One Connected Ocean: Changing how young minds relate to the sea

United by a shared commitment to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the Formas funded project set out to fundamentally shift how young people perceive and relate to the ocean.

“We didn’t want to amplify eco-anxiety,” says project lead Louise Hård af Segerstad. “Instead, we focused on creating systems-based stories that help students understand both the complexity of the ocean’s challenges and the hopeful pathways emerging in response.”

Seven narratives, one ocean

The project invited school students to Universeum in Gothenburg, where they engaged with interactive, story-based learning modules that were built on seven narratives. Each narrative was grounded in current science and designed to illuminate key oceanic challenges identified by the UN. From the collapse of Baltic cod populations to the global issue of plastic pollution, the stories highlighted the interconnectedness of ecosystems, economies, and societies.

The seven narratives – Cod, Justice, Nutrition, Algae, Plastic Pollution, Human-Ocean Relationships, and Biomimicry – were co-developed by researchers and educators to make global issues locally relevant and emotionally resonant. For instance, the "Cod" narrative explored how Sweden moved from being self-sufficient to becoming the world’s fifth-largest importer of cod, revealing hidden environmental and social costs of global seafood trade.

Similarly, the “Justice” narrative gave voice to small-scale fishers around the world – many of whom are women – whose livelihoods and traditional knowledge are often excluded from global policy decisions, despite their critical role in sustainable fisheries and nutritious food supply.

“By linking local seafood habits to global equity and ecosystem health, we aimed to expand young people’s awareness of the how the ocean is connecting lives around the globe,” explains Hård af Segerstad. “It’s about seeing beyond the fish on your plate.”

From problem to possibility

In contrast to more conventional approaches that emphasize threats and loss, One Connected Ocean framed marine issues as invitations to think creatively. Nowhere was this more evident than in the narrative on biomimicry – the idea of learning from, rather than extracting from, the ocean.

“Marine organisms solve design problems every day – in more sustainable and efficient ways than we can,” says Hård af Segerstad. “By studying them, we not only deepen our appreciation for biodiversity, we unlock new pathways for innovation.”

Students learned about the Iron Snail, a deep-sea species that has inspired the development of next-generation protective materials, and about algae, whose photosynthetic properties may hold the key to reducing atmospheric CO₂. These stories were not science fiction – they were invitations to explore science as a tool for ecological stewardship.

Universeum as a living lab

Universeum played a pivotal role in transforming complex science into engaging, tactile learning. As Sweden’s leading science centre, Universeum provided not just a space, but an atmosphere – immersive, exploratory, and rooted in curiosity. The collaboration showcased how informal education environments can be powerful platforms for sustainability science outreach.

The interdisciplinary co-creation process itself was a significant achievement. Researchers brought rigorous, up-to-date knowledge; educators translated this into age-appropriate, interactive and narrative-driven formats. This two-way exchange ensured the materials were both scientifically and pedagogically robust.

“Universeum is the ideal partner,” says Hård af Segerstad. “They bring deep experience in science communication and a shared vision for transformative learning.”

Looking forward

One Connected Ocean exemplifies what it means to change humanity’s relationship with the ocean – by starting with stories, sparking empathy, and inviting agency. It aligns with Challenge 10 of the UN Ocean Decade: to fundamentally alter how people relate to marine environments.

By equipping students not only with facts but also with frameworks for understanding systems, ethics, and design, the project hopes to seed long-term shifts in attitudes and behaviours.

“Our goal was never just to inform – it was to transform,” concludes Hård af Segerstad. “If even a few students walk away seeing the ocean not as something distant and endangered, but as something alive, interconnected, and full of potential, then we’ve succeeded.”