The ACCESS/BoFEP 2022 Conference program is available here
The ACCESS/BoFEP 2022 Conference abstracts are available here
Abstract
A core part of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership’s mission is communication and education about environmental issues and challenges facing the Bay of Fundy. One of its working groups focuses on ocean literacy (OL), defined as “understanding the ocean and our relationship to it.” The Working Group has three objectives: (1) Identify the most appropriate ways to introduce the ocean/climate topic into the public school system; (2) Prepare a relevant bibliography; (3) Provide information, on an ongoing basis, to Bay of Fundy communities on the Bay’s environment. To date, the Working Group has organized OL panels at two BoFEP workshops (2016, 2018) to discuss and report on this topic. The subject must be a high priority for the public at large and a responsibility of BoFEP’s diverse membership, hence the current discussion panel of OL leaders at this conference. Next steps: (1) Assist the NS Department of Education in OL initiatives in public schools; (2) Identify appropriate age-appropriate ocean resource material suitable for teachers, with a supporting bibliography; (3) Engage relevant university Faculties of Education on how to include OL training in B.Ed. and M.Ed. degree programs, including short term courses; (4) Strengthen the linkage between OL and citizen science initiatives, given the value of learning by doing; and (5) Consider suggestions coming from the OL panel discussions at this year’s conference. Members of the Bay of Fundy coastal community are invited to join the WG to participate directly in this vital quest to improve public and community understanding of the Bay of Fundy coastal and ocean environment.
Citation
Butler, M., Lowther, L., MacPherson, K., Wells, P. G. (2022). Enhancing ocean literacy in the Fundy community: Continued activities of BoFEP’s working group. ACCESS/BoFEP Conference 2022, Truro, Nova Scotia, 17-21 May 2022.
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Wells, P. G. (1 June 2022). Advancing Estuarine and Coastal Science and Ocean and Climate Literacy – Recent Conference. EIUI Blog. https://eiui.ca/advancing-estuarine-and-coastal-science-and-ocean-and-climate-literacy-recent-conference/