Explorers News
Check out our recent and past press releases and news items to see how the Explorers team are promoting ocean literacy and supporting teaching marine themes in the classroom.
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Diving Deep with the Explorers Education Programme with our series of teacher and student workshops
Join the Explorers Education Programme team for some Ocean Exploration, with a series of online workshops. Designed to promote critical thinking, active citizenship, and active learning, this workshop series will provide teachers with the newest Explorers materials and resources.
March 5, 2024
The Explorers are Loving Sharks... Skates and Rays over Valentines
The Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme team are delighted to deliver the new primary school class projects with schools: Fin-tastic sharks + this term, as well as launch the new educational resources on line.
February 13, 2024
Scoil Chaitríona Junior, Renmore, Galway, wins Explorers national Ocean Champion Award
Scoil Chaitríona Junior, Renmore, Galway, has been crowned the national winner of the Explorers Ocean Champion School Awards 2023 for their Healthy Ocean project, ‘Caring for our Ocean’. They shared stories about the ocean with a primary school in France, performed at the Marino Institute of Further Education and at the Féile Scoildrámaíochta inter-school drama competition.
November 15, 2023
Fin-tastic Shark Display Set to Make a Splash at Galway Science and Technology Festival
The Marine Institute, alongside the Explorers Primary Schools Education Programme, will be showcasing marine science at the 2023 Galway Science and Technology Festival. Families are invited to the Bailey Allen Hall, University of Galway, on Sunday November 12 to learn more about Ireland’s shark species.
November 8, 2023
Explorers team launch new ‘turtle talk’ educational resources
The Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme team recently took part in the launch of a series of new primary school education resources Explorers: Turtle Talk with Sea Turtles at their recent team training held in Laois.
September 27, 2023
Countdown for the Explorers Education Ocean Champion Awards
The Marine Institute is pleased to announce that eight primary schools have been shortlisted for the Explorers Ocean Champion Awards 2022-2023.
September 8, 2023
Explorers Teachers Training gears teachers up for new Primary School Framework curriculum
Over 75 primary school teachers took part in the Marine Institute’s Explorers Continuing Professional Development marine-themed 5-day training courses this month, where they learned the value of integrating marine themes in their teaching as part of the new Primary School Curriculum Framework.
July 14, 2023
A wave of Explorers CPD Summer Teacher-Training Courses Approved for 2023
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme is delighted to announce that six Explorers marine themed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) five-day teacher-training courses (July 3-7) have been approved by the Department of Education and Skills and are now available to book with education centres in Galway, Kerry, West Cork, Waterford, Blackrock Dublin, as well as an online course run through Mayo Education Centre (July 3 – August 18).
May 23, 2023
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Explorers Special Webinar: Turtle Talk with Sea Turtles for EMD in my Country 2023
Join the Explorers team Cat, Dave and Noirin as they introduce your class to some of the most famous marine reptiles, Sea Turtles! Discover the largest Sea Turtle in the world, who is also a regular visitor to Irish Waters. Explore the myths and legends that are inspired by these fascinating creatures, and examine how we can all play a role in ensuring sea turtles survival into the future.
May 5, 2023
Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme wins ‘Best Education Outreach Award’
The Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme has topped the ‘Best Education Outreach Award’ category of the Education Awards 2023, announced at a gala event in Dublin (April 27), organised by the BusinessRiver network solution, supported by The Irish Times and amárach research.
May 2, 2023
EXPLORERS shortlisted for Education Award 2023
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme has been shortlisted for Best Education Outreach Award for the new initiative Explorers Healthy Ocean Project & Ocean Champions. The winners will be announced at The Education Awards 2023 ceremony at The Crown Plaza, Santry Demesne, Dublin 9 on Thursday, 27th of April.
April 27, 2023
Explorers Education Programme sees an increase in ocean literacy in schools
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme, which engages with primary schools, teachers, children and the education sector, recorded the largest number of participating children in 2022, reaching more than 15,000 throughout Ireland.
April 11, 2023
Explorers School Projects score 100% in achieving marine communication and creative skills
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education management team is delighted to report that teachers and children who took part in the Explorers Healthy Ocean School Projects around Ireland in 2021-2022 reached 100 per cent in developing their communication and creativity skills.
February 7, 2023
Minister Hildegarde Naughton presents the Explorers national Ocean Champions Award to Scoil Iósaif Naofa, Oranmore.
