U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

to reach desired outcomes. While federal agencies, state governments, and nongovernmentalgroups partner with communities on such programs, and should continue to promoteparticipation of traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups, increasingpopulations and limited resources swamp the ability of these programs to reach all whowould benefit from ocean-related information.Information supplied to the public should be timely and accurate. It should also besupported by a system that allows for follow-up and the acquisition of additional informationor guidance. The roles of, and relationships among, scientists, educators, and journalistsin translating research results for the public are especially critical. Innovative partnershipswith media outlets or industries that deal with the public may offer new means tobroaden the visibility of ocean issues and increase public awareness. Informal educationfacilities and the academic community will need to work closely together to facilitate therapid transfer and translation of the latest scientific discoveries into publicly accessibledisplays, materials, and programs.Information delivered through informal education programs, displays, and activities ismost effective when it is linked to the positive associations people have with the oceans.Information should be presented in terms of the ocean’s role in the Earth system as a whole,including the physical, chemical, and geological aspects of the marine environment, andinteractions with humans.Recommendation 8–17Ocean.ED, working with other appropriate entities, should promote existing mechanisms andestablish new approaches for developing and delivering relevant, accessible information andoutreach programs that enhance community education.In particular, Ocean.ED should:• work with ocean-related informal education initiatives to better engage underrepresentedand underserved populations and communities by using mechanisms, materials,and language familiar to and accepted by them.• work with informal education facilities to develop the capacity to quickly prepare anddeliver new science-based materials and programs to the public and the media to captureimmediate interest in noteworthy advances in ocean science.• engage industry, the commercial sector, and the media in community education andstewardship programs.Box 8.7 Equal Opportunity EducatorsThe Splash Zone program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is one example of an informaleducation effort designed to reach and engage underserved members of the community.The program was developed in part to enhance Hispanic attendance, membership, and participationat the aquarium, which were far below their proportion in the Monterey area population.The Splash Zone exhibit on coral reef ecosystems and the rocky shore forms the basis foradditional educational activities and materials. Working with local Head Start offices, theaquarium is better able to reach and focus on Hispanic children and their families. The knowledgegained during visits to the aquarium is continued in the classroom. Appropriate activitiesand curricula are demonstrated to Head Start and other kindergarten through secondgrade educators during a week-long Teachers Institute. In addition, the program includesoutreach to the schools through bilingual aquarium educators and family science nights inthe neighborhood community center.To continue the educational experience of the Splash Zone program, families can takeadvantage of the Shelf to Shore program. This complementary effort, conducted in cooperationwith local libraries in largely Hispanic communities, allows individuals to check out a freeaquarium pass for the entire family as easily as they would check out a book.C HAPTER 8: PROMOTING L IFELONG O CEAN E DUCATION145