Supported by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission, the EU4Ocean Atlantic & North Sea basin community is organising the first Ocean Literacy Festival, which will showcase initiatives and activities from all European countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
The Festival will take place on May 22nd, 2021, back-to-back with the annual European Maritime Day conference, organised this year in Den Helder (Netherlands).
Why an Ocean Literacy Festival
The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean, marine resources and ocean science for the blue economy in the region. The festival activities are aimed at families, young people, pupils, teachers, marine science educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and other professionals.
The EU4Ocean coalition is looking for engaging ocean literacy activities, from science shows, arts performances, science cafés or workshops to public debates and educational activities for young Europeans and other audiences that are directly or indirectly linked to the Atlantic & North Sea basin.
Although most festival activities will be digital, the Festival may include hybrid events that can consist of activities either taking place online or happening in different locations and being broadcast online.
Some examples of activities would be:
- Practical marine science experiments or science shows
- Science cafés, workshops, conferences, seminars
- Educational activities, training sessions, MOOCs about the ocean
- Guided tours, walks, guided boat or underwater excursions, eco-tours in maritime heritage sites, harbours, old ships, aquariums, museums…
- Conservation actions (broadcasts from beach cleanings, citizen science activities…)
- Virtual exhibitions, including art or photography, showcasing marine topics
- Crafts and DIY activities concerning the ocean
- Short talks about ocean-related ideas worth spreading
- Street events
- Songs about the ocean
- Ocean-themed dance performances
- Theater plays about the ocean
- Games and quizzes centered on the ocean
- And many other activities
