OCEAN LITERACY
A 12-week ocean literacy experience that combines flexible online learning with in-person Saturday workshops at various natural outdoor spaces and leading research institutions.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Live Virtual Workshops: Weekly 90-minute sessions that combine content learning, small group discussions, and hands-on exploration using ArcGIS.
Course Topics Include: 1) Macroscale Processes, 2) Ocean Productivity, 3) Food Web Dynamics, 4) Ocean Biodiversity, 5) The Ocean and Human Health, 6) Marine Protected Areas: People and Perspective
Saturday In-Person Workshops: Hands-on learning in natural spaces and world-class research facilities. Students will learn directly from community organizations, SIO scientists, tour research labs, and engage with cutting-edge marine and climate science.
Pre-College Credit: Complete the free course + 4 in-person Saturday workshops to earn 4 pre-college credits and certification of completion.
Students who complete Phase 1 will be eligible to apply for Phase 2, which offers opportunities to earn a PADI Scuba Diving License or participate in Naturalist Training, and Phase 3, a paid fellowship opportunity to build technical skills, receive workforce training, and work alongside career mentors. Through this program, students will grow as conservation leaders by designing and implementing community-based conservation projects that create real impact.
CLP 2025
See our program partners and Saturday workshop speakers from our 2025 Phase 1 – Ocean Literacy Program.
CLP 2026
Learn more about our 2026 Ocean Literacy Program, community partners, upcoming events, and resources!
OCEAN LITERACY FRAMEWORK
CLP’s Ocean Literacy Curricula is developed by leading curriculum designers and practitioners using key essential principles established by the National Marine Educators Practitioners Guide (NMEPG), created by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) with support from NOAA, and the Understanding Global Change framework, developed by the University of California, Berkeley, Museum of Paleontology to help students make connections between how Earth systems work, the causes of global change, and measurable environmental changes. All modules are paired with in-person Saturday workshops that reinforce concepts learned through place-based engagement and community work, while also providing opportunities for students to meet and learn from leading scientists at UCSD.
WHAT IS OCEAN LITERACY?
Ocean Literacy is… “an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you – and your influence on the ocean. An ocean-literate person understands the essential principles and fundamental concepts about the functioning of the ocean; can communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way; and is able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources.” (NOAA)
To be ocean literate is not simply knowing everything there is to know about the ocean, but rather understanding the fundamental aspects of our relationship with the ocean and using that knowledge to guide our decisions and actions. Communication is also an important aspect of ocean literacy, just like it is an important skill in being a successful conservation leader.
HOW DO WE INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR PROGRAMMING?
Phase 1 of the Conservation Leadership Program is grounded in the ocean literacy framework. The National Marine Educators Practitioners Guide (2021) was a guiding resource for curriculum development, focusing on the major standards and concepts within each Essential Principle.
The Understanding Global Change (UGC) framework, developed by UC Berkeley and the UC Museum of Paleontology, is a modeling tool designed to explore the interactions between human and natural processes and their environmental impacts. The three key components of the UGC framework are causes of global change, how the Earth’s system works, and measurable changes. This online tool allows students and instructors to create flow diagrams that visualize and explain complex global processes affecting local and global systems.
As part of the Conservation Leadership Program, students will use the UGC platform to develop models that reflect their understanding of weekly topics. Topics include ocean circulation, carbon cycling, food web interactions, ecosystem services, and human health, among others. Through this process, students will strengthen their ability to interpret Earth system models and effectively communicate complex environmental issues—both essential skills for future conservation leaders.
In this course, students will develop technical skills in ArcGIS, becoming well-versed in mapping, spatial analysis, and data visualization. Through hands-on projects, they will learn to apply these skills to real-world ocean and climate datasets, building both technical expertise and an understanding of how geographic information can inform conservation and environmental decision-making.
Community Conversations are an important component of our curricula. It involves students engaging with local community members to discuss various topics related to ocean literacy covered in the course. Students are encouraged to reflect on these conversations, exploring how the community views and connects with ocean-related issues such as marine conservation, climate change, and sustainable practices. These reflections help students understand different perspectives, strengthen their communication skills, and deepen their connection to the broader societal impact of marine science.
PROGRAM BLOG
