Hawaii Island middle and high school science and mathematics teachers can for field research opportunities for the upcoming school year through the Hawaii Island Meaningful Outdoor Experience for Students (HI-MOES) program before the Aug. 31 deadline.

Administered by The Kohala Center and in association with the Kohala Watershed Partnership, HI-MOES offers eligible teachers critical resources to conduct hands-on, place-based education, such as in the classroom, through mini-grants, while offering logistical support and funding for transportation. HI-MOES is funded by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program.

With a focus on bay and watershed education, the program explores four diverse ahupua‘a (traditional land divisions) on Hawaii Island: Kohala Mountain, Kahaluu Bay (Kona), Kaupulehu (North Kona), and Hilo Bay watershed. An outdoor educator from The Kohala Center or the Kohala Watershed Partnership provides technical, logistical, and programmatic support to classroom teachers throughout the year. The program meets Hawaii Department of Education content and performance standards.

Other past research projects conducted through HI-MOES include: comparing water quality parameters in different locations over time, calculating and comparing the amount of marine debris in near-shore areas, assessing risks in coastal hazard/tsunami evacuation zones, comparing nutrient input to algal cover on coral reefs, and measuring and comparing species in local ecosystems such as reefs, tide pools, or forests.

Educators who have been through the program can re-apply before the Aug. 31 deadline. Interested teachers can find more information about HI-MOES, eligibility requirements, and an online application at http://www.kohalacenter.org/himoes/about.html, or may call The Kohala Center at 887-6411. The deadline to apply for the 2012-2013 program year is August 31.