An innovative programme launched in April 2024, following successful trials in 2023, has immersed over 375 residential students from North Ayrshire in weekly marine research activities. This initiative blends classroom theory with practical, hands-on exploration, marking a groundbreaking collaboration between the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) and the Arran Outdoor Education Centre (AOEC). It is the first programme of its kind in the UK, combining cutting-edge marine research tools with immersive outdoor learning experiences.
Guided by experts from COAST and AOEC, students engage with advanced tools such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), seabed cameras, plankton nets, and Secchi discs to monitor marine life, map habitats, and measure environmental conditions. These tools, typically reserved for professional research, empower children to explore Scotland’s rich marine biodiversity.
The work has already yielded impressive results, including the discovery of marine species in previously unrecorded locations around the Isle of Arran. These findings directly support ongoing marine recovery in the area, providing students with tangible proof that their work contributes to meaningful change. As one child enthusiastically shared, “It’s learning, but fun!”
In addition to research, students explore the inspiring story behind Scotland’s first No-Take Zone, learning how collective action can drive impactful environmental recovery and encouraging them to envision their own potential to make a difference.
Bridging the Blue-Green Gap
While the benefits of green spaces1 for children’s mental, physical, and social development are well-documented, the potential of “blue spaces”—our oceans and waterways—is only beginning to gain recognition. This programme leverages these benefits by allowing students to interact directly with Scotland’s vibrant marine ecosystems, fostering a deeper connection to nature and a unique perspective on conservation.
“Education and outreach are vital to inspire people to protect what they cannot see,” says Jenny Crockett, Outreach and Communications Manager at COAST. “By giving young people the chance to witness marine life and habitats firsthand through advanced technology, we create a powerful connection. This experience not only deepens their understanding of the vital role healthy marine ecosystems play in our lives but also ignites their commitment to conservation.”
A Pioneering Partnership
The programme is delivered at no additional cost to schools’ residential packages at AOEC, thanks to the groundbreaking partnership between COAST and AOEC, which allows children to learn about how our seas are vital to help combat climate change. By taking a deep dive into Scotland’s vibrant marine ecosystems, students have seen first-hand and helped map many Blue Carbon habitats in Arran’s waters – so called due to their capabilities to store carbon within their systems.
COAST’s research vessel, the RV COAST Explorer – launched in 2023 with support from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund – is pivotal to the programme. While the vessel primarily supports academic and government research, it now plays a vital role in bringing marine science to life for young people, connecting then to Scotland’s marine environment in transformative ways and equipping them to become champions of ecological and climate awareness, setting a new standard for conservation-focused education.
“The collaboration between the Centre and COAST is truly unique,” says Martin Wood, Team Leader at AOEC. “Our mission to inspire and educate through outdoor learning finds its perfect match here on the Isle of Arran. Combining a residential experience with hands-on scientific exploration aboard a working research vessel is an unparalleled opportunity that offers immeasurable value to the next generation.”
Combating Eco-Anxiety
As children face rising eco-anxiety – a growing mental health concern tied to climate change and biodiversity loss – programmes like this are more important than ever. As Professor Greg Mannion, Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Stirling stated recently to the Scottish Parliament Education Committee2: “We know that one of the solutions to broad mental and general wellbeing is contact with nature…another solution is taking action. Pro-agency approaches, in which young people are involved in doing something for the environment, are known to ameliorate their eco-anxiety”. By empowering young people to take part in conservation efforts, this programme exemplifies such approaches, and demonstrates that individual actions, especially when undertaken as part of a community, can drive tangible change. It provides not just knowledge but also hope, empowering the next generation to actively safeguard the planet.
COAST and AOEC are charting a course for the future of conservation-focused education. By equipping young people with the tools, knowledge, and experiences to become champions of ecological and climate awareness, they are cultivating a new generation of environmental leaders – one ROV dive and seabed survey at a time.
References
1) Sakhavidi M.J.Z. et al. Greenspace and health, wellbeing, physical activity, and development in children and adolescents: An overview of the systematic reviews. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health, Volume 32, April 2023.
2) The Scottish Parliament, Education, Children and Young People Committee, Wednesday 06 November 2024. (Official Report Transcription: Page 16/22)
Further Coverage on this piece can be viewed:
The Herald – ‘Transformative’ partnership turns pupils into marine scientists
Last Updated on 17th December 2024