Ocean Education: Developing knowledge, caring, and taking action

Overview

Connecting with our oceans is more crucial today than at any time in our history. Renowned marine scientist Sylvia Earle describes the Ocean as the Blue Heart of the planet. Today, due to environmental devaluing and destruction resulting in climate crisis, the world’s oceans are experiencing ecosystem collapse, biodiversity loss, and mass extinctions. Following the lead of environmental heroes such as Greta Thunberg and Autumn Pelletier, students are calling for action. As botanist and Indigenous scholar Robin Wall Kimmerer writes, “To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it”. One way to begin the process of healing is through an education which shares stories of both the human and non-human world’s lived experience with the Ocean.

As educators living and working in a coastal community, we must play a key role in building ocean literacy with our students, whether they are younger learners or adults. To that end, this speaker series and accompanying open educational resources are centered on the Salish Sea and will help participants learn about and consider relevant interdisciplinary research and how it is impacting, or might impact, our practice.

Format

Each hybrid seminar will begin with a keynote speaker followed by reflections from a panel of educators (formal and informal) with opportunity for Q&A and discussion with panelists and among participants. The seminars will be in person, on campus at UBC and also live streamed as webinars that will allow all attendees to participate in Q&A.

Quick Info

Date(s): Tuesdays: February 28, April 18, and June 6
Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Format: Hybrid – in person or virtual. Coffee and snacks provided in person.
Audience: Everyone
Cost: Free
Register by: February 21, 2023