School students, teachers and scientists on board: EDUCATIONAL OCEANOGRAFIC CRUISES IN AEGEAN SEA (GREECE)

Humans are inherently connected to the ocean, a relationship particularly evident in countries such as Greece, which is geographically surrounded by the sea and historically intertwined with the Mediterranean. Despite this connection, research including the International Ocean Literacy Survey (IOLS) has shown that citizens often have a limited understanding of marine-related phenomena and hold misconceptions about the marine environment. This lack of ocean literacy is partly due to the limited inclusion of ocean-related content in formal education curricula.

Recent updates to the Greek national curricula (2022–2023) have incorporated ocean and sea-related topics across subjects such as Geology-Geography and Environmental & Sustainable Development Education. These include themes related to the hydrosphere, marine geology, climate change, water resource management, and the interconnection between humans and marine ecosystems. However, despite these efforts, coverage remains limited due to time constraints within formal schooling.

This study aims to highlight the importance of preparing school students to act as informed and responsible citizens who understand the significance of marine ecosystems and how they are affected by human activities, particularly in sea-oriented societies such as those of the Mediterranean.

The article presents results from two educational oceanographic cruises conducted in the Aegean Sea in Greece (Saronikos Gulf and the Cretan Sea) aboard research vessels. The cruises were organized within the thematic environmental education network “My School Voyages with Perseus”, involving around 300 students and 30 teachers over four years. Of these, 40 students and 20 teachers participated directly in the cruises.

The educational program placed strong emphasis on marine geology and geological processes shaping marine ecosystems, alongside key marine environmental topics such as marine biodiversity, overfishing, chemical marine pollution, bioaccumulation and human health, eutrophication in marine waters, and marine litter. Students also engaged with digital citizen-science monitoring tools.

Findings demonstrate strong student engagement, enthusiasm, and awareness of marine environmental issues. Participants showed increased understanding of human impacts on marine ecosystems and developed a deeper commitment to ocean protection, both as future citizens and potential scientists.

The outcomes underline the effectiveness of experiential, inquiry-based learning approaches —such as educational oceanographic cruises— in fostering ocean literacy and environmental responsibility among young learners. Integrating such experiential activities within or alongside formal education can play a crucial role in developing environmentally conscious future citizens and potential marine scientists.