Pupils of Scoil Iósaif Naofa, Oranmore Boys National School, County Galway have been presented the Marine Institute’s Explorers Ocean Champion Award by Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport for the best STEM and Cross Curricular award.
November 21, 2022
The Deep-sea Seadevil is voted one of the ‘ugliest’ fish in the sea
The Seadevil angler fish was voted as “one of the ugliest deep-sea fish species” during the launch of the new resources Explorers: The Good, The Bad + The Ugly Deep Sea Species and resources, which took place at the Marine Institute exhibit held at the Galway Science and Technology Festival 2022.
November 17, 2022
Minister McConalogue presents the Marine Institute’s Explorers national Ocean Champions Award to Scoil Cholmchille primary school
Pupils of Scoil Cholmchille primary school in Malin, Co Donegal have been presented with the inaugural national prize for the Marine Institute’s Explorers Ocean Champions Award by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, today 24th October 2022.
October 24, 2022
Explorers Education Programme taking bookings for its back-to-school programme 2022-2023
The 2022-2023 school term is almost here, and teachers can now plan seashore-safaris and a range of marine project modules in the classroom, for an action-packed timetable as part of the Explorers.
September 2, 2022
100 Primary school teachers learn about the ocean with the Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programmes' five day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) teachers training courses 'Exploring Ireland's seashore' have been successfully delivered to over seventy teachers in Waterford, Kerry, Galway, and for the first time to teachers from Cork. A further forty teachers are also completing the programme online.
August 2, 2022
New Online Teachers Training course on how to bring the ocean into the classroom
The Explorers Education Programme is delighted to announce the launch of a new online teaching course in collaboration with the Mayo Education Centre, that will enable teachers all over Ireland to learn about how to bring the ocean into the classroom.
June 10, 2022
Explorers Education Programme Teacher Training Courses available in five counties this Summer
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme are delighted to announce that the Explorers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Summer five-day Teacher Training courses (4th – 8th July), are now available to book in Galway, Dublin, Waterford, Kerry, and West Cork.
May 5, 2022
Explorers Kraken Family Day celebrating European Maritime Day
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme are delighted to announce that they will be hosting five Kraken beach events for families and the public, celebrating local seashores around the country, as part of the European Maritime Day – my country, on Saturday 21st May at 12pm.
May 3, 2022
Over Twenty Primary Schools selected to complete Explorers Healthy Ocean projects for Ocean Champion Awards
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education programme are delighted to announce that over twenty primary schools in 14 coastal counties around Ireland have been selected to complete Healthy Oceans projects to be in with a chance of winning a Marine Institute Explorers Ocean Champion Award.
March 10, 2022
Explorers Ocean Champions Project launch to celebrate International Education Day
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education programme are delighted to launch the Explorers We Are Ocean Champions School Project module and Awards this week, recognising the UN's international education day - Changing Course, Transforming Education.
February 1, 2022
The Explorers Launch New Educational Resources for primary schools: Learning about Squid!
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme are Celebrating cephalopods throughout the month of October, as they launch their new educational resources for primary school teachers and children, called Explorers Learning about Squid: Cephalopod Science Investigations.
October 15, 2021
Explorers Education Programme Expands to all Coastal Counties with a Strong Marine Outreach team
The Marine Institute are delighted to announce the expansion of the Explorers Education Programme, which is now delivering modules to primary schools in all of Ireland's coastal counties.
September 23, 2021
A Summer Mini-Miracle! 'Seoltóir Na Gaillimhe – the Galway Sailor' mini sail boat found washed up in Norway
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme and Educational Passages are delighted to report that the 1.5 metre unmanned mini sailboat called 'Seoltóir Na Gaillimhe – the Galway Sailor', that was deployed in June, was recently found stranded on the Bunes Beach above the Arctic Circle in the Lofoten Islands, in Norway.
August 31, 2021
The Explorers Education Programme first CPD interactive online course a success 'knocking it out of the park'
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme successfully held its first Continuing Professional Development (CPD) interactive online teachers summer training course with West Cork Education centre, reaching a group of teachers from all around Ireland including Cork, Kildare, Kerry, Dublin, Wicklow and Galway.
July 22, 2021
An Ocean of Stories - An Anthology of Children’s Ocean Stories launched for World Oceans Day
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme are delighted to launch the book An Ocean of Stories - An Anthology of Children's Ocean Stories, by children from County Clare and County Limerick, leading up to World Oceans Day on the 8th of June.
June 4, 2021
Unmanned miniature Sail boat ‘Seoltóir Na Gaillimhe – the Galway Sailor’ to be deployed from the RV Celtic Explorer
On Monday 31st May, a group of students from 5th and 6th class from Kilglass National School in Co Galway delivered their 1.5 metre unmanned mini sailboat called 'Seoltóir Na Gaillimhe – the Galway Sailor' to the Marine Institute's research vessel, RV Celtic Explorer, in Galway Harbour. Marine Institute scientists will deploy the mini-boat from the RV Celtic Explorer into the Atlantic Ocean, near the M6 Weather Buoy, during the AIMSIR (Atlantic In-situ Marine Scientific Infrastructure Replacement) survey.
June 1, 2021
Explorers Education Programme announce CPD Summer Teacher Training courses for 2021
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme are delighted to announce that the Explorers CPD Teacher Training course will be on offer in collaboration with five education supports centres including Galway, Blackrock – Dublin, Waterford, West Cork and Tralee in July.
May 12, 2021
Explorers launch Wild About Wildlife on the Seashore Toolkit for Teachers
Can you tell the difference between a gastropod and a bivalve? Do you know how to identify a decapod, amphipod, or an isopod? And, can you tell what fish can walk across seaweed, are slippery as butter, or can hide in the sand?
April 26, 2021
Children have a whale of a time learning about whales and dolphins with the Explorers Education Programme
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme recently engaged with up to seventy primary school children, as well as their teachers and parents, who took part in the Explorers programme that focused on learning about Whales and Dolphins, throughout February.
February 25, 2021
Explorers Education Programme launches We Love the Ocean facts and connections to inspire fun activities at home
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme team are getting ready for the month of love, launching a series of fascinating facts about the ocean on its social media sites that will run throughout February.
February 4, 2021
Explorers Education Programme a highlight at international CommOCEAN Conference
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme publication My Explorers Seashore Guide Workbook was recently presented at the 4th International Marine Science Communication Conference CommOCEAN, highlighting the successful launch of the publication earlier this year, connecting children, parents, teachers and the media with the seashore in Ireland.
December 11, 2020
Sharks and children from Wexford primary school features on RTE news2day
Primary school students from 5th and 6th class at St Patricks National School Craanford recently took part in the Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme and engaged in the wonders of learning about sharks in Irish waters and around the world.
November 4, 2020
Explorers Team: Creating ocean champions in County Clare
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme's outreach team are now delivering a range of marine projects and seashore safaris in primary schools through blended learning, online activities and outdoor class visits, creating ocean champions around Ireland.
October 23, 2020
The next generation at the heart of our ocean’s future
The health of our ocean relies on the next generation to be ocean leaders, striving for change and inspired to work together to sustainably protect our marine resource. Many organisations across Ireland have been raising awareness about the importance of our ocean and our influence on the ocean to our young people.
July 27, 2020
The Explorers Education Programme Summer Teachers Training Courses 2020
The Marine Institute Explorers Education programme are delighted to announce that the five-day summer webinar courses "Exploring Ireland's Seashore through Science, Maths, Geography, English and Art the Explorers Education Programme Summer Teacher Training Course 2020", approved by the Department of Education and Skills, are now open for bookings.
July 13, 2020
Oceans of Learning series celebrates Art of the Ocean
This week's Oceans of Learning series explores 'Art of the Ocean' with poetry, myths and legends, colouring and drawing activities as well as a range of video resources. The Marine Institute and partners are celebrating our world's shared ocean and our connection to the sea in a 10-week series, sharing news and offering online interactive activities, videos and downloadable resources on a new marine topic each week.
July 1, 2020
Explorers Education Programme launches the ‘Sea how to Draw’ classes online with cartoonist John Joyce
The Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme is delighted to launch its Explorers SEA how to Draw series, providing up to fourteen online drawing classes, delivered by popular cartoonist and author Dr John Joyce over the summer months.
June 22, 2020
The Marine Institute’s Meet the Explorers Team primary school campaign connects us to the ocean through art activities
The Marine Institute's Meet the Explorers team campaign is promoting the UN's World Oceans Day theme of innovation for a sustainable ocean throughout the month of June.
June 11, 2020
My Explorers Seashore Guide Work Book published on International biological diversity day
Celebrating the United Nations International Day for biological diversity (22nd May), the Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme has published My Explorers Seashore Guide Work Book with support from the National Biodiversity Data Centre's Explore Your Shore! project, to raise awareness about our seashore's marine biodiversity in Ireland.
May 22, 2020
Explorers Fun Ocean Activities provide opportunity to win Ocean Champion Spot Prizes for Primary School children
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme continues to offer a range of ocean themed resources for parents and children to support their stay-at-home learning, which includes lots of cross-curricular activities and online spot prizes.
May 12, 2020
The Explorers Education Programme engages with pre-service teachers at Mary Immaculate College for the first time
In early March, the Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme delivered an introduction to ocean literacy, teaching children about the marine in the classroom, to over two hundred and fifty pre-service teachers at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, for the first time with lecturers Dr Anne Dolan and Brighid Golden.
April 17, 2020
Free Explorers Fun Ocean Facts and Lesson Plans for Primary School children
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme's outreach team are sharing their favourite marine facts and lesson plans about the ocean, for teachers, parents and primary school children to use while they are doing their school work from home as part of its "Meet the Explorers Team" online initiative.
March 26, 2020
Explorers Education Programme is loving the ocean on Valentine’s Day in Dublin
Global Action Plan Ireland and the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat club, share their love for the ocean on Valentine's Day with local primary schools in Ballymun and Dun Laoghaire, Dublin as part of the Marine Institute's Explorers Education pilot outreach training programme.
February 14, 2020
National Explorers Pop Art & Creative Writing Competition launched to inspire an Ocean Super hero
Due to the government announcement surrounding COVID-19, the Explorers Education Programme’s Ocean Super Hero Pop Art and Creative writing competition for primary schools is now on hold.
Januarary 27, 2020
Explorers Education Programme at the centre of increasing children’s ocean knowledge
The ocean is one of our planets major life support systems, yet many of us may not be aware of the reasons why we should be grateful for what the ocean provides us.
December 6, 2019
Explorers Education Programme highlights importance of teaching children about Climate Change at FÉILTE
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme recently attended FÉILTE – a unique annual educational event organised by the Teaching Council which showcases best practice and innovative initiatives in Irish classrooms.
October 25, 2019
Explorers Marine Education Programme seeks Expressions of Interest for Outreach Training Pilot
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme, managed by Camden Education Trust is currently seeking Expressions of Interest from established outreach centres in the Republic of Ireland to take part in a pilot for an outreach training programme to deliver marine education modules in primary schools.
October 9, 2019
Primary school teachers take on the ocean as marine themed teachers training courses increase
Up to 100 primary school teachers from Galway, Kerry, Waterford, and Dublin took to the beaches in the first week of July (1st – 5th), joining the wave of formal educators around the country keen to introduce marine themes onto the Irish primary school curriculum.
July 16, 2019
Children present book ‘Our Ocean – Marine Legends, Fairy Tales and Folklore’ to President Seychelles at SeaFest 2019
Primary school students from 4th class Cork Educate Together represented over 300 primary school children around the country, when they presented a book called 'Our Ocean – Marine Legends, Fairy Tales and Folklore in Ireland' to President Faure of Seychelles at SeaFest 2019 in Cork from 7th to 9th June.
June 19, 2019
Primary School Children discover Our Ocean – Marine Legends, Fairy Tales and Folklore in Ireland
The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme recently introduced up to 300 primary school children from around the country to Ireland's marine heritage through a project called 'Our Ocean – Marine Legends, Fairy Tales and Folklore in Ireland'.
June 5, 2019
Children of Clare show off spectacular artwork at Circular Revolution Exhibition
The Circular Revolution - Towards Zero children's marine art exhibition (15th April – 3rd of May), was launched last night at Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee Co Clare where the exhibition includes over 20 exquisite art installations highlighting the unique opportunity of reusing plastics, all sourced from the local seashores in County Clare.
April 17, 2019
Exhibition showcases student artwork created from marine plastic
A new art exhibition 'The Circular Revolution -Towards Zero' involving 12 primary schools across Clare has been designed and curated by Carmel Madigan, a professional artist and founder of the Loop Head Summer Hedge School.
March 22, 2019
