OBS Ocean Explorers

The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat. Jacques-Yves Cousteau

The oceans are the lifeblood of Earth. They cover over 70 percent of the planet’s surface, driving weather, regulating temperature, and supporting all living organisms. Throughout history, the ocean has been a vital source of sustenance, transport, commerce, growth, and inspiration.

The oceans are vast, interconnected yet separate, full of life and surprising beauty, and a critical resource which we must properly and carefully steward.  Forbidding environments, fascinating ecosystems and creatures, and a myriad of opportunities for scientific research have challenged us throughout the centuries to find new ways to learn and be inspired to live responsibly and thoughtfully in connection with the oceans. Yet for all of our reliance on the ocean, more than eighty percent of this vast, underwater realm remains unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored.

One of the goals of OBS is to teach students to contribute wisely to a future in which oceanic environments are protected and thrive, so that the human race may also flourish. By 2050 our seas will be viewed as more than a platform for tourism and recreation and rather an ocean for solutions. Our sustainable energy solutions will be aided by marine algae–derived biofuel, while new medicines to treat modern diseases will be derived from sea creatures with novel chemical structures.

There is still so much we don’t know. We need to keep learning about our water world, especially the deep sea and the immense role of the oceans in global climate change.

All of us need to do our part. We are all stewards of the ocean and the planet. We must continue to explore. We must continue to study the things we don’t yet understand and protect the resources we have for future generations.