High School Teachers Take Note-Gulf of Maine Essay Contest for High School Students Recently Announced

Hello MEEA High School Teacher Members...thought this would be of interest:

From the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Essay Contest promotes ocean stewardship
among high school students and rewards them with thousands of dollars in
prize money for their winning essays. This year's theme of Sea Animals Big
and Small focuses on current threats to the marine life of the Gulf of
Maine, especially to right whales and to forage fish. Students can find many
resources to inform their essays at www.fromthebowseat.org/.

Essayists can also find up-to-date research from the Census of Marine Life
to enhance their composition at www.coml.org/. The Census of Marine Life was
a 10-year international effort undertaken to assess the diversity,
distribution, and abundance of marine life. By the time the decade of
discovery concluded in 2010, 2,700 scientists from 80 nations had discovered
new species, habitats, and connections and unlocked many of the ocean's
long-held secrets.

Students can find out specific information about the biodiversity of the
Gulf of Maine by clicking through Regional Ecosystems, or by going directly
to www.gulfofmaine-census.org/.



The Ocean Awareness Essay Contest is an educational complement to From the
Bow Seat, a 64-minute documentary about environmental issues impacting the
Gulf of Maine. The film, contest information, and essay questions are posted
at www.fromthebowseat.org/.



The essay contest is open to all high school-age students across the
country, including homeschooled students. Winning essayists will be awarded
$2,500 for First Prize, $1,500 for Second Place, and $500 for Third Place.
The high school science department of the First Place essayist also receives
$2,500.

For more information Contact:
Mary M. Cerullo, Associate Director

Friends of Casco Bay

43 Slocum Drive

South Portland, ME 04106

(207) 799-8574

mcerullo@cascobay.org