The 2026 EARTH workshop will be hosted by MBARI and held July 26–31, 2026, in Monterey, California. During this weeklong program, educators will collaborate with active researchers to explore cutting-edge ocean and climate science projects. Participants will gain hands-on experience with real data collected from ships, floats, gliders, buoys, and other marine technologies. Dedicated time is provided for teachers to translate these experiences into classroom-ready lessons that reflect both current science and their students’ learning needs, while aligning with education standards and effective pedagogy.In addition to curriculum development, educators will build lasting connections with fellow teachers and researchers, fostering professional networks that extend well beyond the workshop.Why Attend the EARTH Workshop?Teachers involved in this EARTH workshop will:Build relationships with researchers and peers that can spark future collaborationsAccess MBARI resources and institutional partnerships to enrich classroom learningTake part in field experiences that highlight local environments, watershed management, and marine researchEarn a Certificate of Participation documenting 40 hours of professional development, applicable toward continuing education or certificate renewalCreate curriculum resources that use authentic science and data to engage students in both content and scientific practices Applications for the 2026 workshop are now closed. All application materials, including lesson plan feedback, were due by February 15, 2026 for consideration in the 2026 workshop, and all workshop participants have been selected. Date July 26 - 31, 2026 Location Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Moss Landing, CA Co-Host Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array (GO-BGC) Lesson Plans Float Away… How do we study the ocean? This lesson is intended as an introduction to the use of floats in the ocean. Students will create a comic strip based on how we can measure the ocean with a float. Floating with PUPCYCLE This activity allows students to incorporate data visualization skills to explore some of the data used to identify highly productive regions. Students will compare BGC-Argo Float data (e.g., chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen) to Satellite data (e.g., chlorophyll) Graphing pH Students will explore the topic of ocean acidification. They will construct, analyze and interpret a pH graph. Graphing Temperature Students will construct, analyze, and interpret real data from a profiling float in the ocean. Students will explore ocean temperature trends and climate change. Making the Invisible Visible Students will be analyzing the spectrogram of an ocean soundscape and create their own spectrogram with a song of their choice. Ocean Checkup—How Do You Measure the Health of the Ocean Students will compare dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a data collected at 3 different locations by Argo floats. Ocean Data GOES from Space Argo the Sea In this lesson, students will compare and contrast satellite data to float data. Our Ocean is Trending Students will learn how to access data from GO-BGC floats in order to analyze and compare properties such as dissolved nitrates, oxygen and chlorophyll levels. Phytoplankton + Productivity 5E Students will be analyzing select GO-BGC float data to find a connection between chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen Profiling Phytoplankton Students will learn about different phytoplankton and what impacts their distribution by building a water column representing the Southern Ocean. The Ocean Does the Robot In this introductory lesson, students will become familiar with accessing and reading float data. EARTH 2026 participants at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, California Schedule Sunday - July 26 Monday - July 27 Tuesday - July 28 Wednesday - July 29 Thursday - July 30 Friday - July 31 Sunday - July 26 TimeActivity1400Arrival and check-in at Casa Munras1730–1830Welcome Reception (optional but recommended)—Introductions and overview of the week. We will be serving heavy appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. Location: Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa Pre-workshop survey—please complete before Monday morning Monday - July 27 TimeActivity0800-0845Breakfast at Peet’s Coffee by hotel (use gift card) and carpool to MBARI (please arrive by 0845)0900-0915Overview of goals and objectives of workshop0915-1045Presentation & Dataset exploration—Anik GrearsonCombing the deep: what ctenophores can reveal about life in the abyss1045-1100Break1100-1230Presentation—George MatsumotoGO-BGC Floats1230-1330Lunch1330-1445Alumni Lesson Presentation1445-1500Break1500-1645Presentation & Dataset Exploration—AnnMarie ThomasA Playful Approach to Science Education1645-1700Daily Evaluation1800Dinner Tuesday - July 28 TimeActivity0800-0845Breakfast at Peet’s Coffee by hotel (use gift card) and carpool to MBARI (please arrive by 0845)0900-0915Morning overview0915-1000Presentation—Jennifer MagnussonEARTH Website tour and Lesson Template Intro1000-1045Lesson Evaluation Presentations1045-1100Break1100-1230Presentation & Dataset Exploration—Kakani