Social Science Impact Accelerator: Transforming Ocean Education

Project: Other

Project Details

Description

In UK geography classrooms, the vast and enigmatic oceans covering over 70% of our planet are traditionally explored through the lens of physical processes like ocean currents. However, the social and human aspects of these immense sea spaces are often overlooked. This SSIA-funded project, in response to this educational gap, aimed to infuse a new perspective into geography education – one that emphasises the social, cultural, and political significance of oceans, especially crucial in an era of environmental crisis.

With the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) and the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT), we produced multimedia classroom resources focused on the unique spaces of public aquariums. Public aquariums are more than just tourist attractions; they are gateways to understanding oceans. Millions of young people visit these spaces in their lifetime, making them ideal venues for exploring ideas of ocean connection, place, curation, and representation.

The resources are accessible to every secondary geography classroom in the UK. This project is a step towards reimagining how oceans are taught and understood in our educational systems.

Key findings

Via RGS and OCT, we are tracking the uptake and use of the resources to evidence this project's impact.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date27/10/2330/04/24