Notions of the Ocean: How Literacy About Ocean Issues Affects Marine Policy

This class explores the idea of ocean citizenship and it is influenced by literacy about ocean issues. Students will explore in class the idea of the Anthropocene, the many ways the Anthropocene interacts with the ocean, and how literacy about the ocean affects the ways the Anthropocene interacts with the ocean. In the field students will quantify anthropogenic impacts on a local site (Gumbo Limbo Nature Center) via a beach and mangrove cleanup and how beach clean ups influence literacy about ocean issues. During the beach clean ups students will quantify the amount of debris collected and composition. They will then analyze this data to determine the source of debris, and critically evaluate how literacy affects the composition and amount of debris at the site. Students will also administer pre and post clean up surveys to students participating in the beach and mangrove clean ups to determine the effectiveness of beach clean ups in increasing literacy about ocean issues.

In keeping with the mission of Lynn University, the underlying premise of this course is that each of us is a learner and teacher. That is, students as well as faculty have the capacity and responsibility to contribute to the learning process in significant and meaningful ways.