[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14944-14945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06419]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 150224177-5177-01]
RIN 0648-XD798
Availability of Draft NOAA Education Strategic Plan
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
publishes this notice to solicit comments on the draft NOAA Education
Strategic Plan (Plan). NOAA received broad legislative authority from
Congress through the America COMPETES Act (2007, 2010) to conduct,
develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and informal education
activities at all levels to enhance public awareness and understanding
of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship
by the general public and other coastal stakeholders, including
underrepresented groups in ocean and atmospheric science and policy
careers. The revision of the Plan establishes the goals for NOAA
education programs for the next twenty years with revisions to the Plan
every five years. NOAA is seeking broad public review of the NOAA
Education Strategic Plan, and
[[Page 14945]]
encourages all stakeholders and users to review the Plan and provide
comments. All comments received will be reviewed and considered in the
final drafting of the NOAA Education Strategic Plan.
DATES: Public comments on this document must be received on or before
April 10, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The draft Plan will be available on the following Web site:
http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/leadership/edcouncil/education_plan.html.
You may submit comments on this document, following the format
guidance below, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Comments may be submitted via
email to [email protected]. Include the identifier, ``Education
Plan Public Comment'' in the subject line.
Mail: Marissa Jones, NOAA Office of Education,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230. Include the identifier, ``Education Plan Public Comment,'' on
the envelope.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marissa Jones, Education Specialist,
NOAA Office of Education, (202) 482-4592[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA's Education Council is soliciting
general comments on the NOAA Education Strategic Plan, which describes
how NOAA will execute programs and activities to achieve cohesive and
strategic education outcomes. The Plan focuses on conducting,
developing, supporting, promoting, and coordinating education
activities to enhance awareness and understanding of mission-related
sciences.
For over 200 years, NOAA has imparted scientific knowledge of the
Earth's natural systems to benefit society and support the agency's
mission. During this time, education was guided by the vision of
leadership, the findings of researchers, the mandates of legislation
for programs within NOAA, and to respond to the needs of society.
In 2007, Congress officially recognized the role of education in
NOAA with the passage of the America COMPETES Act (Pub. L. 110-69).
This legislation states:
``The Administrator, appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration programs, ocean atmospheric science and education
experts, and interested members of the public shall develop a science
education plan setting forth education goals and strategies for the
Administration, as well as programmatic actions to carry out such goals
and priorities over the next 20 years, and evaluate and update such
plan every 5 years.''
NOAA is revising its Education Strategic Plan as specified in the
America COMPETES Act. Based on NOAA's mission, strengths, and the
future needs of our society, the draft plan includes five education
goals:
Goal 1--Science-Informed Society: An informed society has access
to, interest in, and understanding of NOAA-related sciences and their
implications for current and future events.
Goal 2--Conservation & Stewardship: Individuals and communities are
actively involved in stewardship behaviors and decisions that conserve,
restore, and protect natural and cultural resources related to NOAA's
mission.
Goal 3--Safety and Preparedness: Individuals and communities are
informed and actively involved in decisions and actions that improve
preparedness, response, and resilience to challenges and impacts of
hazardous weather, changes in climate, and other environmental threats
monitored by NOAA.
Goal 4--Future Workforce: A diverse and highly-skilled future
workforce pursues careers in disciplines that support NOAA's mission.
Goal 5--Organizational Excellence: NOAA functions in a unified
manner to support, plan, and deliver effective educational programs and
partnerships that advance NOAA's mission.
NOAA welcomes all comments on the draft Plan, any inconsistencies
perceived within the Plan, and any omissions of important topics or
issues. This draft Plan is being issued for comment only and is not
intended for interim use. For any shortcoming noted within the draft
Plan, please propose specific remedies. Suggested changes will be
incorporated where appropriate, and a final Plan will be posted on the
NOAA Education Council Web site.
Please follow this format guidance for preparing and submitting
comments. Using the format guidance will facilitate the processing of
comments and assure that all comments are appropriately considered.
Overview comments should be provided first and should be numbered.
Comments that are specific to particular pages, paragraphs, or lines of
the section should identify the page and line numbers to which they
apply. Please number each page of your comments.
Dated: March 17, 2015.
Louisa Koch,
NOAA Director of Education.
[FR Doc. 2015-06419 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
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