Presented at the "Sea Grant Program and the Sustainable Use of our Coasts and our Seas: Examples from USA and South Korea and the Future Direction of Japan" on 16 May 2016 at Tokyo University of Marin Science and Technology (TUMSAT) Shinagawa Campus, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

1. Open symposium,
Japan Sea Grant Meeting
16 May 2016, Tokyo
Activities of
the Ocean Literacy and Education Panel
of the Oceanographic Society of Japan
Hiroshi ICHIKAWA
Ex-Chairman, the Ocean Literacy and Education Panel (OLEP),
The Oceanographic Society of Japan (JOS)
E-mail: hiroichi@f7.dion.ne.jp
1

2. Contents
1. Reasons why OLEP was established
2. Proposal to the MEXT for including the Ocean
in the next National Guideline of education in
schools
3. Activities of OLEP/JOS
4. Activities of OLEP/JOS in future
2

3. 1. Reasons why OLEP was established
JOS (about 1700 members as of April 2016) was
established in January1941 by several tens members for
advancement and spreading of Oceanographic research
in Japan, and is one of the academic society members
of the Japan Geosciences Union (JpGU) since 2005,
the year of its establishment.
OLEP was established in April 2003 for sharing the
ocean literacy with the public and promoting the ocean
science education in schools and colleges (47 volunteer
members as of April 2016).
JOS Website: http://kaiyo-gakkai.jp/jos/
OLEP Website: http://jos-edu.com/ 3

4. The reasons:
While the ocean science is holistic,
its education in Japan is not.
Education on the ocean
has not been authorized
in the nationwide official education system.
Not systematic but partial
ocean science education is conducted
only by a limited number of very active school
teachers with many efforts.
4

5. Science education in schools in Japan
is divided into four fields
of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences.
Ocean science education is conducted
only in high schools
as a part of Geosciences education,
in which ocean science is connected
only with atmospheric science,
but not with physics, chemistry and biology.
5

6. Then, there is no space for
the holistic Ocean Science education
in geosciences education
while the Basic Act on Ocean Policy is effective
since July 20 in 2007.
Some ocean-related organizations are
promoting Ocean Education independently
from the Geosciences education community
while JOS is trying to increase its presence in
JpGU.
6

7. 2. Proposal to the MEXT for including the Ocean
in the next National Guideline of education in
schools
Oct. 2015
The MEXT committee members started discussion on the outline
of Next National Guideline for curricula of all courses of study in
schools (from kinder garden to high-school)
Until the end of Mach 2017 (schedule fixed)
To determine the outline of Next National Guideline.
From April 2020 (schedule estimated)
To start the new education system at primary schools
directed by the Next National Guideline.
Proposals from outside of MEXT posted until March 2016 are
supposed to be considered by the MEXT committee members. 7

8. June 2005: While OLEP Chairman presented at JpGU committee
meeting a proposal to include the ocean in the new ‘basic
science’ education course for high school students, the
committee rejected the proposal.
Sept. 2014: OLEP members started discussion on a new proposal
for the next national guideline to include the ocean in the
science education for the 4-th grade students of primary school.
Jan. 2016: JOS accepted the proposal by OLEP that JOS and
many other ocean-related academic societies should present
the new proposal to the MEXT until the end of March 2016.
The JOS president sent an invitation letter to each of
Presidents of many other society or academic organizations.
16 March 2016: Ocean-related 30 academic societies or
committees agreed with the revised proposal.
4 April 2016: The JOS president presented the proposal to MEXT.8

9. Proposal:
Set up the new unit named by "the role of the ocean"
with three total hours as the first of science units for the
4-th grade students. By this unit, students learn a part of
the facts that, in the sea, various kinds of matters in the
physical, biological, chemical and geological fields are
interacting to each other, and increase their willingness
to learn more the science in a comprehensive manner.
Suggested questions for students to think about and
learn with each other in "the role of the ocean" :
a. Where do the fishes we eat every day live in?
b. Where does the salt in a bottle on table come from?
c. Where does the river water come from and go to?
d. What can we do for conserving the marine lives?
e. What should be warned at the sea side? 9

10. 3. Activities of OLEP/JOS
• Publishing reference hard books
• Publishing materials on website for primary
school teachers and students
• Supporting seminars on board of research
vessel for high-school teachers and students.
• Supporting Oceanographer's talks at sea side
for primary school students
• Operating 'Ocean Science Cafe' for the public
• Supporting JOS members to learn COSIA.
• Participating some Science Event and Festival.
• Sending JOS members to class rooms.
10

11. “Learn on the Ocean” (April 2003) for high school
students, primary and junior-high school teachers, and
parents.
“Trivia of Oceans” Vol.1 (June 2005)
“Trivia of Oceans” Vol.2 (Sept. 2006)
for primary school teachers, and
parents.
11

12. “Ocean is going around, Sciences on the Ocean supporting the
society and livings” (2013) for freshmen in universities and
colleges. 12

13. Learning Material on the Web： “Let’s learn on the Ocean”
URL： http://jos-edu.com/umi_o_manabou/
13

14. “Let’ learn on the Ocean on board of a research vessel”
Participants: 60 students + 20 teaches in nation-wide high schools
5 or 7 days in August of five years, 2006—2010.
Ocean Observations
on the sea
Analysis in laboratory
on land
presentations
14

15. Place and date: Manazuru Town at Izu, on 2 days in July of
2009 - 2016
Participants: 40 primary school students (2 classes, 9 years
old) with teachers in each year
Works: Sampling planktons at a wharf, and watching
planktons by microscope.
Leaning at the sea side
Plankton sampling Microscope watching 15

16. September 2014, Nagasaki
March 2008, Tokyo
March 2016, Tokyo
Ocean Science Café
twice a year since 2008
16

17. COSIA Workshop for graduates and young researchers.
once a year since 2012
“Communication of Ocean Science for Informal
Audience” developed by
the Lawrence Hall of Science, UCB.
March 2015, Tokyo
17

18. Science Agora for the public
In 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015
Girls Summer School for high
school students and teachers
In 2014 and 2015
August 2015, Saitama
Nov. 2015, Tokyo
18

19. Special lecture of Oceanography for students
participating the International Earth Science Olympiad
In 2012 - 2015
August 2015, Tsukuba
August 2014, Tsukuba 19

20. 4. Activities of OLEP/JOS in future
 To provide various kinds of lectures, text
books and others to school teachers having
classes such as ‘the role of the ocean’ in
future schools.
 To continue supporting young ocean
researchers by providing various kinds of
opportunities such as COSIA.
 To continue spreading the Ocean Literacy to
the public.
20