2025 Professional Development Opportunities

Life Beyond Light:
Chemosynthetic Communities of the Deep Ocean

Professional Development for Educators of Grades 6-12

Educators of grades 6-12 are invited to join a NOAA Ocean Exploration facilitator and our Education Alliance Partners for a full-day, in-person professional development workshop. Together we will explore hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, two deep-sea ecosystems with dense biological communities fueled by chemosynthesis.

This fun-filled, full-day workshop will include:

• A brief introduction to NOAA Ocean Exploration and why and how we explore the ocean;
• Several phenomena-based student investigations and hands-on activities that support science standards and classroom pedagogy to help students understand the fascinating process of chemosynthesis and the unique deep-sea ecosystems this process supports;
• Reflection and discussion with peer educators about how to implement these materials in the classroom; and
• A guided tour of additional free, online ocean education resources available from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the Deep Ocean Education Project website

Registration is required and space is limited. Registered educators will receive a collection of classroom-ready resources to continue exploring chemosynthesis, hydrothermal vents, and cold seeps in their classrooms that includes student investigations, videos, fact sheets, and more. Additionally, educators that attend the full day, in-person workshop will receive a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, and a $100 stipend.

This NOAA Ocean Exploration professional development for educators is offered in partnership with Education Alliance Partners and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

*Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA Professional Development for Educators will return in the Fall of 2025.