Island STYLE is a collaborative effort with Artist Boat to design, author, implement, deliver, and evaluate the NOAA BWET MWEE systemic model. Partners include Galveston Independent School District teachers and students; five regional science offices and their experts from NOAA (National Fisheries Galveston Laboratory, Office of Habitat Restoration, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Office of Response and Restoration Marine Debris Program); area non-profit science experts from the Moody Gardens Aquarium, Houston Audubon and the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network; and the University of Houston Clear Lake Professor of Science Education and Evaluation.

“Island STYLE” is designed to create systemic change in the way students view themselves as scientists, creators, and problem solvers through the lens of exploring Galveston Island, Galveston Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico with their teachers and experts, in and out of the classroom, and through their leadership in the environment creating actions based on student-led questions and concerns. Island STYLE included teacher professional development, embedded lesson plans across disciplines, Artist Boat led Eco-Art and Blue Carbon Workshops and Eco-Art Kayak Adventures, and student driven field adventures and environmental action projects. This project has a special emphasis on climate education, Gulf of Mexico fisheries, and education and engagement aligned with GOAA and NOAA priorities for BWET MWEE’s.

This project resulted in cross curricular integration of curriculum embedded throughout the middle school experience.  The island youth along the Gulf are uniquely poised to be the future leaders and decision makers in their coastal communities and in our nation facing the most dynamic changing ocean, fisheries, and climate systems in human history.  The Gulf and our nation will need these leaders and we need to grow them.  Data across four years of implementation will be shared.