Historically, we recognize that there has been a significant disparity in the availability of ocean-related academic and career opportunities between students from underrepresented communities and those from communities that traditionally have had access to greater resources. Ocean Connect is committed to providing students from all backgrounds an equal opportunity to connect with the ocean.
The steps that Ocean Connect is currently taking to level the playing field include:
- Developing an extensive database of internships, scholarships, research fellowships, academic programs, and training programs so that all students have the ability to see what opportunities are available.
- Creating a series of tutorials so that all students have the knowledge required to navigate the various processes for securing available opportunities.
- Creating snapshots of various ocean-related pursuits so that all students have the information they need to make informed choices about their educational and career choices.
In the future, Ocean Connect will also offer a series of scholarships so that students from underrepresented and under-resourced communities can participate in internship, research, academic, and training programs that may not fully subsidize participation in the program. Ocean Connect is also partnering with representatives from the Mystic Aquarium and the University of California San Diego School of Extended Studies to develop a model internship program that can be used as a template by colleges and universities worldwide to increase participation by high school students in ocean science.
At Ocean Connect, we believe that to fulfill our mission of ending the disparity in ocean-related opportunities, everyone must have an equal opportunity to connect to the ocean and to do so in their own unique way. If you have suggestions as to how we can better achieve this goal or if you believe we fall short of our commitment, we invite you to contact us at equality@ocean-connect.org for further discussion.