Search Results (34)

The future of marine sustainability depends on public understanding and trust in the policy recommendations that emerge from scientific research. For common pool marine resource decisions made by the people who depend on these resources for their food, employment, and economic future, understanding the current status of these marine systems and change is essential to ensure these resources will persist into the future. As such, the informal learning infrastructure is essential to increasing marine science literacy in a changing world. This mixed-methods research study analyzed the distribution and accessibility of marine science education and research across Alaska’s five geographic regions. Using the PRISMA framework, we synthesized data from 198 institutions and analyzed peer-reviewed literature on marine ecosystems to identify geographic and thematic gaps in access to informal science learning and research focus. In parallel, we undertook geospatial analysis and resource availability to describe the distribution of resources, types of informal learning infrastructure present across the state, regional presence, and resources to support informal marine science learning opportunities. Findings from this multifactor research revealed a concentration of resources in urban hubs and a lack of consistent access to learning resources for rural and Indigenous communities. The configurative literature review of 9549 publications identified topical underrepresentation of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, as well as a lack of research on seabirds across all regions. Considered together, these results recommend targeted investments in rural engagement with marine science programming, culturally grounded partnerships, and research diversification. This review concludes that disparities in learning resource support and government-funded priorities in marine wildlife research have created conditions that undermine the local people’s participation in the sustainability of sensitive resources and are likely exacerbating declines driven by rapid change in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. Full article

As global environmental challenges intensify, there is an increasing need to equip younger generations with the knowledge, values, and sense of responsibility necessary for a sustainable future. This study explores how environmental citizenship education (ECE), implemented through a nature-based learning program within a Nature and Science School (NSS) in Türkiye, was experienced and interpreted by primary school pupils in relation to their development of understanding of sustainability and environmental citizenship. NSSs, integrated into the formal education system by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, offer inquiry-driven and experiential learning in natural settings. The study took place in Talat Göktepe Grove, a biodiverse site including forest and marine ecosystems, where a four-month ECE program was conducted. A holistic single-case study design was employed, drawing on pupil diaries and semi-structured interviews. A total of 88 pupils engaged in structured outdoor activities addressing biodiversity, sustainability, and the climate crisis. Initially, pupils described environmental citizenship through individual actions. Over time, their perspectives expanded to include civic participation, environmental rights, and collective responsibility. Their reflections also revealed a more nuanced understanding of sustainability, encompassing concepts such as ecosystem balance, renewable energy, and environmental justice. The study provides insight into how nature-based education may support meaning-making around environmental citizenship and sustainability in early education. Full article

Open Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) promotes ethical, inclusive, and transparent research aligned with sustainability goals and societal values. This systematic review examines the implementation of ORRI principles in marine research across the Black Sea region—a geopolitically fragmented and under-resourced context—and explores their implications for the broader Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) discourse. Using PRISMA methodology and bibliometric mapping, we analyzed the peer-reviewed literature and project deliverables from 2014 to 2024, focusing on six ORRI pillars: public engagement, science education, open access, gender equality, ethics, and governance. The findings indicate consistent progress in public engagement and science education, particularly through citizen science and stakeholder training. However, ethics, gender equity, and governance remain weakly institutionalized, with most ORRI practices driven by short-term, externally funded projects. To contextualize these results, we introduce a comparative framework contrasting the Black Sea’s scaffolded model of ORRI with structurally embedded models in Northern and Western Europe. This framework highlights disparities in capacity, funding, and institutional maturity that shape regional implementation. Conceptually, the study contributes to RRI theory by proposing a flexible, context-sensitive model for under-resourced regions. It supports SDGs 4, 5, 14, 16, and 17 and emphasizes the need for durable, inclusive approaches to responsible research and sustainability education. Full article

Research on the dynamic mechanisms driving the accumulation of anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) in highly dynamic environments, such as extensive sandy beaches, remains limited. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used to map macro-marine litter in these environments over large temporal and spatial scales, but several challenges remain in their interpretation. In this study, secondary school students participated in a citizen science initiative, during which they identified, marked, and classified waste items using a series of UAV orthophotos collected along an 800 m extended Italian beach in different seasons. A specific training program and a collection of working tools were developed to support these activities, which were carried out under the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The accuracy of the citizen science approach was evaluated by comparing its results with standard in situ visual census surveys conducted in the same area. This methodology not only enabled an analysis of the temporal dynamics of AMD accumulation but also served an important educational function. The effectiveness of the learning experience was estimated using pre- and post-activity questionnaires. The results indicate a clear improvement in the students’ knowledge, interest, and awareness regarding marine litter, highlighting the potential of citizen science to both support environmental monitoring and promote sustainability education among younger generations. Full article

