2 min read
Sep 25, 2023
Ocean Diagnostics Partners with Water Rangers To Bridge Classroom Learning and Environmental Impact
New educational toolkits will advance STEAM and nature-based learning in Canadian middle and high schools
Sept 11, 2023 – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Ocean Diagnostics and Water Rangers have partnered to provide immersive nature-based learning opportunities to Canadian middle and high schools. With an aligned mission to protect the environment by collecting scientific data to fill knowledge gaps, the organizations have teamed up to provide transdisciplinary and hands-on STEAM-based activities, tools and technology to future environmental leaders.
"We are thrilled to partner with Water Rangers to make environmental science and technology accessible to students across the country,” says Ashleigh Erwin, Ocean Diagnostics Director of Marketing and Communications. “This collaboration will significantly enhance opportunities for students to learn how to tackle the complex issues they will face in their lifetime.”
Canada boasts the world's longest coastline, borders three oceans and has the most freshwater lakes in the world. Despite its vast water resources, Canadian waterways face serious threats, including pollution, acidification and harmful algae blooms influenced by human activities. The concerning state of Canada’s coastlines, lakes and rivers drove Water Rangers and Ocean Diagnostics into action.
Using Water Rangers’ Water Quality Testkit and Ocean Diagnostics’ Microplastics Educational Toolkit, students will learn about, collect, analyze and communicate data on water quality and microplastic pollution while building core competencies like data computation, critical thinking and collaboration.
The Kits include suggested lesson plans, educational resources, science activities to collect and analyze data in the classroom or the field, cutting-edge technology, like an AI-based imaging system and a water quality database, and communications tools. Developed in line with federal and provincial curricula, the activities can be tailored to meet teaching plans or shared among classrooms.
“Together, we aim to empower the next generation with the real-world knowledge and skills needed to protect our valuable waterways,” says Kat Kavanagh, Water Rangers Executive Director.
The newly launched educational toolkits are available for purchase, offering a comprehensive and engaging way for students to explore water quality and microplastics issues firsthand. To distribute these toolkits into Canadian schools, Praise Osifo, Education Coordinator recently joined the teams.
For inquiries or further information, please contact Praise at praise@waterrangers.ca.
About Ocean Diagnostics: Ocean Diagnostics Inc. (ODI) is a Victoria, B.C.-based environmental impact company that diagnoses and protects our planet from the threats of plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. Through innovative technology, cutting-edge laboratory capabilities and scientific experts, ODI enables scientists and the public to collect the data needed to influence local and global solutions.
About Water Rangers: Water Rangers empowers communities and individuals with knowledge and tools needed to monitor local water bodies. Through their testing equipment for both freshwater and marine environments, they have made water testing accessible and enabled the public to help in protecting local environments.