Current Log: Volume 38, Issue 1, Summer 2023
The climate and conservation landscape can be daunting and intimidating. It can be hard to feel as though actions have a meaningful impact and finding your place in broader efforts can be even more difficult. I’m sure that many of you, the readers, may be struggling with the intersection between education and direct action. I myself am writing to you while between seasonal work and find myself with the same issue: is the work we’re doing impacting the ocean in a positive way? Is it enough? I hope so.
The truth is, though it can be difficult to feel optimistic about the world, the alternative, climate nihilism, simply isn’t worth it. A pessimistic view of climate change hinders our collective ability to overcome the crisis or offer solutions and it weakens us as a community. As time marches on, it becomes more urgent that we continue to build community with those around us. In working on this summer issue, I’ve been inspired by the resilience and work of both authors and peer-reviewers. I understand that you all have had many pressing things in your lives, and yet still have contributed your time to this to help marine education grow and thrive.
The articles in this issue address gaps in teaching marine science in general education and include a variety of strategies that teachers are currently using to discuss these topics. You will read about an interactive workshop hosted for high school educators that equipped participants to teach about marine microbiology and biogeochemistry concepts in classrooms. You will also read about a novel method of engaging people with marine science: cosplay, and can read a report of NMEA demographics and how they’ve changed over the years.
Though the marine science career field may think of itself as a welcoming community, the truth is that it isn’t equitable, and this issue also describes a study done to identify factors that positively and negatively influence candidates towards marine science career fields.
The Current editorial board welcomes your feedback on this journal and its content, and we’re always welcoming new reviewers to aid us in the editing process. To contact us, please send an email to current@marine-ed.org. To submit a paper for an upcoming issue, visit current-journal. com and click on the Start Submission button.
Calm tides,
Zach Greenberg
Editor