Marine Advanced Technology Education Center: Education and Preparation for Careers in Ocean Science and Technology
Authors: Crane Nicole L. , Sullivan Deidre E. , Hall Jim , Zande Jill 
Published: October 2008

The National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is showing their commitment to improving the education of people who work in and are interested in ocean-related occupations through their award to the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center. The MATE Center is located at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey California. It was established in September 1997.

The MATE Center is a partnership of organizations and individuals concerned with the broad field of marine science and technology and the education of people to work in that field. The Center is coordinating and facilitating the development of programs and products in marine science and technology involving high schools, technical schools, community and four-year colleges, and graduate schools, with an emphasis on community colleges. The MATE Center is developing collaborations between educational institutions and industry to facilitate the development of courses and programs based on industry-established guidelines. These collaborations allow for the development of an educational system that meets the needs of employers and students, is flexible, and provides employers direct access to students. One such collaboration is a national technical internship program in partnership with the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) and the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). This program emphasizes technical skill acquisition, and matches students with positions that best suit their interests and the needs of the host employer.

The MATE Center is conducting a series of on-going workshops and surveys with industry and research institutions to gather information on the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to perform in several marine technical occupational areas. Workshops have been held for Marine Research (shipboard) Technician, ROV Technician, Hydrographic Survey Technician, Aquaculture Technician, and Oil Spill Response Technician. Using this information, Monterey Peninsula College launched a new Marine Science and Technology A.S degree and certificate program in the Fall 1999.

Introduction

The worlds oceans provide major benefits to humankind, and we are increasingly reliant on them for transportation, food, resources, recreation, and medicines. About 1.5 billion people currently live within 100 kilometers of the world's coasts, and since 1970 the population of U.S. coastal counties has risen by 25 percent. Approximately 95 percent of all U.S. foreign trade is carried out by vessels and passes through U.S. ports. In 1992, $488 billion in goods passed through U.S. ports. By 1996 that amount had risen to $590 billion. Food harvested from the ocean generates approximately $38 billion in economic activity for the nation annually. Advances in technology have increased our ability to locate and extract resources from the ocean, and explore areas inaccessible only a short time ago.

Despite the wealth of new information produced by recent advances in technology, the seas remain the major unexplored region of our globe. Recent attention on a national level to our oceans has provided an important spotlight on the role the oceans play in research, climate, the economy, resource procurement, ecosystem sustainability, pollution abatement, and culture. All of these roles, and others not listed, offer new opportunities for meaningful careers.