Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Ocean First Institute's in-person and virtual education programs were started in 2014 with an intent to implement real climate solutions, specifically focused on ocean science and conservation. Since then, we have inspired over 116,000 students to take action within their local communities. Our field- based research expeditions expose students to the rigors of the scientific process and how it contributes to the real-world value of conservation. We have several schools and individuals who partner with us in specific environmental conservation efforts that continue well beyond the Ocean First presentations and workshops and expand the work that we do to a larger community and the next generation of ocean and environmental stewards.

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Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

We are working to serve students of diversity on many levels and continue to evaluate and expand our programming to serve a broader student audience. We take many of our presentations to public elementary and middle schools to inspire as many students as possible. Several of our partner schools have very diverse populations and a few are bilingual schools. In addition to our school programming, we have several programs outside of school that offer unique opportunity to students. For example, we have specific programs and camps that are designed for Girls in Marine Science and STEM. Our organization is led by a female scientist and this contributes to our ability to provide positive mentors and role models for young women interested in scientific research and careers. Our summer camps are a way to introduce marine science to students who otherwise would have no access to it. As such, we are also working to get scholarship funding for our summer camps and ocean expeditions in order to make the camps and adventures available to students who do not have the financial ability to pay tuition. We have successfully secured some scholarship funding already and we are now working to increase funding to support at least 25% of our students fully and increase the diversity of our campers and ocean explorers. In anticipation of increasing diversity in our programming, we have recently partnered with people of color in the ocean conservation community to make our programs more accessible and beneficial for students of color. We will continue to increase our outreach to public schools, tailor camps to girls and people of color in ocean science and to offer scholarships for our summer camps and ocean expeditions.

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