NOAA researcher Paula Whitfield uses underwater video and still frames to demonstrate to local middle school students the different types of hardbottom reefs in North Carolina's offshore waters. Credit: William Hoffman.

Last month, NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) hosted a series of outreach events aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster following the ship's 10-day mission to map and study the hardbottom reefs and fish communities in a proposed wind energy area off Cape Fear, N.C. First in this series of events, NCCOS staff ran a "Science Day" for local school groups, during which more than 70 high school and middle school students experienced demonstrations and hands-on activities with the technology used to conduct the research mission.

Next, the team held an open house for managers, policy makers, and research partners, which included presentations from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; the University of North Carolina; Geodynamics, LLC; and NCCOS. Also, researchers gave short presentations on the science and technology from the recent Foster mission. Open house attendees included leadership from NCCOS and the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Southeast Fisheries Science Center, as well as staff from the NMFS Southeast Regional Office; North Carolina Sea Grant; the Southern Wind Coalition; and a representative from Senator Richard Burr's (R-NC) office.

Jacqui, Porter, and Joe Degan visit the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster on family day.

Finally, an open house was held for staff and families from NOAA laboratories and offices in Carteret County, including NCCOS, NMFS, the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the National Weather Service office in Newport, N.C. Over 60 staff and family members toured the ship on a beautiful Saturday morning.

For more information, contact Jenny.VanderPluym@noaa.gov.