The alabama school of mathematics and science (asms), in mobile, alabama, a public residential stem legacy high-school currently serving students from 50 counties including from the poarch creek…

The alabama school of mathematics and science (asms), in mobile, alabama, a public residential stem legacy high-school currently serving students from 50 counties including from the poarch creek indian tribe, has a unique ability to connect students from across the state to the economic and ecological diversity of the gulf of mexico (GOM). The oyster economy is an essential component of the GOM economy but also extremely susceptible to ocean acidification (OA). Asms is the bridge positioned to fill the need of promoting ocean literacy in the next generation of leaders. We propose a plan focused on the science of OA, impacts to the local oyster economy, and oyster shell recycling and reef building plus student career connectedness through a partnership between our biological research (BL400) class and the alabama coastal foundation (ACF). We propose a plan focused on the science of OA, impacts to the local oyster economy, and oyster shell recycling and reef building plus student career connectedness through a partnership between our biological research (BL400) class and the alabama coastal foundation (ACF). Ocean literacy mastery is demonstrated as BL400 students that represent a subset of ALS diverse demographic, including those from underserved communities like the black belt and poarch creek indian tribe, communicate the impacts of OA on the local oyster economy to the target audience of over 300 people that include the asms and ACF communities.