Ocean Literacy Research Community
- Co-organizers and Lead Organizations/Institutions: COLC, Dalhousie University, Cardiff University, Marine Social Sciences Network
- Supporting Partner Organizations/Institutions: University of Portsmouth, Instituto do Mar–Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Ocean Conservation Trust, Fundação Grupo Boticário, University of Connecticut, Connecticut SeaGrant, IOC-UNESCO, Ocean Networks Canada, Simon Fraser University, ECOP Global Programme
- Priority Area: Research & Impact
The ocean literacy research community is a global network of over 150 researchers from more than 20 countries. The community is focused on exploring the diverse dimensions, drivers, influences, and impacts of initiatives that aim to strengthen societal-ocean connections, ocean health, and community well-being. This group includes natural and social scientists, education, communication, and community experts, and impact evaluators.
OLRC Objectives
COALESCE
To bring together interdisciplinary research collaborations across geographies, generations, and genders to address and measure co-identified gaps across varying scales
CO-DESIGN
To create an open, collaborative, and inclusive space to share existing research and shape future endeavours focused on human-ocean relationships
communicate
COMMUNICATE
To conduct and communicate research in ways that respect and include the multitude of relationships that exist among places, cultures, and languages
OLRC Priority Areas
MEASURING OCEAN LITERACY & IMPACT
Focusing on the design of tools to measure public perceptions, values, attitudes, and behavioural intentions toward the ocean.
OCEAN LITERACY & CLIMATE CHANGE
Considering the current and future impacts of climate change and how this might affect societal relationships with the ocean.
OCEAN LITERACY & THE BLUE ECONOMY
Exploring ocean-based livelihoods, careers, and the impacts of ocean-related activities.
OCEAN LITERACY AS A POLICY TOOL
Better understanding the science-policy interface and associated science diplomacy.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (EDI)
Understanding complex and varied relationships between people and the ocean, as well as modelling EDI best practices within ocean literacy research
OLRC at Ocean Decade Conference
OLRC’s new collaborative platform was launched ORLC platform launched at the Ocean Literacy Dialogues satellite event as part of the UN Ocean Decade 2024 Conference in Barcelona (with lead coordination by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition).
Also launched in Barcelona was the Ocean & Society Survey, an OLRC initiative. Learn more here.
OLRC Workshops at IMPAC5
Ocean literacy research was the focus of the 3rd edition of the Ocean Literacy Dialogues series, which took place as part of the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in February 2023 in Vancouver, Canada.
Learn more here.
To learn more about the OLRC and join the community, visit, oceanliteracyresearch.com
To connect further, reach out to Jen McRuer, COLC’s Research Manager and OLRC co-lead, at jen@colcoalition.ca
The OLRC initiative is a UN Decade endorsed activity, with lead coordination by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition.