Our Ocean-Based STEM Workshops highlight NMMF’s discoveries about marine mammals to promote creative thinking and inspire a stronger commitment to conserving marine mammals and their habitats. Our program offers a unique opportunity for you to:
- Connect with Marine Mammal Experts: Our Community Engagement staff and volunteers include marine mammal scientists, veterinarians, conservationists, and care experts. Learn from their experiences, insights, and ongoing fieldwork.
- Participate in Interactive Workshops: Join us in hands-on workshops, where you can immerse yourself in the world of marine mammal science. From understanding acoustic communication to marine mammal health assessments, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and skills.
- Discover Marine Mammal Conservation: Learn about the critical efforts and methods used to protect these incredible creatures and their habitats in a dynamic learning environment
Educational Workshops (Grades K-12)
As part of our unwavering commitment to STEM education, the NMMF has crafted a series of engaging workshops, each designed to dive deep into the fascinating world of marine mammal science and conservation. Through hands-on activities, direct interactions with NMMF experts, and captivating presentations, we bring the magic of the marine world directly to students. These workshops are not just educational experiences; they are gateways to a lifelong passion for STEM and the protection of marine mammals worldwide.
Dolphin Doctor
Discover the world of veterinary medicine through marine mammal anatomy & physiology, conservation, and research.
In this workshop, students explore the field of marine mammal medicine and conservation. Learn how scientists use new technologies and discoveries to help care for marine mammals. From conducting health assessments with trained dolphins to working alongside wild pods, our team is dedicated to marine mammal care.
The Dolphin Doctor workshop is a project that recognizes the lifetime work of Dr. Sam Ridgway, the original Dolphin Doctor and founder of the National Marine Mammal Foundation. Dr. Ridgway is often referred to as the ‘father of marine mammal medicine’ due to his pioneering spirit and ground-breaking discoveries that advanced the health and welfare of dolphins, porpoises, whales, sea lions, and seals.
Marine Mammal Conservation: Spotlight on the Southern Resident Killer Whale
Discover the endangered Southern Resident killer whales of the Pacific Northwest!
This program teaches basic marine mammal biology and ecology and highlights the exciting research of the NMMF and the most up-to-date conservation tools and techniques used to better understand this rapidly declining population.
Under Pressure
Discover the incredible adaptations that enable marine mammals to explore the ocean’s depths.
Marine Mammals share many traits with humans. However, one unique difference is that marine mammals are capable of deep diving by tolerating immense pressure. This workshop, intended for Grades 3-12, will focus on marine mammal adaptations to diving in the ocean and how they compare to human diving physiology.
This workshop is not only intended to educate the community about the impressive diving adaptations of marine mammals and introduce young people to the underwater world, but also to address the conservation issues of marine mammals, their applications to humans, and how each of us can help protect our shared oceans.
Voices in the Sea
Discover how sound shapes the lives of marine mammals and why understanding sound is so important to their conservation.
Marine mammals rely on sound for communication, foraging, navigation, and predator avoidance. The NMMF explores the sounds these animals make, the sounds they hear, and the effects of human-made noise on their behavior and physiology.
The NMMF has developed advanced instrumentation to test the hearing of wild marine mammals and determine safe sound exposure levels. This workshop introduces students to the innovative methods used by NMMF scientists and includes interactive activities that demonstrate the science of sound.
POP for a Porpoise
Prevent Ocean Plastics!
In this workshop, students will focus on ways that plastic pollution affects marine animals, such as entanglement and ingestion of plastics by dolphins, whales, sea turtles, sea birds, and fish. We specifically highlight our efforts to save the Vaquita porpoise, the most endangered marine mammal in the world.
Our hands-on activities focus on the plastic lifecycle, how plastic affects sea life & climate, a watershed model, and recycling. We emphasize that small efforts can collectively make a big difference. We hope that students who complete the POP for a Porpoise program will have the knowledge and drive to make our earth a cleaner, healthier place, and that they will be excited to educate and inspire others.
‘You Can Be’ Career Panels
Bring our scientists to your classroom!
We offer panel-style webinars with a variety of ocean-based STEM professionals. These panels are great for high school and college-level students to introduce them to the wide array of STEM careers in ocean science and the different pathways to get there.
Scientific Snapshot Virtual Seminar Series
Via the NMMF Scientific Snapshot Virtual Seminar Series, we bring NMMF science to youth and adult audiences around the world. Learn about the NMMF’s cutting-edge marine mammal science and research through our innovative and informative seminar series. Here, we bring you the latest insights, discoveries, and cutting-edge research in marine mammal biology, conservation, and the broader field of marine science. Join us as we connect with leading experts and scientists, providing you with a front-row seat to the most current and groundbreaking studies in marine mammalogy. Our Scientific Snapshot Virtual Seminar Series is your portal to a world where science and the wonders of marine mammals converge.
Workshop Sign-up and Cost
At the NMMF, we’re committed to making our workshops accessible to all who share a passion for marine science. We believe in breaking down barriers to education, which is why our workshops are offered at a minimal cost or free to groups with financial barriers, ensuring that financial constraints don’t hinder access to the wonders of marine mammal STEM learning. It’s thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and the steadfast support of the public that we can sustain and expand our educational initiatives. Your contributions are a cornerstone of our mission to inspire future STEM professionals and conservationists, fostering a brighter future for our oceans and marine life.
Our community engagement efforts have primarily focused on San Diego, CA, but we’re excited to share that our Community Engagement Team is growing in Charleston, SC, and New Orleans, LA. Virtual options are available as well! As we expand our ocean-based STEM learning initiatives, we’re ready to reach students in new regions. Contact us today!
