EXPLORERS EDUCATION PROGRAMME ACHIEVES 33% INCREASE IN CHILDREN’S MARINE KNOWLEDGE

Explorers Education Programme achieves 33% increase in children’s marine knowledge. The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme has released its annual ‘Ocean Literacy, Engagement Highlights 2024’ film, highlighting a 33% increase in children’s marine knowledge and ocean literacy. This achievement demonstrates the programme’s effectiveness in fostering a deeper understanding of marine environments among young learners and teachers.

Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute, commended the programme’s success, stating:

“For nearly 20 years, the Marine Institute has remained committed to enhancing ocean literacy in schools across Ireland. The programme’s profound impact is evidenced by the remarkable increase in children’s marine knowledge observed in 2024. Diverse initiatives, from seashore safaris and marine-themed classroom activities to community-driven healthy ocean school projects, demonstrate the transformative power of the Explorers Education Programme – and the extraordinary dedication of the team behind it.”

The ‘Engagement & Impact’ film illustrates the programme’s success in extending its reach to broader communities, including families and marine education stakeholders, through national and international events, media coverage, and the development of new educational resources available on www.marine.ie/explorers.

In 2024, the programme’s dedicated outreach team delivered ocean-themed modules, to 430 primary schools, engaging 14,000 children through seashore safaris, marine-themed classroom projects, in-class seashore aquariums, and Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) workshops. The Ocean Champions Awards further highlighted children’s creative skills through arts, communication and language projects, including blogs & social media campaigns, and interviews with marine community elders, celebrities and scientists. Schools also engaged in marine science fairs, citizen science projects, and beach clean-ups promoting the importance of a healthy ocean.

The Explorers Programme continued to support teachers and student teachers by providing new resources such as the ‘Explorers Climate Change Superheros’ and ‘Explorers Renewable Ocean Energy’ content, accessible on www.marine.ie/explorers. Over 200 teachers and ~700 student teachers participated in training courses and workshops, focusing on integrating marine themes on the Curriculum Framework to develop children’s blue skills in citizen science, creativity, communication, digital learning, and wellness activities.

In 2024, the Explorers team also participated in events and conducted specialised webinars, reaching over 70,000 individuals in counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, and Dublin. The team further showcased their work at marine education events in Brussels, Croatia, and Greece, engaging with marine educators from various countries.

The Explorers Education Programme is funded by the Marine Institute and managed by Camden Education Trust and Galway Atlantaquaria. Outreach is delivered by SeashoreKids, Oceanics Surf School, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Galway Atlantaquaria, Sea Synergy, and Leave No Trace – Ireland.

For more information about the Explorers Education Programme, please visit www.marine.ie/explorers.

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