15 Primary Schools Shortlisted for Explorers Ocean Champions Awards marking World Oceans Day

To celebrate World Oceans Day (8th June), the Marine Institute is pleased to announce the fifteen primary schools across Ireland which have been shortlisted for the Explorers Education Programme’s Ocean Champion Awards 2023-2024. 

Patricia Orme, Corporate Services Director of the Marine Institute said, “The projects completed by the teachers and children this year really highlight the value of ocean literacy themes being taught in schools, along with the importance of community collaboration in changing how we care for our marine environment.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary since the term ‘ocean literacy’ was first coined in the USA by teachers and scientists, when it was recognised there was a lack of understanding about the ocean and a need to teach marine sciences in a formal education setting. 

“The last two decades have seen the concept of ocean literacy grow in Ireland through the influence of the Explorers Education Programme working with schools and also its participation in World Oceans Day to celebrate our ocean planet collectively within our local communities.

It has been fantastic to see over 70 per cent of the healthy ocean project applications this year focus on ocean literacy and the arts in the Ocean Champions School submissions,” said Ms Orme. 

“We were also delighted to see strong projects submitted by schools across nine coastal counties in categories that focused on STEAM and the ocean, SDGs and the ocean, as well as marine outdoor education. The shortlisted projects showcased how we connect and engage with the ocean from Donegal to Kerry and from Cork to Dublin.

“The projects with added value demonstrated how the children were actively involved in influencing members of their local communities in creating behavioural changes. We were very impressed with the interviews with fishers, parents and teachers and the incredible art work that engaged many communities in learning about the importance and intrinsic value of our ocean,” added Ms Orme. 

Many of the successful projects showed children working with their community towards creating a sustainable ocean and blue future. They included art exhibitions, documentary films; the creation of rock sculptures and messages for tourists on the beach; learning about medical research and generating social media campaigns; sharing fun facts about the influences of the ocean; designing boats for the future and cooking with seaweeds and children participating in a national choir singing about the sea.

“We look forward to announcing the winners and organising the presentation of plaques and certificates by the Explorers teams throughout June and also celebrating World Oceans Day. The schools will receive special awards under the different categories: Marine STEAM, Ocean Literacy and the Arts, SDGs & the Ocean, and Marine Outdoor education,” Ms Orme said.

 

Primary School Shortlisted	Project Category	Project Name
Dooagh National School, Achill, Co Mayo	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Basking Sharks in Achill
Scoil Cholmcille National School, Droim An Mhaoir, Moville, Co Donegal	Marine Outdoor School Project	Celebrating Greencastle's Maritime Heritage
Glasheen Boys National School, Glasheen, Cork	SDGs & the Ocean School Project	Ocean Literacy and the Deep Sea
Eagles Nest National School and Lettergesh National School, Renville Peninsula, Connemara, Co. Galway	Marine Outdoor School Project	Team Explorers
Le Chéile National School, Roxboro Road, Limerick	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Under the Sea
Loreto Primary School, Dalkey, Co Dublin	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Learning about and taking Care of our Local Seashore
St. Nicholas' Parochial School, Waterside, Galway	STEAM and the Marine School Project	We are Ocean Champions
St. Mary's National School, Ballygarrett, Gorey, Co Wexford	Outdoor School Project	Seashore Safari
Scoil Nuachabhail, Gortatlea, Ballymacelligott, Tralee, Co Kerry	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Exploring Tralee bays Underwater World: “A Journey to Protect Sharks, Rays, and Skates in Our Local Waters"
Scoil Naomh Bríd, Muff, Lifford, Co Donegal	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Seaweed for Ocean and human health
St. Andrew's National School, Bray, Co Wicklow	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Squid Project
Scoil Chiarain Special School, Glasnevin, Dublin	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Caring for our Ocean Creatures
Greystones Community National School, Greystones, Co Wicklow	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Greystones Beach
Monkstown Park Junior School, Monkstown, Co Dublin	Ocean Literacy Creative School Project	Monkstown Ocean Schools

 

More information about the Explorers Education Programme is available at www.explorers.ie

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Cushla Dromgool-Regan
Explorers Education and Communications Manager

Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme
Mobile: + 353 (0) 87 9185519
Email: cushla.dromgoolregan@thecamdentrust.org
Website: www.explorers.ie

Notes to the Editor

The Explorers Education Programme is funded by the Marine Institute, and managed by Camden Education and Galway Atlantaquaria. The outreach is delivered by SeashoreKids, Oceanics Surf School, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Galway Atlantaquaria, Sea Synergy, and Leave no Trace-Ireland.