New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is currently updating our Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 to guide our work in the coming years. An important component of this Strategic Plan is stakeholder feedback to help drive our priorities and programs for the future. Do you have issues or concerns you’d like to see us address? Share your thoughts and opinions by completing our stakeholder survey.
This anonymous survey allows for stakeholders like you to provide input on significant issues affecting New Jersey’s marine industries, natural resources, coastal communities, environmental literacy, aquaculture, and more. Your responses will help us ensure that our Strategic Plan incorporates and addresses stakeholder needs. Please complete the survey by 5/18/2022 by clicking here.
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with New Jersey Natural Gas, has announced the official dates for Ocean Fun Days 2022:
May 21, 2022 at Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park
May 22, 2022 at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Sandy Hook
Both locations 11AM – 3PM rain or shine
Free admission and free parking!
Enjoy hands-on marine and environmental programs and exhibits. There will be giveaways and plenty of excitement, plus fun ways to learn about our coastal environment and energy conservation for the whole family to enjoy.
Learn how to use a seine net to catch native fish, crabs and other marine creatures. Test your local coastal knowledge or become a sand sampler and search for natural treasures on a guided walking tour. Hear first hand from New Jersey scientists and researchers all about the inner-workings of the ocean and the coastline and how to protect them for generations to come.
Don’t miss out on these two days of FREE Family Fun!
The NMFS-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship Program in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics is designed to help Sea Grant fulfill its broad educational responsibilities and to strengthen the collaboration between Sea Grant and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Since 1990, Sea Grant and NMFS have partnered to train students through this joint fellowship program in two specialized areas: population and ecosystem dynamics as well as marine resource economics.
2022 National Marine Fisheries Service-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship Program
Population and Ecosystem Dynamics Federal Funding Opportunity
The NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship Program in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics anticipates funding at least four new Ph.D. Fellowships in 2022 to students who are interested in careers related to marine ecosystem and population dynamics, with a focus on modeling and managing systems of living marine resources. The emphasis will be on the development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing marine ecosystems, for assessing the status of fish, invertebrate, and other targeted species stocks and for assessing the status of marine mammals, seabirds, and other protected species.
Marine Resource Economics Federal Funding Opportunity
The NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship Program in Marine Resource Economics anticipates funding one new Ph.D. Fellowship in 2022 to students who are interested in careers related to the development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing the economics of the conservation and management of living marine resources.
Applications are due to NJSGC by 5PM on January 27, 2022. Interested candidates should contact Dr. Peter Rowe, Acting Executive Director NJSGC for more details. Please forward this opportunity to interested PhD students. Review the 2022 2022 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship Student Guide and the Student Applicant Guide to Sea Grant Fellowships to Sea Grant Fellowships for application preparation tips. This combined Federal Funding Opportunity can also be accessed here. If the link does not work search for NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2007042.
The goals of the NOAA Fisheries/Sea Grant Fellowship Program are:
• To encourage qualified applicants to pursue careers in either population and ecosystem dynamics and stock assessment or in marine resource economics
• To increase available expertise related to these fields
• To foster closer relationships between academic scientists and NOAA Fisheries
• To provide real-world experience to graduate students and accelerate their career development.
With the pandemic still looming in our midst, this year’s family-friendly Ocean Fun Days was once again held virtually. The event was a whale of success celebrating 18 years of ocean discovery, coastal stewardship, and energy conservation with a month-long educational extravaganza.
Starting October 1st through the end of the month, Ocean Fun Days participants gained access to online video presentations from over 30 exhibitors, at-home activities, and educational resources to provide eco-friendly fun… right from home. Some videos focused on New Jersey’s most important local animals and their value to the ecosystem including horseshoe crabs, eels, and sharks, while others concentrated on anthropogenic themes such as micro-plastics, saving energy and water, and the environment. New this year, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium educators led LIVE presentations via zoom on topics like diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs, and ocean swimming safety.
Ocean Fun Days Goes Virtual
Rosemary Higgins and Mindy Voss teach students about sharks and rip currents.
Student learning about horseshoe crabs!
Rosemary Higgins, College & Special Programs Coordinator expressed “I just love coordinating Ocean Fun Days and working with many sponsors and exhibitors who help make the event a great success! The last two years Ocean Fun Days has been virtual with fun and exciting videos from our exhibitors for visitors online to enjoy. One of the most frequently visited pages the “Teachers Corner” gave teachers many resources with dozens of interactive classroom activities and lesson plans.”
From left to right: Diana Burich (NJSGC), Samantha Kreisler (NJSGC), Thomas Hayes (New Jersey Natural Gas), and Rosemary Higgins (NJSGC) celebrate the success of Ocean Fun Days.
Thomas Hays of New Jersey Natural Gas notes: “As a company committed to achieving a low-carbon, clean energy future that has built the most environmentally sound natural gas system in the state, we’re proud to have collaborated on Ocean Fun Days 18 years ago and thrilled with our partnership with the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and other participants. Next’s year’s event promises to make an even bigger splash!”
