The ocean covers 71% of our planet’s surface, yet most students graduate without understanding their connection to marine ecosystems. UNESCO is changing that narrative with groundbreaking educational initiatives that transform how young people learn about ocean protection.
At the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay made a compelling case for education as the cornerstone of ocean conservation.
“To protect the ocean, we must change our relationship with it, and this change begins with education,” Azoulay emphasized while unveiling programs that span from traditional classrooms to digital gaming platforms.
Brazil Leads the Way with World’s First National Ocean Curriculum
In a historic achievement, Brazil became the first country to adopt a comprehensive national curriculum dedicated to ocean literacy, covering education from primary through secondary levels. This milestone represents years of collaboration between UNESCO and Brazilian educators to integrate marine science into everyday learning.
The success builds on UNESCO’s educational reference framework for ocean education, presented at the 2022 One Ocean Summit. This framework has already connected nearly 2,400 schools across 48 countries to the global Blue Schools network, providing structured guidance for institutions ready to dive deeper into ocean-focused teaching.
South Africa, Portugal, and South Korea are following Brazil’s lead, developing their own ocean-focused educational content with UNESCO’s support. These partnerships demonstrate how international cooperation can accelerate environmental education on a global scale.
Gaming Meets Ocean Science: Minecraft Ocean Heroes Launches
UNESCO is meeting students where they spend their time: in digital worlds. The organization has partnered with Minecraft Education and Voice of the Ocean Foundation to create “Ocean Heroes,” an immersive adventure that transforms gaming into learning.
Over 35 million Minecraft players can now explore scientifically accurate coral reefs, kelp forests, and mangroves aboard virtual research vessels. Players face real-world challenges including pollution, climate change, and invasive species while developing practical knowledge of marine biology and conservation techniques.
The game goes beyond entertainment, offering concrete scientific challenges that develop critical thinking skills and reinforce understanding of human impacts on marine ecosystems. Each mission is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical conservation action.
SEA BEYOND Partnership Renewed
The partnership between UNESCO and the Prada Group continues to make waves in ocean education. Their SEA BEYOND program has trained over 34,000 students across 56 countries since 2019, including the establishment of an ocean education center in Venice.
The collaboration is expanding with a new fund specifically designed to finance youth-led ocean projects worldwide. With an initial €2 million contribution from the Prada Group, this UNESCO fund will support young people creating ocean education and conservation initiatives within their communities. The fund opens to additional partners in 2026, promising even greater impact.
Environmental DNA Project Engages Students
UNESCO has transformed its cutting-edge research into hands-on learning opportunities. The organization’s environmental DNA pilot program, which successfully mapped 4,500 marine species across 21 World Heritage marine sites, actively involved local schools in scientific sampling missions over three years.
This innovative approach allows students to contribute to real scientific discovery while learning about biodiversity assessment techniques. With support from the Minderoo Foundation, the program is expanding to 25 additional UNESCO-protected marine areas, offering more students the chance to become citizen scientists.
Building Tomorrow’s Ocean Stewards Today
The numbers speak to UNESCO’s growing influence in ocean education: nearly 350,000 young people and adults have received training in ocean protection issues through UNESCO programs. This represents a fundamental shift in how environmental education reaches communities worldwide.
The Blue Schools network continues expanding, providing teachers with practical activities and field projects that make ocean science tangible and relevant. Schools joining the network receive comprehensive support for integrating marine topics across subjects, from biology and chemistry to geography and social studies.
Finally, Education as Conservation Strategy
UNESCO’s approach recognizes a crucial truth: lasting ocean protection requires generational change in how humans relate to marine environments. By embedding ocean literacy in formal education systems, UNESCO is creating a foundation for informed decision-making that will influence policy, consumer behavior, and conservation efforts for decades.
The organization’s multi-faceted strategy addresses different learning styles and contexts. Traditional classroom curricula serve students in formal education systems, while gaming platforms reach youth in informal learning environments. Community-based programs ensure that ocean education extends beyond school walls.
As climate change and human activities continue threatening marine ecosystems, UNESCO’s educational initiatives offer hope through knowledge transfer and awareness building. The organization demonstrates how international cooperation, innovative partnerships, and creative teaching methods can scale ocean education globally.
These programs represent more than educational innovation; they constitute a comprehensive strategy for building the ocean literacy necessary to address 21st-century marine challenges. Through interactive classrooms, games, and community partnerships, UNESCO is cultivating the next generation of ocean stewards.
Learn more about UNESCO’s actions for ocean education:
- UNESCO ocean programmes
- Minecraft: Ocean Heroes
- UNESCO Ocean Literacy
- UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Claudia Rossini / Courtesy of UNESCO
Written by: Junior Thanong Aiamkhophueng, based on UNESCO official press release, June 10, 2025
About the Organization
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions, with a global network of 200 National Commissions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
More information: www.unesco.org
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