EU Horizon 2020 Sea Change

The College of Exploration is participating in the European Union’s Horizon 2020  Blue Growth program Sea Change.   The College of Exploration will work with its partner in the United Kingdom, CoExploration Limited,  and the other 16 European organizations who are partnered on this 3 year project.

Online seminars: Task 3.6 will promote transatlantic cooperation and training by running a series of international online seminars building upon the expertise of College of Exploration in the field of e-learning. These seminars will gather worldwide educators and marine and education scientists to learn from each other and discuss the science related to ocean and human health and how to address these topics with various audiences.

A series of three seminars are planned for September, October and November 2017. The topics are ocean and human health, seabed mapping and aquaculture.

Sea Change is led and coordinated by the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, England.

The overarching goals of the Sea Change project are to bring about a fundamental “Sea Change” in the way European citizens view their relationship with the sea, by empowering them – as ‘Ocean Literate’ citizens - to take direct and sustainable action towards healthy seas and ocean, healthy communities and ultimately - a healthy planet.

Key objectives of Sea Change are to:

• Compile an in-depth review of the links between Seas and Ocean and Human health based on latest research knowledge outputs.
• Build upon the latest social research on citizen and stakeholder attitudes, perceptions and values to help design and implement successful mobilisation activities focused on education, community, governance actors and directly targeted at citizens. marine education.
• Build upon significant work to date, adopting best practice and embedding Ocean Literacy across established strategic initiatives and networks in order to help maximise impact and ensure sustainability.
• Ensure that efforts to sustain an Ocean Literate society in Europe continue beyond the life of Sea Change through codes of good practice, public campaigns and other ongoing community activities.
• Ensure that all activities of Sea Change are carefully monitored and evaluated to ensure maximum sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ensure Knowledge exchange with transatlantic partners to bring about a global approach to protecting the planet’s shared seas and ocean.
• The objectives will be achieved by a closely interlinked programme. Sea Change includes a mobilisation phase engaging with citizens, formal education and policy actors. Crucially the legacy of Sea Change, including  continuing knowledge sharing with North America, are embedded within the project.