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July 2013 www.sname.org/sname/mt importantly, the specic Sunshine State Standards that the various lessons in curriculum address. As part of the educational component of SNMREC, the center held a series of workshops in which science teachers, more than 200 to date, from seven counties in southeast Florida were trained as master teachers,? so that they could train their colleagues in the use of the cur- riculum. e material is now becoming infused through the school districts and, we hope, generating interest in both MRE and more generally science and engineering in the student population. While it is too soon to have con- crete results in terms of district penetration and student success, the feedback from the teachers in the workshops has been highly encouraging. Next steps include broaden- ing the curriculum to be appropriate for younger students and strengthening it with additional modules such as one related to public policy about renewable energy. Another less formal means of reaching students is through school and scouting eld trips to SNMREC research laboratories located at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and the Dania Beach campus of Florida Atlantic University. During these eld trips, science, technology, engineering, and math all come to life in explorations of the process being undertaken to harness the energy of the Florida cur- rent. Hands-on experiences provide a day of learning, inspiration, and fun as students see the turbine, its blades, and other equipment up close. Finally, college students are engaged in the activi- ties of SNMREC through a summer internship program in marine science and technology at HBOI. e 10-week program provides upper-level undergraduate and gradu- ate students with an immersion in a research environment with the added dimension of having an MRE focus. A wide variety of topics are oered, including aquaculture; biomedical marine research; marine biology; marine mammal research; marine natural product chemistry; marine microbiology; ocean engineering; ocean tech- nology; and oceanography. Depending on the background and interest of the student, MRE-related issues can be the focus of several of these, and each intern is assigned to an appropriate researcher as a mentor in a project of mutual interest. At the culmination of the program, the intern is expected to submit a comprehensive written report on his or her proj- ect and give an oral presentation. Just as private-sector internships provide students with real-world experience in their eld of study, these HBOI experiences prepare the interns for their future careers. Beyond the schools Just as relevant as the formal education associated with curricula such as that described here is the informal edu- cation for the broader public about MRE and its potential as a resource for a sustainable future. is is particularly important given the fact that MRE implementation will use the oceans for a new purpose, one by which many people feel threatened. Environmental issues are espe- cially important in this context. In addition to the field trips mentioned earlier, another approach to such informal education is through public appearances at meetings of interested com- munity groups. As successful as that can be?and the interaction of a question-and-answer period is useful for alleviating public concerns?it reaches but a small subset of the general public. Consequently, SNMREC also is reaching out more widely in partnerships with local museums to create interactive displays related to MRE and its future. At this point, the program is in the trial stages, but if it succeeds, it will oer a new way to inform and educate the public about the exciting oppor- tunities of MRE. Given that public acceptance of this new idea is critical for its successful future, the MRE commu- nity broadly will benet from these outreach eorts. MT At the Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Florida Atlantic University, Howard P. Hanson is scienti?c director, Susan H. Skemp is executive director, and Camille E. Coley is associate director. (focus on education) Skill Sets Tailored to MRE continued SNMRECs teacher workshops included hands-on instruction in all of the exercises in the curriculum. Here, building a soda-can electric generator is providing a challenge for the participants.