Abstract
Marine debris is a global environmental problem especially apparent on small islands throughout the world. We implemented an educational outreach program to engage primary and secondary students in the scientific process using the tangible issue of marine debris on a typical small island in Indonesia (Barrang Lompo, Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi). Over a three-year period, students conducted systematic sampling of debris on their island's beaches. They quantified the enormity of the debris problem, discussed data, and compared experiences with partner schools in California. The program inspired a unique, local perspective on marine debris that includes greater awareness of human health impacts as well as a need for realistic solutions to this problem faced by small islands.
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Marine Ecosystem Ecology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Marine Science
We implemented an educational outreach program to engage primary and secondary students in the scientific process using the tangible issue of marine debris on a typical small island in Indonesia (Barrang Lompo, Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi)
Marine debris is any anthropogenic, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded in the marine environment directly or indirectly from activities on land and at sea (UNEP/NOAA, 2012)
Summary
Educational outreach regarding the impacts of marine debris can be a low cost and effective means of addressing marine debris issues on local and regional scales (McIlgorm et al, 2008; UNEP/NOAA, 2012), especially as debris often originates from both local and distant sources (Hardesty et al, 2015). Raising awareness can motivate on-the-ground community action (Chandler et al, 2012; Crabbe, 2012), and addressing relevant, tangible environmental issues is a means to engage students in science education (Hudson, 2001; Chawla and Cushing, 2007). We aimed to raise awareness of the impacts and scale of marine debris and to expose kindergarten through grade 12 (hereafter, “K-12”) students to the scientific method through an educational outreach program partnering universities [Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), University of California, Davis] and K-12 schools. The UNHAS marine station is located on the island of Barrang Lompo, 12 km from the city of Makassar and part of the Spermonde Islands in South Sulawesi. Marine debris overwhelms the shorelines of Barrang Lompo (Figure 1A) and many of the populated islands in the Spermondes since there is little waste management infrastructure and few technical solutions
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