KatijaFathomVerse: Discovering all life in the ocean through imagery1230-1330Lunch / Group Photo after lunch1330-1500Presentation & Dataset Exploration—AJ MallozziVoices from the sea: collecting and analyzing stories as qualitative data1500-1515Break1515-1615Brainstorming session / Flex1615-1630Daily Evaluation1800-1900Optional talk at Hopkins Marine Station, “A Talk with Mensun Bound: Finding Shackleton’s Endurance.” Wednesday - July 29 TimeActivity0730-0800Breakfast at Peet’s Coffee by hotel (use gift card)0830Meet at the Monterey Bay Aquairum Hovden Way entrance, located on Cannery Row near the Main Entrance of the Aquarium. (Take the free trolley from Downtown Monterey or pay for parking.)0830-1030Behind-the-scenes tour of MBA, followed by free time to wander through the aquarium1045Meet outside the Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education & Leadership1100-1200Tour of the education centre maker space and classrooms1200-1330Group lunch in Monterey1430-1700Free time to go kayaking, stroll around Cannery row, revisit the aquarium, or explore the local area.1700+Group Dinner at hotel – don’t forget to complete your Daily Evaluation! Thursday - July 30 TimeActivity0800-0845Breakfast at Peet’s Coffee by hotel (use gift card) and carpool to MBARI (please arrive by 0845)0900-0915Morning overview0915-0945Brainstorming and topic selection; lesson expectations0945-1200Lesson plan development1200-1300Lunch – catered1300-1700Continued lesson plan development1700-1730Working dinner—CateredEveningOn your own Friday - July 31 TimeActivity0800-0845Breakfast at Peet’s Coffee by hotel (use gift card) and carpool to MBARI (please arrive by 0845)Check out of lodging0900-1000Presentations—(15 minutes each)1030-1045Break1045-1200Presentations—(15 minutes each)1200-1300Lunch – Boxes to go1300Final Evaluation—Safe Travels Home! Presenters George MatsumotoMBARI (Senior Education & Research Specialist) Suggested Resources Presentation slidesGlobal Ocean Biogeochemistry (GO-BGC) ArrayStoryMap: The Story of a FLOATStoryMap: What Happens in the Ocean Does Not Stay in the Ocean Jennifer MagnussonMBARI (Independent Contractor – EARTH & GO-BGC) Suggested Resources Global Ocean Biogeochemistry (GO-BGC) ArrayMBARI EARTH WebsiteEARTH Lesson ResourcesEARTH 2026 Lesson Folder – Add your materials hereEARTH Lesson Plan TemplateEARTH Lesson Checklist Anik GrearsonMBARI and UCSC (PhD student) Suggested Resources Presentation SlidesMBARI deep sea guideClustal Omega sequence alignmentCODAP data visualizationDeep sea ctenophore data explorationCtenophore Biochem Physio Data (right-click to save file)DNA sequences18S (right-click to save file)CO1 (right-click to save file) AnnMarie ThomasListo Idea Co. (founder); University of St. Thomas (Professor Emerita); OK Go Sandbox (co-founder) Suggested Resources Presentation slidesOK Go SandboxSquishy CircuitsPlayful Learning LabOceanX Education Booklets Kakani KatijaMBARI (Principal Engineer) Suggested Resources Presentation SlidesFathomNet websiteFathomNet databaseFathomVerse gameFathomVerse in the classroom AJ MallozziOregon State University (Marine Educator, Researcher in Fisheries Wildlife Conservation Science Human Dimensions Lab) Suggested Resources Presentation SlidesNOAA Voices Oral History ArchivesDataBasicCoding walkthrough
Float Away… How do we study the ocean? This lesson is intended as an introduction to the use of floats in the ocean. Students will create a comic strip based on how we can measure the ocean with a float.
Floating with PUPCYCLE This activity allows students to incorporate data visualization skills to explore some of the data used to identify highly productive regions. Students will compare BGC-Argo Float data (e.g., chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen) to Satellite data (e.g., chlorophyll)
Graphing pH Students will explore the topic of ocean acidification. They will construct, analyze and interpret a pH graph.
Graphing Temperature Students will construct, analyze, and interpret real data from a profiling float in the ocean. Students will explore ocean temperature trends and climate change.
Making the Invisible Visible Students will be analyzing the spectrogram of an ocean soundscape and create their own spectrogram with a song of their choice.
Ocean Checkup—How Do You Measure the Health of the Ocean Students will compare dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a data collected at 3 different locations by Argo floats.
Ocean Data GOES from Space Argo the Sea In this lesson, students will compare and contrast satellite data to float data.
Our Ocean is Trending Students will learn how to access data from GO-BGC floats in order to analyze and compare properties such as dissolved nitrates, oxygen and chlorophyll levels.
Phytoplankton + Productivity 5E Students will be analyzing select GO-BGC float data to find a connection between chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen
Profiling Phytoplankton Students will learn about different phytoplankton and what impacts their distribution by building a water column representing the Southern Ocean.
The Ocean Does the Robot In this introductory lesson, students will become familiar with accessing and reading float data.