explorocean's Wendy Marshall


A major component of ExplorOcean is what is known as “ocean literacy.” Wendy Marshall, Explor-

Ocean's director of education and public programs, is building relationships with school districts to educate students about world oceans and inspire a new generation of ocean explorers.

Marshall talked to the Register about ExplorOcean's current activities in the realm of ocean education and its plans to expand these programs.

Q: How important is the educational component to ExplorOcean?

A: The educational platform is the major emphasis to where ExplorOcean is going. We are really in a prime position here with the beach, the harbor and the estuary where we can tap into so many opportunities. We don't really need to wait for this project to be completed. We have already started doing a lot of work on various ocean education programs with local schools.

Q: Is California's curriculum lacking when it comes to ocean education?

A: Absolutely. In the current curriculum, there is very little emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration. Those are really strong points of focus in all our programs. We hang our hat on the fact that the ocean is largely unexplored. We encourage children to become the next generation of explorers, seek the unknown, become inspired. In addition, we also give them the tools and get them thinking. How do you investigate something that has never been investigated? What tools do you use? How do you innovate? And, most importantly, how do you communicate and share with others what you have discovered?

Q: What are some of your current programs in local schools?

A: We just began our partnership with Costa Mesa Middle School to conduct an underwater robotics class for a group of 71 seventh-graders. We have obtained a grant from the Office of Naval Research for this program. The students will learn how to build the robots and they will be tested in Costa Mesa High School's swimming pool.

Q: Do you also reach out to younger children?

A: We are working with several elementary schools in the area, especially Huntington Beach. When I go to schools, I take a concept kids have learned and teach it from a different perspective. For example, children learn about electricity in the fourth grade but are not tested on that subject until the fifth grade. So, how do you help them remember the concept? We made wooden boats for a fourth-grade class and made them create a parallel circuit to propel the boat. When you do something hands-on, you learn to apply a concept that you have learned.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

A: We hope to give access to more children who don't have the opportunities that kids in private schools may have. We are developing a scholarship program and have plans to expand the robotics program as well.

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