The Mediterranean Sea, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces significant threats that compromise its ecological health. While Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, their effectiveness is debated, and empirical data on their impact remain limited. This study evaluates the utility of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from divers along the Spanish Mediterranean coast to assess perceived abundance of sentinel species in both MPAs and non-protected areas, in relation to empirical data, alongside divers’ attitudes toward ocean threats and conservation strategies. Divers perceived higher abundance and subjective health indicators of key species, such as Posidonia oceanica, octocorals, and top predators within MPAs, which aligns with empirical evidence supporting MPA effectiveness in conserving biodiversity and mitigating human disturbances. Notably, divers showed knowledge gaps, particularly underestimating climate change impacts while overemphasizing pollution threats. Diver education emerged as a critical factor in shaping conservation attitudes, with higher education levels correlating with increased environmental awareness and stronger support for conservation measures. This study underscores the potential of leveraging LEK in marine conservation strategies while acknowledging limitations related to self-reported data and regional specificity, advocating for expanded geographic scope and integration with empirical data in future research. Full article

National marine parks (NMPs) represent a category within the marine protected area (MPA) framework, and nearly all countries worldwide have implemented marine protected area or national marine park initiatives. Correspondingly, research on this topic has gradually emerged. Given that existing research tends to focus too much on the perspective of natural sciences such as ecology, this article specifically focuses on humanities research. The relevant literature on national marine parks is organized using a literature review method and mainly analyzed through content analysis. It is summarized into five research areas: park creation research, ecological and economic impact assessment, park community management research, park marine cultural heritage, and new park-planning methods. Through this review, it is found that the research content exhibits characteristics of being “ecology-heavy but humanities-light, impact-heavy but strategy-light, conservation-heavy but development-light, and qualitative-heavy but interdisciplinary-light”. In response to these trends, this paper suggests adopting new planning approaches, implementing participatory management strategies, enhancing community policy guidance, and promoting education on sustainable development. Furthermore, it proposes establishing NMPs focused on marine cultural heritage, creating authoritative park evaluation criteria and research methods, and strengthening diachronic studies, quantitative analysis, and interdisciplinary methods in the humanities. Full article

In higher education institutions, there is a strong interaction between research and teaching activities. This paper presents a case study on the research–teaching nexus based on an analysis of academic results related to the course “Instrumentation and Data Analyses in Marine Sciences” within the Marine Sciences and Technologies Bachelor’s Degree at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), taught at the Vilanova i la Geltrú campus (Barcelona, Spain). The start of this degree in the academic year 2018–2019 allowed the assignment of technological subjects in the degree to a research group with extensive experience in the research and development of marine technologies. The first section of this paper aims to provide a justification for establishing the Marine Sciences and Technologies Bachelor’s Degree. It highlights the necessity of this program and delves into the suitability of the profiles of the professors responsible for teaching marine technology subjects. Their entrepreneurial research trajectory and their competence in electronic instrumentation are strong arguments for their appropriateness. The next section of the paper explores a detailed analysis of academic results based on surveys and student performance indices. Through a thorough examination of these data, this case study demonstrates, within the context of all UPC degrees, that assigning a research group made up of experienced professors and researchers in the field who are accustomed to working as a team produces superior academic results compared to assignments to professors who do not work as a team. Teamwork presents specific skills necessary for operating the infrastructures and equipment associated with an experimental degree. Full article

