Ireland’s Explorers Ambassadors Celebrate 20 Years of Marine Education Excellence
This year the Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme celebrates two decades of transforming Ireland’s relationship with its marine territory. What began as a 10-school pilot in Galway in 2006 has evolved into an exemplar in Irish education, now reaching over 400 primary schools annually across Ireland. This milestone of two decades follows a period of significant growth, highlighted by a record engagement of over 15,000 children in a single year, and is a testament to the programme’s expanding influence and the national drive toward deeper ocean literacy.
Recognising the collaborative spirit that has defined the last two decades, Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute, noted that “The Explorers Programme stands out for its ability to inspire curiosity, build understanding, and empower young people to care about our ocean. I’ve witnessed this impact personally - my son participated in the programme years ago, and today he is one of many young ambassadors who champion the protection of our marine environment. His experience mirrors a growing national commitment to appreciate and safeguard Ireland’s extraordinary marine territory”.
This national commitment of the Explorers programme is further evidenced by the programme’s alignment with the UN Decade of Ocean Science, ensuring Irish students remain at the forefront of global ocean science and sustainable development.
The programme's architecture was co-created by the Marine Institute’s then communications team of Dr John Joyce and Cushla Dromgool-Regan in early 2004, with a diverse group of educators and marine stakeholders. This included Bernard Kirk, Leo Hallisy, Dave McGrath, Brendan ‘Speedie’ Smith, and Liam Twomey who continue to be ambassadors of the Explorers Programme. From the Marine Institute’s pilot in 2006, the programme has transitioned from a local initiative into a robust regional network, strategically aligned with the National Primary School Curriculum Framework (2023).
The Explorers Management team of Dr Nóirín Burke and Cushla Dromgool-Regan, believe that the strengths of the programme delivered to schools and through teacher training come from its strong foundations. The programme uses marine science and cross curricular activities to develop essential competencies and skills. These include outdoor marine education, communications, digital literacy, creative thinking, and active citizenship.
They highlighted “This focus, combined with our team’s expertise and a suite of fit-for-purpose resources covering Seashore safaris; Aquariums in the class; Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) workshops; and Class projects ranging from squid dissections to Marine Spatial Planning, mean that the programme is changing perspectives and giving children the tools to navigate the world they are inheriting.”
The impacts of the Explorers Programme have also been celebrated through a series of collaborative community projects where the Marine Institute and the Explorers programme have worked with artists, scientists, and marine experts developing unique school projects. These have included the creation of marine legends artworks, production of films about the discovery of hydrothermal vents in the mid-Atlantic, and the launch and tracking of unmanned mini-boats across the Atlantic. This work, along with the Explorers Ocean Champion Awards has inspired ocean literacy, creativity, and an appreciation of STEM.
As the Explorers Programme enters its third decade, it continues to foster a genuine sense of maritime identity, ensuring that the ripples created twenty years ago have become a wave of ocean literacy reaching across the Atlantic.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Cushla Dromgool-Regan
Explorers Education Programme & Communications Manager,
Camden Education Trust
Tel: +353 (0)87 918 5519