Are you ocean literate? The ocean covers 71 percent of Earth’s surface and contains a whopping 99 percent of our planet’s habitable area.Scientists also estimate the ocean is home to more than 50 percent of Earth’s plant and animal species. Perhaps even more surprising than these statistics is the fact that, despite its size, we know so little about the ocean compared with land-based ecosystems.A review of global news stories on any given day is almost guaranteed to include a topic that relates to the ocean: climate change, invasive species (eg lionfish), coral bleaching, extreme weather events, overfishing, or exploration of deep sea oil/gas resources.In many ways, it’s clear how we impact the ocean — both positively and negatively — but a majority of people don’t fully understand the myriad ways the ocean impacts us on a daily basis.In other words, most people aren’t ocean literate. This begs the question: Do we want the next generation growing up without understanding the crucial linkages we share with the ocean?In the US, scientists and educators in the Ocean Literacy Network answered this question with a resounding “No!” and created a set of comprehensive educational standards that enable schoolchildren and adults to become ocean literate; that is, to understand our influence on the ocean and the ocean’s influence on us.When included in a standardised classroom curriculum, these principles can create educational systems that promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of our connection with the ocean.Considering that Bermuda is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Sargasso Sea, it seems only reasonable to include the following principles in the education of our students:* Earth has one big ocean with many features;* the ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth;* the ocean is a major influence on weather and climate;* the ocean made Earth habitable;* the ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems;* the ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected;* the ocean is largely unexplored.Luckily, there is a wealth of resources freely available from the Ocean Literacy Network to assist educators, scientists, parents, and policymakers in transforming their respective audiences into ocean literate communities:* educators can access textbooks and curricula, gain insight into using the Ocean Literacy Framework to develop instructional materials, and connect with other teachers that are using these ideas in their classrooms;* scientists are a vital component of the Ocean Literacy Network and provide the research and data necessary to develop university courses and other public educational materials. In addition, the network can assist scientists in addressing broader impact requirements for grant funding;* parents can educate themselves about ocean literacy issues and share with their children information on careers in ocean science and exploration;* policymakers play a key role in promoting ocean literacy by supporting local educational efforts, both in formal education classrooms and informal science education institutions, and supporting policy measures that protect the ocean. Government officials can also take the time to inform themselves and their colleagues about ocean-related issues, which will contribute to an ocean literate constituency in the long-term.For more information on the Ocean Literacy Network, including the aforementioned resources, the Ocean Literacy Guide, a framework diagram for educators, and recent news, please visit http://oceanliteracy.wp2.coexploration.org.