makes its way into the river. Nearby communities have been working hard to address this problem, and help guide overall reductions in trash and litter entering the river.

• Read more about Capturing Debris and Inspiring Action Along the Anacostia River

Tags Mid-Atlantic prevention removal education

New Tools for Collecting and Exploring Marine Debris Data neil.mccoy Thu, 11/03/2022 - 11:00

Marine debris is a familiar sight on shorelines around the world, and a reminder that there is still work to be done to tackle this global environmental problem. While we know a lot about marine debris, there are questions that can help test and identify the best solutions. How much marine debris is on our shores? What kind of debris is it, and where does it come from? Are these things changing over time? You can help find the answers through NOAA’s Marine Debris Program Monitoring and Assessment Project! An updated Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started.

• Read more about New Tools for Collecting and Exploring Marine Debris Data
• 3 comments

Tags MDMAP education outreach shoreline monitoring monitoring Citizen Science

Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! Posted Mon, 10/17/2022 - 11:00

Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 16th. Winning artwork will be featured in our 2024 Marine Debris Calendar!

• Read more about Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest!

Tags art contest education calendar outreach

The 2023 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! neil.mccoy Thu, 10/06/2022 - 11:00

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2023 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in kindergarten through eighth grade from nine states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.

• Read more about The 2023 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available!
• 1 comment

Tags art contest calendar outreach education

From Ridge to Reef: Protecting Guam’s Marine Life Through Student Efforts Shanelle.Naone Wed, 09/21/2022 - 11:00

With its crystal clear waters and rich coral reefs, Guam is undoubtedly a hidden paradise in the Pacific ocean. It is home to five protected marine preserves teeming with aquatic animals and plants. Everything on the island is connected, from the mountain ridges to the lively reefs, meaning that even the tiniest actions can offset the entire ecosystem. The Ocean Guardian School project at Simon A. Sanchez High School worked together with five other schools across the island to minimize impacts on the ecosystem and reduce potential sources of marine debris.

• Read more about From Ridge to Reef: Protecting Guam’s Marine Life Through Student Efforts

Tags prevention education Pacific Islands

The 2022 Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge: How does Marine Debris Impact Lake Erie Wildlife? neil.mccoy Mon, 01/31/2022 - 11:00

In order to help raise awareness of the issue of marine debris in the Great Lakes, we’re excited to be offering the Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge for students in grades 6-12 in coastal Ohio! After learning about marine debris in the ocean and Great Lakes, and how we all may be contributing with our trash, students will create marine debris artwork from repurposed trash.

• Read more about The 2022 Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge: How does Marine Debris Impact Lake Erie Wildlife?

Tags Great Lakes art contest education

2022 Marine Debris Calendar is Now Available! neil.mccoy Wed, 09/29/2021 - 11:00

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2022 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in kindergarten through eighth grade from eight states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.

• Read more about 2022 Marine Debris Calendar is Now Available!
• 1 comment

Tags art contest calendar outreach education

Marine Debris Trivia at Home Posted Tue, 06/29/2021 - 11:00

Happy Ocean Month! To close out the celebration, we’re exploring Ocean Trivia. Check out these activities, lessons, and resources that use curiosity and inquiry to answer your questions about marine debris.

• Read more about Marine Debris Trivia at Home
• Add new comment

Tags education

Preventing Marine Debris One Cool Earth Strategy at a Time neil.mccoy Thu, 04/29/2021 - 11:00

Students, teachers, and school administrators all have their own parts to play in the vision of One Cool Earth’s Earth Genius marine debris education program in San Luis Obispo, California. This unique educational program partners with schools to incorporate marine debris education, practices, and principles throughout public school systems, from classrooms and cafeterias to school facilities and administration.

