Reimagining ocean education through creativity and imagery.
The Ocean Agency, UCI Science Project, and Adobe team up to increase ocean literacy and combat climate change with high-impact teaching resources.
The Ocean Agency
Newport, Rhode Island
www.theoceanagency.org/ocean-phenomena
University of California, Irvine
UCI Science Project
Irvine, California
Created evidence-based teaching plans based on engaging, timely ocean photography
Products:
Objectives
Create more teaching resources for climate change for K-12 educators
Encourage ocean activism and conservation by increasing ocean literacy
Support phenomena-based learning methods that engage students through creativity and emotion
Results
Created evidence-based teaching plans based on compelling, current ocean photography
Put engaging imagery in the hands of millions through a free Adobe Stock collection
Scaled reach of teaching plans through Adobe partnership
Photo by Richard Vevers/The Ocean Agency
All life on the planet is tied to the ocean. That’s why the United Nations proclaimed the 2020s to be the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Working with partners around the world, UNESCO is challenging organizations to deliver the science we need to create the ocean we want. Educational leaders such as UCI Science Project — a science and education program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) — are stepping up to rethink the way that we learn about the ocean. But according to Richard Vevers, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Agency, the first step is simply making the ocean a more exciting thing to talk about.
Photo by Jeff Hester
“There’s nothing more important to the planet than the ocean, but very few of us are ever taught in depth about the ocean and the role it plays in our lives,” explains Vevers. “I come from an advertising background, and I thought that a really creative and engaging advertising strategy would get people more interested in the health of the ocean.”
Vevers founded The Ocean Agency to be a different type of non-profit: a strategic creative agency that focuses on elevating the profile of one client — the ocean itself. Through a series of creative projects — ranging from Underwater Google Street View to the Netflix documentary Chasing Coral — The Ocean Agency team uses its creative energy to get people excited about seeing the ocean in new ways.
But raising awareness and engagement is just the first step to making a meaningful impact on the health of the ocean. Ongoing education is key to creating a new, ocean-literate generation armed with the knowledge and determination to advocate on behalf of the ocean and address climate change. The Ocean Agency partnered with UCI Science Project and Adobe to turn compelling photography into educational resources for K-12 classrooms.
“Using photography and art, we can change the way that ocean science is taught by tapping into emotion and helping students at every grade level really think about the challenges facing the ocean,” says Kelley Lê, Director of UCI Science Project (UCISP) and Executive Director of UC-CSU Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects (ECCLPs). “By collaborating with The Ocean Agency and Adobe, we give teachers creative, curated resources that support effective, evidence-based approaches to teaching today.”
“Our goal is to scale resources as quickly and widely as possible. Adobe Stock is the perfect venue for removing barriers and getting our images to as many people as possible. UCI Science Project unlocks the educational potential of our images to transform ocean education.”
Richard Vevers
Founder and CEO, The Ocean Agency
Before working at UCI Science Project, Dr. Lê spent years teaching high school science in Los Angeles. One of the biggest challenges for her was finding resources and support for teaching about climate change. While more than 80% of parents in the United States support teaching climate change in schools, the majority of teachers don’t cover it in classrooms. More than a third explain that they don’t teach it due to a lack of knowledge or resources.
“The ocean plays a major role in the story of climate change, but oceanography generally isn’t taught in schools,” explains Dr. Lê. “It’s often treated as a one-time elective course. But the most effective learning involves cyclative and iterative education. Every year, students should be learning more about the ocean and building upon their experiences to gain a deeper understanding. But to do that, we need to help scale resources and lesson plans to teachers in all grade levels.”
This is where the collaboration with The Ocean Agency comes in. Over the years, The Ocean Agency has curated a stunning collection of thousands of photographs and videos. Many of the visuals highlight subjects critical to understanding ocean health — corals, mangroves, and animal life — or focus on the interaction between people and the ocean. Under the guidance of Dr. Lê, participants at UCI Science Project created educational programs around these images.
The Ocean Agency/Adobe Stock
“Science education traditionally focuses on citing data, but modern educational practices, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), place more emphasis on phenomena-based learning,” explains Dr. Lê. “The Ocean Agency provides current resources that educators need to engage with students and introduce current and relevant phenomena.”
Adobe Stock is the final piece of the puzzle. Photographs from The Ocean Agency are available for free through Adobe Stock, allowing The Ocean Agency and UCI Science Project to reach millions of creators, teachers, and students around the world.
The Ocean Agency/Adobe Stock
“I come from an advertising background, and I know we need to be a lot more creative and engaging with our ocean communication to get people interested and informed,” says Vevers. “Our goal is to scale these resources as quickly and widely as possible. Adobe Stock is the perfect venue for removing barriers and getting our images to as many people as possible. UCI Science Project unlocks the educational potential of our images to transform ocean education.”
“By encouraging students to look at science through a lens that leans on art, we hope that we can also nurture minds that will come up with more creative solutions to the most complex issues facing us today.”
Dr. Kelley Lê
Director of UCI Science Project (UCISP) and Executive Director of UC-CSU Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects (ECCLPs)
Putting students at the center of ocean education
UCI is known for its strength in educational training; about one eighth of the teachers in the United States pass through the University of California system. UCI Science Project has developed many ways that teachers can work with images in the classroom.
The Ocean Phenomena Teaching Resources expand upon individual images by providing detailed descriptions and driving questions. For instance, one side-by-side photo shows the effects of coral bleaching and answers the question of what causes this phenomenon. UCI Science Project also develops detailed lesson plans and slides for K-12 students that incorporate The Ocean Agency imagery around topics such as coral reefs and seagrass.
Photo by Richard Vevers/The Ocean Agency
From there, teachers are encouraged to let students create and explore. Using apps such as Adobe Express, students can create posters, presentation graphics, and videos to express their own ideas. They can also bring engaging visuals to their projects by accessing the collection of images from The Ocean Agency through Adobe Stock. By empowering students to lead their learning experience, teachers can work alongside students without feeling the pressure to be experts in all areas of ocean science.
“The answers to major scientific problems such as climate change aren’t easy,” says Dr. Lê. “By encouraging students to look at science through a lens that leans on art, we hope that we can also nurture minds that will come up with more creative solutions to the most complex issues facing us today.”
“Working with UCI Science Project and Adobe, we create an emotional connection to the ocean, nurturing a state of mind where students want to learn more and act. We believe that with the power of creativity, we can change the world.”
Richard Vevers
Founder and CEO, The Ocean Agency
Tackling a global challenge together
The Ocean Agency and UCI Science Project continue to curate and create more teaching resources, which will be promoted through the Adobe Education Exchange to reach wider audiences. The partners also plan to take the project global because the ocean and climate change affect communities everywhere.
“Working with UCI Science Project and Adobe, we create an emotional connection to the ocean, nurturing a state of mind where students want to learn more and act,” says Vevers. “We believe that with the power of creativity, we can change the world.”
Photo by Gregory Piper
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Learn more about the partnership between The Ocean Agency and UCI Science Project through an episode of The Creative Educator podcast.
Phenomenon learning resources: https://www.theoceanagency.org/ocean-phenomena.
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