Coastal Zone Canada 2025 Conference information, including program and abstracts, can be found here
Abstract
The “Ocean-climate nexus” explains the connection between the ocean and the atmosphere, and together the implications for climate change and associated weather phenomena. Climate change, an existential threat, is exemplified in the Atlantic Provinces by sea-level rise, increased coastal erosion, changing ocean ecosystems and extreme weather patterns. Only an ocean/climate literate society will understand and mitigate these stressors. Hence, the need exists for teachers and their students to be appropriately informed. To respond to this need, the International Ocean Institute-Canada, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Ocean Literacy Working Group of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, adopted the well established “Professional Development Day” format as the best option to introduce such a program locally. To date, two P.D. Days were delivered, the first on 23 March 2024, to 35 experienced teachers, primarily from the Halifax area; the second on 19 October 2024 to 35 teachers-in-training at Mount Saint Vincent University, one of five Nova Scotia universities with a Faculty of Education. The goal of each P.D. Day was to present ocean/climate information in a manner clearly understood by the non-specialist. An Educators Toolkit, designed by experienced teachers, provided ready-to-use and age-appropriate learning experiences. This was supplemented by hands-on demonstrations of classroom experiments and the provision of accessible resource material. This presentation describes the format of the P.D. Days delivered to date, the topics and speakers, resource material, and future objectives. Through this initiative, teachers and students are encouraged to become “change makers” in their communities.
Citation
Butler, M., McPherson, K., & Wells, P. G. (2025). Encouraging ocean and climate literacy within the Nova Scotia school system. Coastal Zone Canada Conference, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 9-11 June 2025.
Related Blog Post
Khan, J., Legault, A., MacDonald, B.H., Manuel, P., Margeson, M., Martinez Calderon, D., Webster, A., & Wells, P.G. (2025, July 30). Strengthening Coastal Resilience and Relationships: Reflections on the 2025 Coastal Zone Canada Conference. EIUI Blog. https://eiui.ca/strengthening-coastal-resilience-and-relationships-reflections-on-the-2025-coastal-zone-canada-conference/