• Read more about Preventing Marine Debris One Cool Earth Strategy at a Time
• Add new comment

Tags California prevention education

Dive into Citizen Science to Tackle Marine Debris neil.mccoy Tue, 04/20/2021 - 11:00

One of the best things about citizen science is the opportunity to get involved with your local community while making a difference on a broad scale. There are so many impactful projects you can take part in as a citizen scientist, whether you are looking for a long-term commitment to keep a local shoreline clean or want to make a positive impact when doing things you love. Check out these ways to get started.

• Read more about Dive into Citizen Science to Tackle Marine Debris
• 1 comment
• Add new comment

Tags Citizen Science education MDMAP monitoring

Using Citizen Science to Understand Marine Debris neil.mccoy Thu, 04/08/2021 - 11:00

Spring is here! As the temperatures increase and weather improves, many of us are drawn to the outdoors. But what if your trip to the beach could be more than just an enjoyable day? What if you could do scientific research at the same time as a citizen scientist? Opportunities for the public most often come in the form of data collection, but they can also include providing input on questions to investigate, participating in study design, or interpreting and sharing results. Several projects funded through the NOAA Marine Debris Program have tapped into this community resource as well, and committed stewards around the country have contributed invaluable data to monitoring and research projects that support our vision of a sea free of debris.

• Read more about Using Citizen Science to Understand Marine Debris
• 5 comments
• Add new comment

Tags Citizen Science education microplastics MDMAP

Food for Thought: Taking A Bite Out of Lunchroom Waste neil.mccoy Thu, 03/11/2021 - 11:00

School cafeterias offer students daily lunch choices, but school-provided meals can generate serious waste. Students in rural northeast Michigan took a closer look at their lunchroom waste as part of a “Food for Thought” project led by the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, and Michigan State University Extension. They performed a lunch waste audit to investigate their lunchroom trash and to brainstorm solutions that prevent plastics from becoming marine debris in the Great Lakes ecosystem.

• Read more about Food for Thought: Taking A Bite Out of Lunchroom Waste
• Add new comment

Tags Great Lakes prevention education

The NOAA Marine Debris Program and National Park Service Team Up For Outreach Shanelle.Naone Fri, 09/25/2020 - 11:00

Americans are using their local green space and parks more than ever. Getting outside is not only good for your physical health, but also your mental health. That is why National Public Lands Day feels even more special this year. This day celebrates the connection between people and public lands in their community and encourages environmental stewardship and the use of open space. 

• Read more about The NOAA Marine Debris Program and National Park Service Team Up For Outreach
• 1 comment
• Add new comment

Tags outreach education

Locations and Languages: Marine Debris Curricula and Resources from Near and Far NOAA Marine De… Wed, 08/05/2020 - 11:00

As students and teachers prepare for a new year of learning, we are sharing educational marine debris resources that highlight the problem in different locations and different languages. Marine debris is a constant and challenging threat to communities all over the world. It can travel on currents across the ocean, reach remote shorelines where very few people live, and cause major problems for both people and wildlife. No matter where you live, it's important for us all to understand the problem.

• Read more about Locations and Languages: Marine Debris Curricula and Resources from Near and Far
• 2 comments
• Add new comment

Tags education Southeast Florida & the Caribbean Pacific Islands Alaska Back to School

Turtle Trash Collectors Goes Virtual! Posted Tue, 07/21/2020 - 10:51

Many things look different in our world right now: most people are working from home, our favorite restaurants and beaches are closed, and students finished off the school year online. So, where does that leave Turtle Trash Collectors, a University of North Carolina Wilmington MarineQuest outreach program funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program?

• Read more about Turtle Trash Collectors Goes Virtual!
• Add new comment

Tags prevention education Southeast

What Do You Know About Talking Trash? Posted Wed, 06/10/2020 - 09:50

People all over the world are concerned about marine debris and they would like to know more about it. The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Communications Team responds to those questions we receive through email, and we’ve seen a trend. Following the National Ocean Services theme of Ocean Trivia for this week, we have created our own marine debris “trivia questions” that we hope you enjoy!

• Read more about What Do You Know About Talking Trash?
• Add new comment

Tags education prevention removal research emergency response grants microplastics garbage patch