As part of our commitment to education, the NMMF has developed a series of workshops that focus on important topics in the marine mammal scientific community, such as marine mammal medicine, bioacoustics, and ocean conservation. We provide a variety of hands-on activities and direct interaction with NMMF scientists, veterinarians, trainers, and marine mammal experts to teach students and the public about marine mammals. We bring these workshops to local schools and organizations through classroom visits and online webinars. We also bring NMMF science to public events, such as community fairs, career fairs, and science festivals. In doing so, we hope to inspire future generations to pursue STEAM related paths and protect marine mammals around the world.
Learn about our current workshops:
You Can Be
Marine Science Career Panel
You Can Be: Marine Mammal Career Panel
Participants will hear from STEAM professionals in a wide variety of fields including marine mammal science and veterinary medicine while participating in hands-on STEM demonstrations. The group of STEM volunteers will briefly discuss their career path, why they are passionate about their work, encourage students to continue on an academic path towards STEM careers and show ways families can continue to support their kids!
POP for a Porpoise
Preventing Ocean Plastics
POP for a Porpoise
POP for a Porpoise (Prevent Ocean Plastics) is an educational program presented by the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) which aims to educate kids about the plastic ocean pollution epidemic. We 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 (www.VaquitaCPR.org). 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. Our hope is 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.
Marine Mammal Conservation
Endangered Marine Mammals
Marine Mammal Conservation
The National Marine Mammal Foundation is a world leader in marine mammal conservation efforts, with programs helping endangered and threatened species such as bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, California Sea Lions, the critically endangered Vaquita porpoise and the Southern Resident Killer Whales.
This program teaches basic marine mammal biology and ecology and highlights the exciting research of the National Marine Mammal Foundation. Most importantly, this program provides opportunities for young people in our community to engage with real STEM professionals in Marine Mammal Science and teaches them what THEY can do to help!
Under Pressure
Marine Mammal Diving Adaptations
Under Pressure: Marine Mammal Diving Adaptations
Marine Mammals share many traits with humans – they have large brains for their body size, they breathe air, have similar metabolisms, and can become infected by similar diseases. However, one unique difference is that marine mammals are capable of deep diving by tolerating immense pressure. This workshop will focus on marine mammal adaptations to diving in the ocean and how they compare to human diving physiology.
Marine mammals are recognizable, charismatic animals, but they are also some of the ocean’s most long lived top predators, and they serve as sentinels of environmental health hazards in our oceans. This workshop is not only intended to educate the community on the impressive diving adaptations of marine mammals and introduce young people to the underwater world, but to also address the conservation issues of marine mammals and their application to humans and how we all can protect our shared oceans.
Dolphin Doctor
Marine Mammmal Medicine
Dolphin Doctor: Marine Mammal Medicine
NMMF researchers and veterinarians use the latest advances in veterinary medicine and the best available science to care for marine mammals in locations around the world. For this reason, our team is in a unique position to share cutting-edge marine mammal science, as well as teach STEM concepts with real world applications.
“Dolphin Doctor: On the Front Lines of Marine Mammal Medicine” focuses on marine mammal medical research and technology and also introduces students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles. In this workshop, we guide students through an interactive mock dolphin health assessment. We also explore the field of marine mammal bioacoustics and learn how scientists can use sound to help care for marine mammals.
Animal Helpers
Animal Behavior and Training
Animal Helpers Workshop
The National Marine Mammal Foundation has partnered with the Girl Scouts of San Diego to teach local girls all about how animals help people and people help animals, with an emphasis on the special relationship that we have with dolphins, sea lions, and other marine mammals. We touch on marine mammal behavior and basic methods for training any type of animal.
- Explore the connection between humans and animals
- Find out how animals help keep people safe
Know how animals help people emotionally - Check out how animals help people with disabilities
- Look at how animals might help us in the future
Voices in the Sea
Marine Mammal Bioacoustics
Voices in the Sea: Marine Mammal Bioacoustics Workshop
Most marine mammals rely on sound for communication, foraging, navigation and predator avoidance. Scientists at the National Marine Mammal Foundation explore the sounds marine mammals make, the sounds they hear, and the effect of human-made sound has on them. The NMMF has developed instrumentation that allows hearing of stranded wild marine mammals to be tested. They have also determined the threshold criteria for exposure to sound that could affect marine mammal behavior and physiology, including hearing. This workshop describes the novel ways the National Marine Mammal Foundation studies acoustics and then engages the students in a variety of activities to demonstrate the science of sound and how we measure it.
How to Get Involved
If your group is interested in having someone from the NMMF Outreach Team host a workshop or participate in a public event, please contact us here.
