CURRENT OLRC INITIATIVES
Ocean & Society survey
One co-identified priority area of the OLRC is that of Measuring Ocean Literacy.
The Ocean & Society Survey (OSS) is a collaboratively designed global instrument – forthcoming for global uptake and use in early 2025. The Survey aims to measure patterns and changes in public ocean perceptions, values, attitudes, and behavioural intentions. The OSS helps to inform what approaches and practices may be most resonant, what tools most effective, what messaging and outreach most relevant, and what policies most impactful, to drive ocean restoration solutions forward.
If you are a researcher, practitioner, communicator, or decision-maker and would like to use this tool to inform your work and that of others; or you are a member of the public looking to learn more on how you may be involved, click the link below for more information.
Co-designing members:
Jen McRuer, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition; Dalhousie University
Diz Glithero, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition; Dalhousie University
Emma McKinley, MarSocSci; Cardiff University
Ronaldo Christofoletti, Insituto do Mar–Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Bárbara Pinheiro, Insituto do Mar–Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Vinicius Lindoso, IOC-UNESCO
Natalie Hart, Communications INC
Diana Payne, Connecticut Sea Grant; University of Connecticut
Nicola Bridge, Ocean Conservation Trust
Marilia Bueno Fernandes, Insituto do Mar–Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Janaina De Araujo Bumbeer E Couto, Fundação Grupo Boticário
Jordi Pagès Fauria, Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes
Geraldine Fauville, University of Gothenburg
Craig Strang, Lawrence Hall of Science
Co-designing members:
Jen McRuer, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition
Dwight Owens, Ocean Networks Canada
Neus Figueras, Institut de Ciències del Mar
Sonia Seixas, Universidade Aberta
Jordi F. Pagès, Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes
Supporting members:
Ayush Chauhan, Ocean Networks Canada
Ray Yen, National Academy of Marine Research
Ocean Literacy and Climate Change
Another co-identified priority area of the OLRC is that of Ocean Literacy and Climate Change.
Members of the OLRC from Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Taiwan have worked to develop a survey to capture opinions on climate change messaging and action.
The survey calls on the experience and suggestions of those actively involved in research, study, and/or volunteering related to ocean health. The goal is to better understand how best to communicate about our changing ocean and its connection with climate, to improve global community engagement in climate-related ocean actions.
Translated into 5 languages, we invite you to share your perspectives if you have participated in climate action, or to share this opportunity widely with your network.
For additional information of language options, please contact jen@colcoalition.ca
Want to Share the survey with others? CLICK HERE
Ocean Literacy Dialogues Series
The Ocean Literacy (OL) Dialogues series is a global collaboration led by the Ocean Literacy With All community–a UN Ocean Decade endorsed programme coordinated by IOC-UNESCO.
- The 1st Ed. of the OL Dialogues series was jointly organized by IOC-UNESCO and the European Commission in the context of the EU4Ocean Coalition in June 2022 in Lisbon on the occasion of the UN Ocean Conference. The high-level event marked the beginning of a process to look into the shared commitments that support ocean literacy across the globe.
- The 2nd Ed. held in Santos, Brazil from October 10 to 14th, 2022, drew over 2,500 stakeholders from schools, private and governmental sectors, researchers, journalists, and civil society. The event facilitated discussions on their ocean engagement, featuring tailored events for various audiences including formal education, media, cities, researchers, culture, and sports.
- The 3rd Ed. took place during the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, Canada between Feb 2 and 9th, 2023. Led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, with collaborating partners IOC-UNESCO, Cardiff University, Marine Social Sciences Network, University of Victoria, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This edition focused on ocean literacy research, ocean education, and ocean art & storytelling.
- The 4th Ed. was held in Tanzania, Africa between November 4th and 5th 2023, co-hosted by the African Union and Regional Seas with African parties, and in collaboration with IOC-UNESCO, the IOC Sub-Commission for Africa (IOC AFRICA), as well as UNESCO’s Dar es Salaam Field Office.The event focused on blue education and curriculum, with an emphasis on ocean opportunities, decolonizing narratives, as well as ecological and traditional knowledge.
- The 5th Ed. took place during the UN Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, Spain between April 8th and 9th 2024. Led by UNESCO, this edition brought together a diverse community of ocean literacy researchers and practitioners. Sessions explored a range of topics, with a significant focus on blue education, but also discussing OL innovation and trends, cultural connections, community engagement, and an emphasis on the importance of aligning OL research with strategic ocean communications initiatives.
