Updated: Local group plans updates to marine science curriculums

Dear St. Pete Catalyst,

My name is Veronica, and I am the Director of Breach the Surface, Inc. (Breach), a 501(c)(3) organization based in the Tampa Bay region. Our mission is to improve ocean literacy among youth through inclusive and equitable digital programming. I am writing to share our story that challenges the current local marine science curriculum and modern-day education techniques.

I think we can agree outdated information, underrepresentation, and disenfranchisement have no space in the classroom – or our oceans. The general public’s knowledge about ocean-related issues is alarmingly low both nationally and internationally. A 2005 study, “Environmental Literacy in America,” estimated that less than 2% of all American adults are environmentally literate, highlighting the need for improvements in the education system. A 2018 study, “Development of the International Ocean Literacy Survey,” found that the American public is more literate about video games and gambling than our world’s oceans. Oceans provide us with countless vital ecosystem services, but they are threatened by issues including climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. Unfortunately, schools are under-equipped to educate on these topics, leaving students without the knowledge necessary to address these concerns and lead us in a positive direction for ocean conservation.

According to the US Census Bureau, the city of Tampa has roughly ​​330,000 youth (18 years old or younger), making up 21.5% of Tampa’s total population. Though all 29 Hillsborough County public high schools offer some type of marine science course, fewer than half offer any more than one. There are 5 potential marine courses that can be offered at any given school, yet no school offers any more than 2 of the 6. Of the schools that offer the state courses (marine science 1 and marine science 2 honors), students are met with outdated information with no real purpose behind the material taught. Denise Dennison, a Hillsborough County Science Coach, has described these marine science curriculums as being driven by “passion projects” rather than comprehensive instruction.

Breach’s programs seek to fill this gap by engaging youth, educational institutions, and the general public in ocean education that meets them where they are and directs their attention to critical issues facing our oceans. Programs like our digital podcast, Shellphone, allow us to highlight content from ocean educators, enhance in-school curricula, connect with broad audiences, and assess real impacts on our local youth. In just a couple months, Breach will be piloting our educational programs within Hillsborough County and the greater Tampa Bay marine science curriculums. Our hope is to receive critical feedback from youth and educators alike, that will shape our ongoing efforts to increase access to marine science education.

Thank you for your time, and the opportunity to tell you about our organization. We appreciate the support your outlet provides to the Tampa Bay community. I would like to schedule a time to tell you more about these initiatives and our future plans. Is there a day and time that works best for you to chat in more detail? If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me at (813) 528-2013 or email veronica@breachthesurface.org. Looking forward to hearing from you!