The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme won the Best Education Outreach Award in The Education Awards 2023, announced at a gala event in Dublin recently.
“We are delighted that the Explorers Programme’s outreach module Healthy Ocean Project and Ocean Champions Award has been recognised for its excellence in promoting ocean literacy at primary-school level,” said Marine Institute chief executive Dr Paul Connolly. “This award recognises the quality of the programme and the work of those delivering it throughout the country.”
“This initiative provides children with invaluable knowledge about the marine environment, and it inspires innovation and presents opportunities across marine science, technology and the arts.”
The Explorers Healthy Ocean initiative is based on cooperation and co-creation and applies an ‘all-school’ approach where teachers, children, the programme’s outreach teams and local communities work together towards becoming ocean champions.
The judging panel described the Explorers programme as a “creative and innovative method of outreach and engagement”. The “very cohesive programme” highlights an important subject — healthy oceans — and has a “highly commendable collaborative approach in place to resolve the challenges the ocean faces. It shows a firm methodology that is achieving great results.”
“This recognition highlights the importance of marine-themed content being taught in primary schools. Seashore field trips, along with STEM and STEAM projects help teachers to focus on delivering content that promotes ocean literacy and engagement, in line the with new Primary Curriculum Framework,” said Cushla Dromgool-Regan, strategic manager with the Camden Education Trust, which manages the Explorers programme.
“The teams have worked extremely hard on the Healthy Ocean initiative and we’re very lucky and proud to have such talented people on board who inspire teachers and children to want to learn more about the ocean and how it influences all facets of life — from the oxygen we breathe, to the energy we use in our homes and to the food we eat.
“Applying an integrated approach helps schools to implement key competencies and skills for children’s learning. The annual Healthy Ocean School Project & Ocean Champion Awards initiative is an excellent example of how this can be achieved.”
The Explorers Education Programme outreach teams include Galway Atlantaquaria, Leave No Trace Ireland, Sea Synergy, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Oceanics Surf School and and Seashore Kids.
The Education Awards 2023 were presented at a gala event at the Crowne Plaza in Santry, north Dublin on Thursday 27 April.
