Education

Oceans₂Classrooms, the Marine Science Institute's education & outreach program, provides an ocean view of the world for students of all ages. Multi-faceted programs immerse participants in marine science to explore the mysteries of the sea and its critical role on the planet, while seeking solutions to its most pressing challenges. Oceans₂Classrooms delivers innovative global learning to k-12 and post-secondary institutions, educators, community groups and the public.

Oceans₂Classrooms

Oceans2Classrooms

Our primary destination program, the REEF (Research Experience and Education Facility) is located just down the road from MSI, and in addition to hosting visits from over 20,000 students of all ages, it sponsors the Mobile REEF, a traveling experience that visits classrooms throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.

O₂C takes advantage of the rich resources of MSI, and is uniquely positioned to link marine research and education. UCSB is home to dozens of leading marine scientists conducting cutting edge research from the coral reefs of Polynesia, to the kelp forests of the Pacific and to Antarctica. O₂C taps into this expertise to provide pioneering education programs based on the latest marine science research.

The Outreach Center for Teaching Ocean Science

In 2009 UCSB and MSI will break ground on a new outreach building, located adjacent to the Marine Science Institute overlooking a bluff on the Pacific Ocean. The Outreach Center for Teaching Ocean Science (OCTOS) is a joint venture of MSI and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its local affiliate, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS). At OCTOS, these two renowned organizations open a new window on the sea. Using the latest technology, students of all ages will be immersed in the ocean to explore its critical role on the planet and to seek solutions to its most pressing challenges.