News you can use from the National Ocean Service March 17, 2026 NOAA's National Geodetic Survey defines and manages the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) - a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States. March 15-21 is National Surveyors Week, celebrating the surveying profession's contributions to society, specifically sourcing precise data used in mapping, construction, and urban planning. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) was established as the Survey of the Coast by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807. Today, the NGS is part of NOAA's National Ocean Service. Their mission is to define, maintain and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). The NSRS provides a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States and its territories. To learn more about surveying careers, take a look at the National Ocean Service's February career profile highlighting Dru Smith, NSRS Modernization Manager. Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 1 p.m. ET This webinar will showcase research projects supported by NOAA that have used advanced modeling, monitoring, and analysis techniques to translate research on extreme heat into real-world applications and tools. The session will explore: - the use of human heat stress metrics to characterize long-term trends, decadal-scale variability, and individual event features of heat waves,
- development of a heat vulnerability index based on wet bulb globe temperatures and its usefulness in preparing for extreme heat events, and
- how recent research on heat has informed efforts to communicate with the public before, during, and after heat events.
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 11 a.m. AKDT Emergencies can strike quickly in Alaska, from severe weather and wildfires to floods and tsunamis. Recent events, such as ex-typhoon Halong and last summer's catastrophic Texas floods, have brought renewed attention to the importance of alerts, particularly in rural and geographically isolated areas, where reaching people can be difficult. Staying informed through timely alerts is critical, but many Alaskans have questions about how to sign up, where alerts come from, and how to know which sources to trust. Join the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness and a panel of experts from local, state, and federal agencies to learn how alerts are issued, how to access them, and what's being done to keep Alaskans informed and safe. Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 3 p.m. ET NOAA Ocean Exploration, in partnership with the NOAA Fisheries National Systematics Laboratory and Atlantic Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory with support from Northern Gulf Institute, are announcing the global availability of NOAA Ocean Exploration eDNA data collected from October 2021 through June 2023, totaling 310 samples from 6 expeditions. The mission of NOAA Ocean Exploration is to explore the deep sea. Using traditional methodologies it is difficult to gather comprehensive data of biological diversity at such great depths. Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a cost-effective solution to collect this information. The team will provide an overview of where and how samples were collected, processed, & bioinformatic analysis undertaken to ensure quality control, & taxonomic assignment. Lastly, the team will share where end-users can access the eDNA data and how the field can begin to leverage its availability for specific inquiries and increased exploration.   Region: Nationwide CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (e.g. rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, training, education, and utilizing an interactive website, the goal is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education, and research applications. During the annual "CoCoRaHS Hail Week," learn how to observe and report hail, and how CoCoRaHS hail reports are used. |  |
 Dates: March 14 - April 25, 2026 (Dates vary by location. All workshops are scheduled on Saturdays and run from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. local time.) Join NOAA Ocean Exploration and fellow educators at a full-day, in-person professional development workshop to learn about the dynamic geologic and physical processes associated with seamounts and the complex coral and sponge communities that inhabit them. Participants will dive into phenomena-based student investigations and hands-on activities, and discuss implementation strategies to bring the excitement of ocean science and exploration into your classroom. |  Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026 Location: Cambridge, MD at the National Marine Educators Association Conference Scholarship Applications Due: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Calling all early-career educators! Are you ready to bring the future of ocean exploration into your classroom? Join NOAA Ocean Exploration at the 2026 NMEA National Conference for their first-ever Blue Technology Education Workshop! This full-day immersive experience is designed to give you the tools, confidence, and industry connections needed to inspire the next generation of ocean innovators. What to expect: - Direct networking with blue tech organizations. - Explore classroom-ready resources, student competitions, and teacher training opportunities. - Collaborative strategy sessions with fellow educators. Cost: $50 (Add it to your conference registration!) Scholarships are available for $1200 to attend the workshop Don't miss this chance to dive deep into marine engineering and exploration. Let's empower the explorers of tomorrow! |  |
Oregon: South Slough Join Oregon Sea Grant and the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve to explore the world of estuarine and ocean fisheries. Over three days, in this TOTE Workshop educators will engage with commercial fishermen, researchers, Indigenous voices, and industry professionals to understand coastal habitats and the economic importance of Oregon's seafood. Participants receive a stipend, 20 PDU credits, lunches, and available lodging for those traveling from outside the area. - Dates: June 16–18, 2026
- Location: 61907 Seven Devils Road, Coos Bay, OR
- Target Audience: K-12 formal and informal PNW educators
- Contact: Jaime Belanger (jaime.c.belanger@dsl.oregon.gov)
- Register: South Slough Teacher Training (Closes June 6, 2026)
 Student Presenter at the National Marine Educators Association Conference (NMEA)  | | Applications Due: Friday, May 1, 2026 Student Day at the NMEA Conference will be on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Cambridge, MD. Students, ages 13+ are welcome to submit a proposal to present. Ways that students can participate: - In-Person Lightning Sessions: A fast-paced, 7-minute live presentation, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay. (Perfect for building public speaking skills!)
- Asynchronous Presentations: A 15- to 30-minute pre-recorded video featured on the conference platform for students who cannot travel to Maryland.
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