At New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, we appreciate all of the partners that made Ocean Fun Days possible. Thank you to our many exhibitors who took the time and energy to showcase their knowledge and expertise, especially Ocean Fun Days sponsor New Jersey Natural Gas. Most importantly thanks to all participants, whose desire to learn about our marine world makes events like Ocean Fun Days worthwhile. Although we loved seeing your smiling faces on our computer screens, we hope to see you in person next year! Stay tuned for more updates on Ocean Fun Days 2022.
The Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The Fellowship, named after one of Sea Grant’s founders and former NOAA Administrator John A. Knauss, matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one-year paid fellowship.
Any student, regardless of citizenship, is eligible to submit to this opportunity if:
The student is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2021 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and February 18, 2022;
The graduate degree will be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories, and;
The student has an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
Celebrating 18 Years with an Entire Month of Virtual Family Fun and Education
This year’s family-friendly Ocean Fun Days event will once again take place virtually starting this Friday October 1st and run for the entire month of October! Join New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and our partners as we celebrate 18 years of ocean discovery, coastal stewardship and energy conservation.
Online video presentations from over 30 exhibitors will provide eco-friendly fun focused on ocean discovery, coastal stewardship and energy conservation. Several presentations provide fascinating information about some of our most important local animals, including horseshoe crabs, eels, and sharks. There will also be informative videos on micro-plastics, saving energy and water, and the environment.
In addition, new LIVE presentations this year will feature topics from NJSGC educators such as diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs and ocean swimming safety. Teachers, parents, and students alike join new LIVE presentations, presented by NJ Sea Grant Consortium instructors. Click the links below to register:
October 1, 10 a.m. Terrific Terrapins: Meet New Jersey’s estuarine turtles, the Northern Diamondback Terrapin, in this fun program that teaches students why these animals are so unique and important to our coastal ecosystems. In this presentation participants will discover this reptile’s adaptations, anatomy, habitat, and virtually meet a realNorthern Diamondback Terrapin. Visitors and students will also learn about the impacts humans on terrapin populations. This 45-60 minute program is suitable for all ages especially grades K-6. Watch the webinar recording here.
October 6, 11 a.m. Horseshoe Crabs: Learn about these amazing East Coast natives with NJSGC educators as they take you on a virtual trip through the life of this “living fossil” species that has lived on Earth for more than 400 million years! Do you know why their blood is blue or what their telson is used for? Find out during this engaging presentation that touches on horseshoe crab anatomy, their role in the marine ecosystem and how they are helpful to humans. This 60-minute webinar is suitable for all ages, especially children in grades K-8. Watch the webinar recording here.
October 30, 1 p.m. Sharks vs Rip Currents – a Most “Spooktacular” Comparison: Just in time for Halloween, NJSGC educators will share the mysteries of two ocean “inhabitants”: rip currents and sharks. While both can seem frightening, the more information you know will give you a better chance of keeping safe around them. Learn how to avoid rip currents and what to do if you get caught in one. Also, discover how likely you are to ‘meet’ a shark and how all their adaptations make them important apex predators. This 60-minute webinar is suitable for all ages.
Bring #OceanFunDays into your classroom! There are also many online resources and activities. Teachers, and students alike are invited to dive in and join the fun by visiting OceanFunDays.org for #OceanFunDays2021 on October 1st.
Thank you to Investors Foundation for continuing their support of New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s (NJSGC) efforts in promoting the “Ocean Hazards and Beach Safety” Rip Current Awareness Program.
Jodie-Ann McDonald and Lauren Johns (from left) of Investors Bank present grant award to (from right) Diana Burich, Director of Education, Debra Burd, Fiscal Officer and Deborah Quinn, Office Manager.
This $2,500 grant will continue to directly support NJSGC’s interactive “Ocean Hazards and Beach Safety” outreach presentation, which will now be offered at no charge to schools, libraries, community and other groups throughout Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties from now through June 2021.
***Given the current situation, we are now presenting this program virtually through Zoom or Google Meets video conferencing. For more information, please contact NJSGC’s Education Department at Reservations@njseagrant.org.***
“According to the National Weather Service, approximately 100 people drown in rip currents in the U.S. on an annual basis. While NJ’s lifeguards do a fantastic job of keeping beachgoers safe, it is very important for swimmers themselves to know about potential rip currents and how to handle themselves if they should be accidentally caught in one. This program teaches people about the importance of swimming safely in the ocean in a way that is easy to understand and fun to learn, and this funding makes it more accessible to the general public.”
Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With over $25 billion in assets and a network of more than 150 retail branches, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors Bank’s services include complete deposit, loan and cash management products for consumers and businesses. Investors Bank. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.
About the Investors Foundation
Investors Bank created the Investors Foundation in 2005 to support the communities Investors Bank serves. Investors Foundation supports initiatives in the arts, youth development, health and human services, education and affordable housing. Investors Foundation works to improve the lives of its customers and neighbors.
