The Newsletter of the Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence - Mid-Atlantic (COSEE-MA)

Newman's Lab

Dr. Michael Newman is the principal investigator for the Ecotoxicology program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Ecotoxicology is the extension of classic toxicology to include effects to ecological entities such as individual animals or plants, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the entire biosphere. It is the science of contaminants in the biosphere and their effects on constituents of the biosphere, including humans. Currently, Newman’s Lab is involved in the following research projects:

• Population genetics of PAH-exposed fish
• Modeling of contaminant exposure from fish consumption
• Predicting metal bioavailability for human and ecological risk assessments
• Improving prediction of lethal effects with time-to-death methods
• Improving species sensitivity distribution methods for ecological risk assessment
• Assessing pesticide effects to nontarget avian species
• Models predicting mortality with pulsed exposure to toxicants
• Mercury bioaccumulation in aquatic biota

Newman’s Lab is committed to the integration of scientific research with educational outreach programs. Throughout his career, Dr. Newman has emphasized the development of pedagogical skills in himself and his students, and he has written several textbooks that have become standard references for many scientists in the ecotoxicology field. Moreover, a course developed out of one of his textbooks has been taught in universities across the United States and Europe. Understanding that it is crucial that scientists and graduate students develop the skills and motivation needed to communicate research results beyond the research community, Dr. Newman oversees the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s involvement with the Mid-Atlantic Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE-MA). Through collaborations with COSEE-MA, Newman’s lab has successfully integrated themes of Ecotoxicology, Environmental Science, and Environmental Justice into one of the units taught in a summer course for middle school teachers. Specifically, the Ecosystem Health Unit focuses on how scientists use coastal observing systems and real-time data to monitor and predict changes in costal environments. By understanding the broader impact of research, COSEE-MA provides scientists and graduate students with an excellent opportunity to disseminate scientific information through a variety of community and educational outreach programs.

As well as these ongoing research projects, the two graduate students being advised by Dr. Newman have their own research projects. John Carriger and Erica Holloman are the two graduate students currently working in Newman’s Lab. Through the COSEE-MA program, Newman’s graduate students have developed and implemented materials for K-12 classrooms.

With Dr. Newman, John Carriger developed several activities built around an oil spill model in use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that predicts where spills will go. One activity is centered in Delaware Bay and the other uses the Chesapeake Bay for settings. For this activity, students compare the projected movement of the spills and predict whether they will affect resources such as shorelines, seagrass and oyster beds with additional data on currents and winds. In addition, Carriger and Newman created an invasive species game that debuted in the summer of 2004 at a COSEE-MA teacher conference. The teachers at that meeting enjoyed the game and discussed its implementation in their classroom throughout the following school year.

Erica Holloman and Dr. Newman designed and developed eutrophication science kits complete with a comprehensive five day lesson plan and created a presentation highlighting the history of environmental justice struggles and its principles. In addition, both students developed interactive environmental justice activities intended to engage minority students in ocean science.

John Carriger came to work with Dr. Newman after obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Florida International University. After doing research in the Everglades, John was excited to learn about the Chesapeake Bay while at VIMS and quickly acclimated to Dr. Newman’s laboratory. “I really enjoy the way Mike emphasizes all aspects of the development of his students into scientists and educators. The word outreach was new to me and Mike helped me realize its importance to an applied research program.” Aside from his duties as a VIMS graduate student, John Carriger also takes time out of his day to teach oceanography at a local juvenile correctional facility. The students at the correctional facility have tried out some of the materials John has developed. John recalls one student asking if they are going to get to see some more oil spills after he started to get bored with a lecture. “Trying out some of the COSEE-MA activities we developed has allowed me to see how beneficial a hands-on approach is for the students.”

Erica Holloman joined Newman’s Lab in the summer of 2004. After obtaining her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Hampton University, she worked for Minority Aviation Education Association (MAEA) where she developed science curriculums and summer science camps for K-12 classrooms. “When I decided to pursue my Ph.D., I knew that I wanted my academic program to include not only scientific research but also a strong educational and outreach component. Working in Mike’s lab continues to provide me with tangible opportunities to integrate scientific research and outreach.”

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About the Scientist

Dr. Michael Newman has diverse research interests which include ecotoxicology, general and applied aquatic ecology, contaminant effects on populations, bioaccumulation, and factors modifying inorganic contaminant toxicity, fate of inorganic contaminants in aquatic systems, quantitative methods for ecological risk assessment, toxicity models, and water quality. In addition, his academic career has included pollutant surveys associated with offshore oil field leasing, lead pollution from automobiles, pollution effects on animal populations, genetics of human schistosome infection in the West Indies, mathematical analysis of pollution data, assessing risk from pesticide use in North America and Europe, and clean-up of U.S. Cold War-era nuclear weapons facilities. Learn more about Dr. Newman at http://www.vims.edu/env/people/faculty/newman.html.

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Scientists' Toolbox

One of COSEE-MA's most important objectives is to provide ocean scientists with tools and resources to improve their ability to engage in, and support, education and outreach efforts related to their research. Here are a few:

Integrating Supplemental Resources into Instruction – 4 Key Challenges to Using Digital Resources in the Classroom
Are you a scientist with an interest in participating in the development of digital resources (web sites, video clips, online databases, synchronous/asynchronous communications) to supplement classroom learning? If so, this recent report provides insights into some of the current challenges educators are facing in their efforts to use digital resources in the classroom. (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6144)

COSEE-MA Scientist Connections
This project helps scientists at varying stages of their careers get involved in the professional development of formal classroom educators. It’s a good example of a Partner Scientist commitment discussed in the COSEE-MA Scientist Connections guidelines. Learn how Scientist Connections can help you determine which level and type of education and outreach best meets your needs. (http://www.cosee-ma.net/res_ed/guide_intro.htm)

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Related Education/Outreach Resources

Ecosystem Health

• Risk Assessment pages
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Thirteen.org's "Concept to Classroom"

Learn How to Prevent Introducing Invasive Species

• Habitattitude

Environmental Justice

• Case Studies of Environmental Justice Issues
• Scorecard

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Data Discovery

Each issue of The Pulse brings you a Data Discovery - an educational activity that incorporates the use of real data relevant to the featured research. Based on the “Data Tips” found on The Bridge education web site (www.vims.edu/bridge), each Data Discovery challenges the user to employ inquiry and critical thinking skills to interpret and apply scientific data in a meaningful context.

This issue’s Data Discovery is an activity used to engage students (with an emphasis on minority students) in aquatic pollution issues, introduce the major events that initiated the environmental justice movement, and introduce the wide range of aquatic environmental justice issues. Specifically, this activity uses actual environmental justice case studies as the basis for an interactive exercise whereby students take on the role of actual players highlighted in the cases. Click here to access this activity.

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