NOAA Employee Finds Satisfaction in Teaching Kids
Marjorie Mooney-Seus
NOAA Fisheries Service Public Affairs
March 23, 2009 — Mark Murray-Brown, director of NOAA’s Northeastern Highly Migratory Species Management Division in Gloucester, Mass., loves working with students. He finds it rewarding and personally motivating to educate students about NOAA activities and programs. He conducts ocean education talks in local schools, serves as a board member of the Gloucester Education Foundation, participates on Gloucester Public School Site Based Councils, and more.
Earl Meredith and Mark Murray-Brown from NOAA’s Fisheries Service, attending the Gloucester, Mass., middle school science fair. Photo credit: NOAA.
“Having children in the system here is a personal connection,” said Murray-Brown. “I also find I am at my strongest when I talk to children because you filter out all the scientific caveats and politics and really get down to translating a story. Plus you know immediately when you work with children whether you are on target, based on if you see a field of yawns or animated faces and raised hands.”
Landmark Middle School students had a chance to hear last year what Murray-Brown does in his job every day. Murray-Brown gave a 40-minute presentation to about 60 students on the joys and tribulations of working with the bluefin tuna fishery from harpoons to sushi and from managing the statistics to negotiating at international management meetings. During follow up questions and answers, the students were particularly interested in what fishery managers do and the type of education and experiences that prepare them.
Murray-Brown also recently attended teacher and administrative workshops at the Gloucester and Rockport (Mass.) Public Schools where he discussed what NOAA’s Fisheries Service does in the Northeast, as well as distributed NOAA ocean and climate literacy brochures and the NOAA education activity book. He has also lectured to and worked in the lab with students and teachers at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, and hosted a “NOAA Fisheries 101” presentation to a visiting elder hostel tour at the Center. Just prior to the presentation to the elder hostel, Murray-Brown asked them if any had any career experience in ocean sciences or law — several hands went up. Upon further inquiry, Murray-Brown learned he was talking to a retired Superior Court judge and a Nobel Prize winner. He is glad he asked — it is good to know your audience!