Ocean for Life brings together students of diverse backgrounds and cultures to discover marine science, conservation, and how the ocean connects us all.  NOAA’s national marine sanctuaries provide the optimal setting for this unique opportunity to enhance cross-cultural relationships, while creating a stewardship ethic for the ocean and the universal human experience. 

VISION
Promote cross-cultural understanding between world cultures through a greater appreciation of the ocean and how it connects us all.

MISSION
Provide high-quality, immersive ocean field studies and follow-on education programs to facilitate cross-cultural learning, appreciation and lasting experiences between multi-national students.

Main Themes

Through Ocean for Life we seek to establish cultural connections that ultimately lead to better understanding and the strengthening of our global relationships.  The main themes of Ocean for Life are: a sense of place, interconnectedness, and ocean conservation and stewardship.

A Sense of Place
Developing a sense of place stimulates curiosity about the world and its diverse inhabitants and habitats. Students will explore the fascinating ocean and coastal areas found within the national marine sanctuaries and draw comparisons with their own unique local and regional environments.

Interconnectedness
Understanding the connections between Earth’s physical and human systems is fundamental to comprehending one’s own place in the world.  Ocean for Life participants will learn about the interconnectedness of the world’s ocean and understand that their local actions impact the ocean, no matter where they live.

Ocean Conservation and Stewardship
The context of the National Marine Sanctuary System will be used to raise awareness of the importance of resources in the ocean. Participants will learn about the research, conservation, and stewardship activities being conducted to address the issues threatening ocean health and to protect the resources within it.

Field Study Activities

Two immersive, two-week field studies will be piloted during the summer of 2009. During these two field studies, a total of 30 Middle Eastern students, selected from GLOBE Schools (www.globe.gov) in their home countries, will join 30 Western students. 

The Ocean for Life Field Study to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will take place at Marine Lab in Key Largo, Florida, from July 15-30, 2009.  Highlights from the trip include:  introduction to Keys’ ecosystems; snorkeling and REEF fish counts; a day trip to Key West and the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center; trips to the Dolphin Research Center and Turtle Hospital; GLOBE environmental monitoring; a kayak trip to historic sites on Indian Key; and interviews with marine scientists.

Students from both field studies will meet for a three-day visit to Washington, D.C., July 27-29, 2009, which will include a historic tour of the city and visits to the White House, United States Capitol, and Smithsonian Museums, including the new Sant Ocean Hall.

The Ocean for Life Field Study to California’s National Marine Sanctuaries will be hosted by Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries from July 26 to Aug. 9, 2009, in collaboration with the Headlands Institute and Camp Sea Lab.  Highlights from the trip include: introduction to kelp forest ecology; exploration of rocky intertidal and sandy beach habitats; Año Nuevo field visit to observe northern elephant seals; a full moon kayak tour of Monterey Bay; an overnight stay at the Monterey Bay Aquarium; GLOBE Environmental monitoring; a sunset sail in San Francisco harbor; and interviews with marine scientists.

Students will capture what they have learned through their development of “youth media projects,” in which they will use photography and video to capture the essence of their surroundings.  These “youth media projects” will become a tool to help Ocean for Life participants share what they have learned and promote ocean conservation and cultural understanding among their classmates, friends and family.

For more information about the Ocean for Life program, please contact:

Jonathan Shannon
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Education Liaison
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone 301-713-7282
Email Jonathan.Shannon@noaa.gov

and

Claire Fackler
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
National Education Liaison
735 State Street, Suite 617
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone 805-963-3238, ext. 18
Email Claire.Fackler@noaa.gov

The Ocean for Life program is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program, and Scubanauts International.  It is presented in collaboration with the National Geographic Society, American University’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking, the Meridian International Center, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.