The use of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is becoming a preferred method for supporting integrated coastal zone management, including cultural heritage sites. Loko i′a, traditional Hawaiian fishponds located along the coastline, have historically provided sustainable seafood sources. These coastal cultural heritage sites are undergoing revitalization through community-driven restoration efforts. However, sea level rise (SLR) poses a significant climate-induced threat to coastal areas globally. Loko i′a managers seek adaptive strategies to address SLR impacts on flooding, water quality, and the viability of raising native fish species. This study utilizes extreme tidal events, known as King Tides, as a proxy to estimate future SLR scenarios and their impacts on loko i′a along the Keaukaha coastline in Hilo, Hawai′i. In situ water level sensors were deployed at each site to assess flooding by the loko i′a type and location. We also compare inundation modeled from UAV-Structure from Motion (SfM) Digital Elevation Models (DEM) to publicly available Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) DEMs, alongside observed flooding documented by UAV imagery in real time. The average water levels (0.64 m and 0.88 m) recorded in this study during the 2023 King Tides are expected to reflect the average sea levels projected for 2060–2080 in Hilo, Hawai′i. Our findings indicate that high-resolution UAV-derived DEMs accurately model observed flooding (with 89% or more agreement), whereas LiDAR-derived flood models significantly overestimate observed flooding (by 2–5 times), outlining a more conservative approach. To understand how UAV datasets can enhance the resilience of coastal cultural heritage sites, we looked into the cost, spatial resolution, accuracy, and time necessary for acquiring LiDAR- and UAV-derived datasets. This study ultimately demonstrates that UAVs are effective tools for monitoring and planning for the future impacts of SLR on coastal cultural heritage sites at a community level. Full article

Ensuring high standards of animal welfare is not only an ethical duty for zoos and aquariums, but it is also essential to achieve their conservation, education, and research goals. While for some species, animal welfare assessment frameworks are already in place, little has been done for marine animals under human care. Responding to this demand, the welfare committee of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) set up a group of experts on welfare science, cetacean biology, and zoo animal medicine across Europe. Their objective was to develop a comprehensive tool to evaluate the welfare of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), named Dolphin-WET. The tool encompasses 49 indicators that were either validated through peer review or management-based expertise. The first of its kind, the Dolphin-WET is a species-specific welfare assessment tool that provides a holistic approach to evaluating dolphin welfare. Inspired by Mellor’s Five Domains Model and the Welfare Quality^®, its hierarchical structure allows for detailed assessments from overall welfare down to specific indicators. Through combining 37 animal-based and 12 resource-based indicators that are evaluated based on a two- or three-level scoring, the protocol offers a detailed evaluation of individual dolphins. This approach allows for regular internal monitoring and targeted welfare management, enabling caretakers to address specific welfare concerns effectively. Full article

Marine biodiversity underpins the formation of marine protected areas (MPAs), necessitating detailed surveys to account for the dynamic temporal and spatial distribution of species influenced by tidal patterns and microhabitats. The reef rock intertidal zones adjacent to urban centers, such as Taiwan’s Cape Santiago, exhibit significant biodiversity, yet they are increasingly threatened by tourism-related activities. This study introduces an artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered citizen science (CS) approach within the local community to address these challenges. By integrating CS with AI, we establish a hybrid intelligence (HI) system that conducts in situ biological surveys and educational programs focused on reef ecological conservation. This initiative not only facilitates the collective gathering and AI-assisted analysis of critical data but also uses machine-learning outputs to gauge data quality, thus informing subsequent data collection and refinement strategies. The resulting collectivity and iterative enhancement foster a mutual and continuous HI learning environment. Our HI model proves instrumental in fostering community engagement and public involvement in CS endeavors, cultivating the skills necessary for documenting rocky intertidal biodiversity shifts. These efforts are pivotal for informing the design and governance of future MPAs, ensuring their efficacy and sustainability in marine conservation. Full article

Within the MARCET European project and community framework, a Waveglider^®™ SV2 vehicle was deployed, equipped with a passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) device, in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). The soundscape was continuously recorded from 23 July 2018 until 30 July 2018 and was primarily used for marine mammal sound detection. This study aims to compare these automatically embedded detections from the Waveglider^®™ with human expert detections. Furthermore, it provides an assessment of the performance of the automatic detector and discusses the use of this type of technology to monitor wildlife, particularly cetaceans. The MARCET project and this study are only possible due to the multidisciplinary integration of veterinary sciences, ecological, zoological, and biological knowledge and mechanical, communication, and electronics engineering. It represents an excellent example of new technologies, capacities, skills, and cutting-edge knowledge where veterinary science education and training should progressively be involved to contribute to the surveillance and control of ocean health. Full article

