The Ocean Today

The Physical Ocean

The ocean comprises 71% of the earth's surface and is an integral part of every aspect of life. Throughout history, the ocean has connected our world — through exploration, scientific inquiry and the exploitation of marine abundance. The physical ocean is essential to our well-being through the availability of fresh water, protein, energy, and natural resources. Without a sustainable healthy ocean, human survival is at risk.

Image: (c) 2004 Sterling Zumbrunn | Marine Photobank

History & Culture

Cultural diversity affects our lives in countless ways every day – as a source of identity, conflict, crisis, context for civil discourse, community, and spiritual development. It is the outcome of thousands of years of contact among people of different customs, beliefs, ways of life and of human interaction with nature. The ocean has played a powerful role in this process throughout time - feeding us, connecting us, and shaping us as nations, tribes, and individuals.

Image: Peter Neill 2012

Ocean Classroom

Education is the primary tool for building public awareness and the inter-generational transfer of knowledge. The Ocean Classroom provides essential information about online resources, a catalogue of curriculum, profiles of ocean exemplars, provocative and inspiring organizations and ocean schools and a unique series of audio-visual demonstrations of the inter-relationship of natural systems and human activities.

Image: Linda Schonknecht | MarinePhotobank

Ocean Directory

The ocean community is made up of thousands of organizations with interest in the sea. Universities, schools, research institutions, environmental and conservation organizations, aquariums, science centers, maritime museums, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private companies all contribute to ocean exploration, utility, public awareness, and political will. The  World Ocean Directory is a dynamic catalogue of this worldwide maritime enterprise.

Image: Gerick Bergsma 2011 | MarinePhotobank

Programs & Services

 

 

Subscription Services

Update! The first audio visual module "OceanClimate" is now available for FREE! High quality production media packages for distribution by contract subscription with aquariums, science centers, maritime museums, and educational institutions around the world.  Learn more.



Linda Schonknecht/Marine Photobank

 

Our Ocean Space

New!  A web-based network for exchange of projects, art, audio-visual presentations, and other imaginative formats, created and up-loaded by young Citizens of the Ocean to share with their counterparts worldwide.
 

Events

Theme-based presentations on key ocean issues -   - designed for students, teachers, and interested individuals.   Visit Events
 

Exhibits

Internet exhibits available in formats for classroom, environmental organizations, libraries, and other informal educational venues. Visit Exhibits
 
 


 

The Sea Connects All Things

Now Available! This one hour lecture by W2O Director Peter Neill suggests actions, beyond the predictable conventions, for organizations and individuals to adopt as an innovative strategy for the future. It is available for presentation to college, school, and institutional audiences. For further information about lecture schedule and arrangements, please contact director@thew2o.net.

 

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