Marine Education, Literacy, and Outreach

The goal of this Delaware Sea Grant strategic priority is to educate future environmental professionals/ leaders, enhance marine literacy across all population groups, and provide science-based technical assistance to marine resource users, constituents, and stakeholders.

Delaware Sea Grant helps educate the nation's future marine scientists by providing selected graduate students the opportunity to develop their research and analytical skills while assisting scientists with Sea Grant projects. Delaware Sea Grant also has a strong record of placing our graduate students in the competitive Knauss Fellowship Program, sponsored by the National Sea Grant College Program, which provides students with a year-long opportunity to work for the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.

The University of Delaware's Coast Day, organized by Sea Grant outreach staff, attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year. It has received state and national awards for environmental education.

We also are committed to educating the public about marine research, issues, and phenomena. This outreach mission is shared by our Marine Advisory Service and Marine Public Education Office staff. Using methods and media ranging from workshops to Web sites, these two groups transfer to the public a wide variety of information gained through Sea Grant research.

Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service
Marine Public Education Office
Coastal Development Initiative
Graduate Education

For additional information, please also see our latest annual report.

Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service
Project: A/I-1. Principal Investigator: James Falk
University of Delaware College of Marine and Earth Studies, Lewes Campus
Project Period: Feb. 1, 2005 – Jan. 31, 2007


James Falk, Director Marine Advisory Service

The mission of the University of Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service (MAS) is to facilitate the wise use, conservation, and development of coastal resources by acting as a conduit between university researchers and a wide variety of audiences, from resource managers to coastal business owners. The MAS assists these groups in solving problems and addressing new opportunities by providing timely, objective information and techniques. This technology transfer may take the form of applied research projects, workshops and training seminars, one-on-one consultations, publications, videos, Web sites, and other media.

Current MAS priority programming areas include coastal business and economic development, coastal community development, K-12 education and life-long learning, watershed management and coastal ecosystems health, seafood science technology and consumer education, fisheries and aquaculture technology, and coastal hazards and disaster preparedness.

The staff also offers a number of public volunteer programs and resources such the Delaware Aquaculture Resource Center, the Inland Bays Citizen Monitoring Program, and an annual horseshoe crab census along Delaware Bay beaches. The staff also helps coordinate UD's annual Coast Day festival, an award-winning event designed to increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of marine and coastal resources.

Based at the University of Delaware College of Marine and Earth Studies in Lewes, the MAS staff includes seven specialists and an office coordinator: MAS director and marine recreation and tourism specialist James Falk, marine education specialist William Hall, seafood technology specialist Doris Hicks, marine resource management specialist Joseph Farrell, aquaculture specialist John Ewart, coastal processes specialist Wendy Carey, and office coordinator Rita Baty. A total of 6.2 professionals (FTE) are devoted to Sea Grant MAS activities.

Marine Public Education Office
Project: A/I-5. Principal Investigator: Ronald Ohrel
University of Delaware College of Marine and Earth Studies, Newark Campus
Project Period: Feb. 1, 2005 – Jan. 31, 2007


Ronald Ohrel, Director Marine Public Education

The Marine Public Education Office provides the vital link between the University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program and the public the program is committed to serving. The staff's mission is to provide people from all walks of life with trustworthy, research-based information to foster the wise use, conservation, and management of marine and coastal resources.

To accomplish this mission, the staff develops high-quality publications and press releases, Web sites, SeaTalk radio announcements, videos, exhibits, and other outreach materials. They also work closely with UD marine scientists to create innovative educational publications.

The staff also helps plan and promote special events such as UD's award-winning Coast Day festival, which is the University of Delaware's single-largest public education event, attracting more than 10,000 visitors each year. They work closely with local and national media, state and national agencies, and other Sea Grant programs to extend marine information to the public.

Based at the University of Delaware's Newark campus, the staff includes director Ron Ohrel, graphic designer Tammy Beeson, production coordinator Elizabeth Boyle, outreach specialist Lisa Tossey, and administrative assistant Kimberly Doucette. A total of 2.0 professionals (FTE) are devoted to Sea Grant communications and public education activities. The staff provides communications expertise on a 50-50 basis to Delaware Sea Grant and to the University of Delaware College of Marine and Earth Studies.

Coastal Communities Initiative
Project: A/I-6. Principal Investigator: James Falk
University of Delaware College of Marine and Earth Studies, Lewes Campus
Project Period: Feb. 1, 2005 – Jan. 31, 2007

More than 139 million people (53% of the U.S. population) live in coastal counties. By 2025, the coastal population is estimated to reach 165 million people. Delaware’s coastal communities are experiencing tremendous population growth. Sussex County, the state's southern-most county, where Delaware's most popular beaches are located, grew by more than 50% between 1990 and 2000.

The Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service is working with coastal communities to help them make wiser land-use planning decisions; provide educational seminars and forums to discuss vital issues affecting coastal communities; provide technical support to the Governor’s “Livable Delaware” program to help advance its "Smart Growth" goals; develop educational fact sheets that address important sustainable development issues affecting Delaware coastal communities; and keep abreast of issues affecting local communities in the watershed and provide feedback to the public and planners.

EG/1 Graduate Student Education
Project: EG/1. Principal Investigator: Charles Epifanio
University of Delaware College of Marine and Earth Studies, Lewes Campus
Project Period: Feb. 1, 2005 – Jan. 31, 2007


Dr. Charles Epifanio, Associate Director Delaware Sea Grant Program

Delaware Sea Grant helps educate the nation's future marine scientists by giving selected graduate students the opportunity to develop their research and analytical skills while assisting scientists with Sea Grant projects. Every Sea Grant research project typically includes at least one graduate student. These students make an important contribution to each research effort while gaining hands-on experience in the design and execution of experiments and the reporting of final results to audiences ranging from other scientists through journal articles and professional meetings, to the public at large at Coast Day and other events.

Since the University of Delaware was designated a Sea Grant College in 1976, we have trained more than 200 students directly and contributed to the research efforts of more than 175 other students. Our students are an integral part of the program and a direct extension into other educational institutions, industry, and government.