The pioneer Swiss naturalist René-Édouard Claparède (1832–1871), professor at the University of Geneva, left important contributions to diverse areas of natural science, biology, and comparative anatomy, including the structure of infusoria, annelids, and earthworms, the evolution of arthropods, and the embryology of spiders. He also published observations on marine invertebrates. This essay presents a brief overview of his academic life and work and makes the distinction from his nephew with the same name, the neurologist and educational psychologist Édouard Claparède (1873–1840). Full article

A multidisciplinary team collaborated on the development of a learning experience involving 10th grade students using a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) approach. The experience was based on the development (conception, implementation, and evaluation) of a science cartoon that aimed to highlight different scientific and technological dimensions related to the diversity of marine worms (Phylo Annelida, class Polychaeta) present in the continental shelf off the coast of Aveiro, Portugal (NE Atlantic coast). The study was implemented in a Portuguese high school in the Aveiro region, involving 24 10th grade students, emphasizing a social context close to the students’ lives. All pedagogical interventions occurred in face-to-face sessions during the 2020/21 school year and were oriented by the following research question: What is the role of science cartoons in establishing STEAM connections for solving real-world problems presented to 10th grade students? Following a qualitative and interpretative research methodology, with a design-based research focus, data were collected through a questionnaire, observations, and students’ written records. The content analysis shows that most students learned new concepts related to STEAM areas. Evaluating the impact of the science cartoon reveals that it can be considered an innovative science communication resource due to its educational potential in stimulating a STEAM approach within the students’ learning process. Full article

It is well established that most of the plastic pollution found in the oceans is transported via rivers. Unfortunately, the main processes contributing to plastic and debris displacement through riparian systems is still poorly understood. The Marine Litter Drifter project from the Arno River aims at using modern consumer software and hardware technologies to track the movements of real anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) from rivers. The innovative “Marine Litter Trackers” (MLT) were utilized as they are reliable, robust, self-powered and they present almost no maintenance costs. Furthermore, they can be built not only by those trained in the field but also by those with no specific expertise, including high school students, simply by following the instructions. Five dispersion experiments were successfully conducted from April 2021 to December 2021, using different types of trackers in different seasons and weather conditions. The maximum distance tracked was 2845 km for a period of 94 days. The activity at sea was integrated by use of Lagrangian numerical models that also assisted in planning the deployments and the recovery of drifters. The observed tracking data in turn were used for calibration and validation, recursively improving their quality. The dynamics of marine litter (ML) dispersion in the Tyrrhenian Sea is also discussed, along with the potential for open-source approaches including the “citizen science” perspective for both improving big data collection and educating/awareness-raising on AMD issues. Full article

Population growth and industrialization have led to a race for greater food and supply productivity. As a result, the occupation and population of forest areas, contact with wildlife and their respective parasites and vectors, the trafficking and consumption of wildlife, the pollution of water sources, and the accumulation of waste occur more frequently. Concurrently, the agricultural and livestock production for human consumption has accelerated, often in a disorderly way, leading to the deforestation of areas that are essential for the planet’s climatic and ecological balance. The effects of human actions on other ecosystems such as the marine ecosystem cause equally serious damage, such as the pollution of this habitat, and the reduction of the supply of fish and other animals, causing the coastal population to move to the continent. The sum of these factors leads to an increase in the demands such as housing, basic sanitation, and medical assistance, making these populations underserved and vulnerable to the effects of global warming and to the emergence of emerging and re-emerging diseases. In this article, we discuss the anthropic actions such as climate changes, urbanization, deforestation, the trafficking and eating of wild animals, as well as unsustainable agricultural intensification which are drivers for emerging and re-emerging of zoonotic pathogens such as viral (Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Hendravirus, Nipah virus, rabies, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease-2), bacterial (leptospirosis, Lyme borreliosis, and tuberculosis), parasitic (leishmaniasis) and fungal pathogens, which pose a substantial threat to the global community. Finally, we shed light on the urgent demand for the implementation of the One Health concept as a collaborative global approach to raise awareness and educate people about the science behind and the battle against zoonotic pathogens to mitigate the threat for both humans and animals. Full article