JUNE 9, 2016 -- On June 5, 2016, the NOAA Marine Debris Program's Outreach Specialist Asma Mahdi participated in the Washed Ashore Project's teacher workshop at the Smithsonian's National Zoo as part of the project's Prevention through Education and Outreach grant.

Ten educators from the Washington, DC, area attended a two-day workshop to learn how to incorporate and teach about marine debris through the lens of art.

The lessons piloted were part of a curriculum the Washed Ashore Project is developing through a fiscal year 2015 Prevention through Education and Outreach grant awarded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

During the workshop, teachers learned about the pervasiveness of single-use plastics and ways they easily become marine debris. The lessons connected art and science, using marine debris as an art medium to create unique art sculptures that tells the story of marine debris, and science to explain how marine debris moves and impacts the ocean environment, animals, and human. The lesson ended by bringing together teachers and challenging them to use the art sculptures they will create with their students to educate broader audience about the marine debris issue at public venues or even on their school campus year-round.

For more information, contact Asma Mahdi.

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