Ocean Science Literacy means understanding the Ocean’s influence on humans and human influence on the Ocean. The oceans and seas offer new opportunities for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. To realize this potential we need to increase scientific knowledge about the oceans and seas (ocean literacy) and their resources, and disseminate such knowledge among professionals and societies to reduce risk and stimulate innovation.

The transition toward a new social model based on knowledge will be complex, difficult and inspiring task. It means engaging broad international communities to build on the decades of research and collaboration that have already contributed substantially to our understanding of marine environments. The framework behind this session is summarised by the Ocean Literacy Framework:
• The ocean affects every human life. It supplies nearly all Earth’s oxygen. It moderates the Earth’s climate, influences weather, and affects human health (develop a society-driven data and knowledge for ocean science)
• From the ocean humans get foods, medicines, energy resources and transport routes. This involves jobs, which are a consistent part of the nation’s economy and plays a role in national security (Ecosystem services)
• The ocean is a source of inspiration, recreation, rejuvenation and discovery. It is also an important element in the heritage of many cultures (this includes also the importance of the ocean science and technology historical developments in our cultural heritage)
• Much of the world’s population lives in coastal areas (involve societies in marine environmental protection)
• Humans affect the ocean in a variety of ways. Laws, regulations and resource management affect what is taken out and put into the ocean. Human development and activity lead to pollution (such as point source, non-point source, and noise pollution) and physical modifications (such as changes to beaches, shores and rivers). In addition, humans have removed many large and small vertebrates from the ocean affecting the several trophic chains (involve societies in decision making).
• Coastal regions are susceptible to natural hazards (such as tsunamis, hurricanes, cyclones, sea level change, and storm surges) (involve societies in coastal zone management and marine spatial planning).
• Everyone is responsible for caring for the ocean. The ocean sustains life on Earth and humans must live in ways that sustain the ocean. Individual and collective actions are needed to effectively manage ocean resources for all (develop a collaborative science-technology-society framework).

The Ocean Science Literacy session will contribute to a new scientific knowledge and information framework for the oceans and seas that is people-centred, inclusive, and equitable. It will develop a cultural framework that can provide an historical background on the marine environments with technological, scientific and economic implications.

Presentations during the sessions should focus on:
• Initiatives to maintain cultural artefacts (books, videos, historical objects, etc) in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations; these will include history of the progress of ocean sciences and submarine archaeology;
• Current knowledge on the historical and present day effects of human activities on global warming, ocean acidification, sea level rise, weather patterns, marine ecosystems, biodiversity, fishery resources and ecosystem services;
• Roles of museums and aquaria in implementing the oceans and marine environments knowledge society.