Rediscovered Digital Hub Dedicated to Ocean and Earth Sciences for Educators
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Explorations website is a treasure trove of resources for those interested in learning more about ocean and earth sciences. This online platform, which is now free and published monthly, has been a premier ocean and earth sciences magazine for the general public for many years.
The website offers a wide array of content, including feature stories, slideshows, videos, podcasts, and a science photo of the week. These resources cover a broad range of topics, from marine biodiversity and global warming to marine technology, marine genomics, earthquakes, tides and currents, volcanoes, and various aspects of the oceans, land, atmosphere, and biosphere.
One of the most notable features of the Explorations website is the collection of 50 feature stories, each of which can be viewed online or downloaded as PDFs for classroom use. There are also 45 video clips, each about five minutes long, showcasing Scripps science from various locations worldwide. These videos are particularly useful in the classroom, as Professor Keith A. Sverdrup of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's geophysics department attests. He finds the brief "Explorations" video segments useful in raising student interest and promoting discussion.
In addition to these resources, the Explorations website also offers Voyager for Kids features on complex topics like tsunamis, earthquakes, marine ecology, and climate. These features are designed to bring science alive for young people through stories about Scripps's researchers.
Beyond the Explorations website, Scripps provides several other educational resources. The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) / SURF Program is a prestigious summer fellowship engaging undergraduates in earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences through hands-on or virtual research projects. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps serves as a public exploration center, offering exhibits and educational programs about oceanographic research and marine life.
Scripps also offers comprehensive academic programs directly in oceanography, earth sciences, and atmospheric sciences for formal education and training of the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. Digital and Virtual Learning Opportunities, such as the Sandin Lab’s 100 Island Challenge, provide digital collections and virtual dives of reef habitats, enhancing access to real scientific data and contributing to interactive learning about marine ecosystems.
In summary, learners can access summer research internships, academic degree programs, public aquarium-based learning, and digital research projects for comprehensive ocean and earth science education through Scripps’ initiatives. These resources, while not exclusively centralized under a single “Explorations” website, together reflect the broad educational support Scripps provides to promote understanding of ocean and earth sciences. Additional educational content may also be found through related marine science organizations and programs highlighted in affiliated platforms.
- The Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Explorations website, a premier resource for ocean and earth sciences, offers an extensive collection of materials for learning, including feature stories, videos, podcasts, and a science photo of the week, covering topics like marine biodiversity, marine biology, and environmental-science.
- The Explorations website caters to learners of all ages, with Voyager for Kids features that simplify complex topics such as marine ecology and climate, providing an engaging and interactive approach to environmental-science education and self-development.
- In addition to the Explorations website, Scripps offers numerous educational resources, such as summer research internships, academic degree programs, public aquarium exhibits and educational programs, and digital research projects in oceanography, earth sciences, and atmospheric sciences, fostering a comprehensive learning experience in marine biology and science.
