| The Office of Education and Sustainable Development (OESD) is a staff office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (the NOAA Administrator) in downtown Washington, DC. The OESD provides advice and counsel to the Under Secretary and to the Secretary of Commerce on matters pertaining to education and to sustainable development. The OESD, in conjunction with the NOAA Education Council, coordinates education activities across NOAA and oversees the implementation of the NOAA Strategic Plan for Education. These efforts help to ensure that NOAA’s education initiatives, programs, and projects are based on NOAA science and support the agency's goals and objectives to increase environmental and scientific literacy. The OESD coordinates its educational activities with the Office of Public and Constituent Affairs in order to promote NOAA services and products and their benefits to the nation. The OESD also works within NOAA and with partners to promote solutions that advance NOAA's strategic goals in pursuit of a sustainable future by linking the environment, the economy, and society. These partners include local, state, and federal governments as well as private industry, academic institutions, trade associations, and non-governmental organizations. The Department of Commerce promotes job creation and improved living standards for all Americans by creating an infrastructure that promotes economic growth, technological competitiveness, and sustainable development. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage wisely the nation's coastal and marine resources so as to ensure sustainable economic opportunities." -Mission Statements, from Commerce's FY 2004 Annual Performance Plan |