Department of Ocean Science: Empowering Youth for Ocean Conservation in the Indo-Pacific

1.     Launch the “Ocean Matters” campaign involving stakeholders from Federal agencies (for GLOBE deployment), local governmental ministries (including GLOBE’s India coordinator at the Ministry of Environment, Government of India). Collaborations evidenced by letters of support; and public announcements, press, and social media publicity by the constituent organizations and departments.

2.     Identify up to 100 high and secondary schools in three Indian cities including those serving underserved sections of society and from coastal areas, as evidenced by creation of a registration database of partner schools with assigned coordinators. 

3.     Customize experiments and build a curriculum on “Ocean Health” incorporating locally relevant experiments from the GLOBE End-User Ocean Protocol “https://www.globe.gov/get-trained/protocol-etraining” GLOBE trainer protocols and DEAKINUNI-LTCREA GLOBE ITALIA marine plastic monitoring protocols within three months; obtain support from selected schools for use of laboratory space and student engagement; distribute equipment for science experiments; spotlight teacher stories on the GLOBE portal DEAKINUNI-LTCREA GLOBE ITALIA Marine Plastic Monitoring Protocols within three months; obtain support from selected schools for use of laboratory space and student engagement; distribute equipment for science experiments; spotlight teacher stories on the GLOBE portal.

4.     Train up to 1,000 high school student volunteers in GLOBE End-User Ocean Protocol and participate in large-scale testing of the DEAKINUNI-LTCREA GLOBE ITALIA Marine Testing Protocols within nine months from the project’s launch, using approved laboratory or other apparatus and equipment.  Build students’ capacity to identify sites, conduct experiments, and analyze in partner school laboratories. Large community of students, researchers, and scientists undertake experiments based on trained protocol, capture images, document, and analyze data.  Learning outcomes will be evidenced by the number and quality of student research reports, qualitative and quantitative data gathered, collaborative experiments, independent and group research projects and reported findings as theses/dissertations; spotlight impact on students through their learning endeavors, classroom activities, scientific research, environmental observations, and promoting STEM fields as careers; and their overall journey of life on the GLOBE portal. Quantitative and qualitative participant surveys will be designed to capture awareness created and action generated in partner school laboratories. Encourage research by students with mentoring support from trainers; record data outcomes in the GLOBE portal; document experiments, theses, blogs, vblogs; identify, document, and pursue individual or group action ideas with geographical relevance for implementation.  Identify and pursue potential collaborations of project participants with groups such as GLOBE’s Asia Pacific Regional Office, Microplastics Monitoring Teams, NASA’s “Earth as a System”.

5.     Organize activities such as beach cleanups, plogging, turtle walks, and events about responsible fishing awareness during commemorative days through the year under “Ocean Matters” branding.  Leveraging unique coastal culture, heritage, and traditions, design and implement outreach programs across participant coastal regions. 

6.     Encourage citizen scientist volunteers to download and use the GLOBE Observer App to result in increase in the number of downloads through the project period. 

7.     Incentivize participants through competitions such as mobile app creation and reward outstanding participants with attractive prizes including unique online learning opportunities through partner organizations – National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Foundation (NSF). Amplify success stories through reports, press, and social media stories. 

8.     Based on successful implementation, scale the project to partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region thus building a regional cohort of citizen scientists.