We spent the quarter studying the changing oceans, how the ocean and climate are linked, and ways in which humans are impacting the oceans, and oceans impact human populations. The final assignment will give you the opportunity to dive deeper into one of the topics that this course introduced you to by investigating an opportunity for action to improve ocean health. The following five (5) ocean-based actions can play a critical role in helping the world to avoid the worst impacts of climate change:
Scaling ocean-based renewable energy
Decarbonizing ocean-based transport
Conserving and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems
Utilizing low carbon food from the ocean
Developing marine carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture and storage under the seabed
ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES
(Research and) Explain one of the opportunities for action across one of the 5 ocean-based actions listed above;
(Research and) Explain the science of how and why this action will improve ocean health; and
Synthesize your research in an infographic to share what you learned with a friend or family member.
WHAT ARE OCEAN-BASED ACTIONS?
Its potential is enormous, but the ocean is in trouble. With the extreme heat and weather events experienced worldwide in 2023, the United Nations has stated that the era of ‘global boiling’ is upon us. Urgent action is needed to address both the causes of climate change and its impact on the ocean’s health. Policymakers, governments, and civil society groups must include ocean policy in climate action. Solutions also require greater engagement and coordination across businesses and industry, inclusion of communities and stakeholders and robust monitoring and evaluation.
The ocean can provide solutions that are viable and ready-to-implement to help ‘correct the course’ on climate change. What’s needed now is action to deliver these solutions and significant levels of investment to make it possible – before we run out of time. The following 5 ocean-based actions have been identified as having the potential to play a pivotal role in steering the world away from the most severe repercussions of climate change:
Scaling ocean-based renewable energy
Decarbonizing ocean-based transport
Conserving and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems
Utilizing low-carbon food sourced from the ocean
Developing marine carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture and storage beneath the seabed
THE PROJECT
A. Pick one Ocean-Based Action. Read through “The Oceans as a Solution to Climate Change
Actions
” and watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1GNi0Btlgk&t=7s
to an external site. to learn about the 5 ocean-based actions (listed above) and pick the one action you are most interested in researching.
B. Research the how and why of the ocean-based action you have chosen. Evaluate this climate action/solution from a scientific perspective based what you have learned this quarter. Start by thinking about these questions.
Policy-wise: What is being suggested? What are the changes being made?
Write a research paper outlining how a particular action or solution would affect our communities, businesses, and the environment. Scientifically, why does this ocean-based action improve our climate? Think about what you’ve learned in class about how the ocean is being impacted and relate it to the policy changes from question 1. THIS PART MUST BE SUPPORTED WITH DATA AND MUST INCLUDE CITED LITERATURE.
How would this action impact the ocean environment and improve its health? You must relate the action to improvement in ocean health to get full credit. THIS PART MUST ALSO BE SUPPORTED WITH DATA AND MUST INCLUDE CITED LITERATURE.
How would action/solution impact the environment, business, and our communities? Make the research relevant to people!
How big is this impact? Why does this action matter to the health of ocean, marine organisms, or humans? What are the pros and cons of enacting the solution you’ve chosen? THIS PART MUST ALSO BE SUPPORTED WITH DATA AND MUST INCLUDE CITED LITERATURE OR GRAPH. This also helps strengthen the narrative of your infographic.
C. Share your topic by creating an infographic https://www.columnfivemedia.com/infographic/
to an external site. describing this Ocean-based action and explaining your research. Review the Grading Criteria and Rubric to get a sense of what to include in your infographic.
Your infographic will synthesize the research you’ve done
You will include design elements and graphs to portray quantitative and qualitative data that is easy for a reader/viewer to consume
You will be graded mostly on content/research (70%) but also on design/readability (30%)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The infographic is the final assignment of the course and is intended to represent the culmination of your efforts in OCN 102. We ask that you put significant effort into this assignment and demonstrate your ability to synthesize complex oceanographic and environmental concepts.
We are requiring you to synthesize learned information from this quarter as well as skills such as: finding and reviewing 1° and 2° research, interpreting graphs, in-text citations, and summarizing/discussion ocean change and the impact on civilizations.
Your infographic must be created using design software like PowerPoint (as a single slide), InDesign, or Canva and it must be submitted as a .pptx or .pdf file.
Students can download software at reduced or no cost, thanks to various license agreements the UW has with software vendors. Click here to learn more.
Upload your infographic and reference page to this assignment using “File Upload”.
30 points (from “Design” category in the grading rubric) will be deducted if infographic is more than 1 page (or slide) and not an infographic (e.g. do not submit a slideshow). Your references can be submitted as a second page without penalty.
This is an independent project.
YOUR GRADE: (PLEASE REVIEW LINKED ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC AS WELL)
Here are the broad categories that your assignment will be graded on:
Content (70%)
Your infographic must be well-researched. This means you put time and effort into finding sources and material. It will be evaluated using the following criteria. Additionally, a point breakdown is provided in the accompanying rubric
Criteria
points
Content – Ocean-Based Action
Student has chosen one action and explains how, scientifically, it is linked to ocean health.
10
Content – Background
Infographic includes well-researched background that adds context and scientific explanation to the importance of this ocean-based action/solution (e.g., If you are making an infographic about Blue Carbon, you describe what Blue Carbon is). Infographic includes a description of a proposed solution and adds an explanation of why this is a viable solution, scientifically (e.g., if you choose “reduce greenhouse gases,” HOW will you reduce greenhouse gases, and describes why this is or is not an effective strategy.) There must be an explanation of how ocean health and/or human health will be improved/impacted with the chosen solution.
20
Content – Quality of Sources
Include AT LEAST 3 SCIENTIFIC references that provide information and data to support the importance of the ocean-based action. Infographic includes at least three valid, scientific references that are related to ocean-based action. Valid references include peer-reviewed journals, reputable secondary literature resources, such as EPA.org, NOAA, Course materials, etc. At least one reference discusses how ocean-based action would improve ocean health.
Outside information should be rephrased in your own words
You may cite course content and Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change but these do not count towards your three-reference total.
10
Content – Inclusion of data
Infographic contains values/data/statistics that quantify he potential improvements to ocean health from implementation of the ocean-based climate solution OR data/statistics that explain why implementation of the ocean-based action is necessary. This is in addition to the inclusion of a data visualization. Student should data/values/statistics to support the importance of the ocean-based action that help to convey why the solution is necessary or by how much the solution could improve ocean health.
10
Content – Data Visualization
Include AT LEAST 1 plot of real data that is relevant to your topic. Plot or data visualization must include title and caption and make sense in the context of your ocean-based action.
Data visualization supports message being conveyed in the ocean-based action. The data visualization is properly cited and includes a caption and title. The caption and title are accurate and help the reader understand exactly what is being shown in the graph/visualization.
10
Content –Inclusion of References
Outside information is cited (data AND text), either using superscripts or parenthetical and these references are included on the infographic or on a separate page*
10
Design (30%)
Your infographic must also be well-designed. It should be clear when we look at it what your ideas are/what aspect of ocean health you are trying to improve.
Criteria
points
Text is easy to read (font is large enough to read easily, contrast between background
10
Balance between text and images – need to have scientific info in short, digestible statements
5
Images help convey message
10
Infographic is well-organized – ideas flow and it makes sense.
5
*Clipart and basic design images (e.g. clipart, emojis) do not need to be cited, but images and plots do!
