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Resources for Students & Educators

Education and Outreach

Education and outreach are vital to improving the public’s awareness and understanding of ocean acidification to prepare and adapt to its impacts.

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The goal of NOAA's OAP is to effectively communicate the changes our ocean faces along with the science behind and efforts to adapt to and mitigate these changes.

Partnering with other NOAA programs, we work to develop strategies and tools to effectively communicate the impacts of ocean acidification and potential solutions. We host a variety of workshops and online webinars to share these strategies to those communicating about our changing ocean around the globe.

OAP advances ocean acidification literacy for better decision-making

NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program provides educational and public outreach opportunities to improve understanding of ocean acidification to students, educators and the broader public. With increased awareness of ocean and coastal acidification, communities can prepare and adapt to the consequences of our changing ocean. NOAA is legislated to facilitate national public outreach activities to improve the understanding of current scientific knowledge of ocean acidification and its impacts on marine resources.

Action for Ocean Acidification Education

The Ocean Acidification Program works to understand and fill the needs of the ocean acidification education and communication community.

NOAA addresses four major goals for advancing education

  • Develop and conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of education and outreach programming and potential audiences.
  • Prioritize and engage target audiences for ocean acidification education and outreach outcome.
  • Match ocean acidification communication needs with existing research, education and outreach activities.
  • Develop innovative approaches for community involvement outcome.

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Implementation Plan identifies  actions to extend the reach of NOAA research findings to the broader community through education and outreach. The first step was evaluating the needs in education and outreach programming to determine gaps and opportunities to strengthen ocean acidification education and communication.

OAP supported grants and NOAA activities address the goals of the implementation plan. Some efforts include developing multimedia education tools, place-based curricula and supporting community science in various U.S. regions.

Download NOAA's OA Education Implementation Plan
students filtering ocean water

Education & Outreach Resources

Search the Resources Portal for all education and outreach resources.

Best Background on Ocean Acidification

What is Ocean Acidification?

Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide. This causes a fundamental and global change in the chemistry of the ocean. This Ocean Acidification Program website describes ocean acidification, monitoring, coastal and freshwater acidification and what we can do.

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Ocean Acidification Overview

NOAA Education overview of ocean acidification.

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Understanding Ocean Acidification

Learn from NOAA Fisheries about how our oceans are absorbing increasingly more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, leading to lower pH and greater acidity. Ocean acidification is fundamentally changing the chemistry of the world’s oceans and threatening our marine resources. Answers questions including:

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Classroom-ready Resources

Hands-on Curricula

NOAA's Data in the Classroom module for Ocean Acidification
Data in the Classroom: Understanding Ocean and Coastal Acidification

Dive into the newly updated NOAA Data in the Classroom module, launched in January 2025, designed for grades 9–12. Students will examine the connections between carbon dioxide, ocean pH, and aragonite saturation state to understand why ocean pH is changing and how it impacts marine chemistry and ecosystems. This 5-level module features interactive maps, graphs, and […]

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MACAN Coastal Acidification in the Classroom curriculum- Grades 9-12

This curriculum was developed by the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN) to help teachers bring coastal and ocean acidification into the classroom in clear, practical ways. It provides complete lesson plans, hands-on activities, and data-driven investigations that support student inquiry while aligning with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Designed for high school classrooms, the lessons can be taught […]

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Games, Activities, Experiments

Ocean Protector is a free online game created by the University of Indiana. This is a screenshot of the game with animated ocean background and top menu to start or continue your game journey.
Ocean Protector

Understand ocean acidification through game-based learning. Website includes easy to access game, source code, science standards, educator guide, and module integration. Geared toward students middle school to adults. (2023)

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University of Washington's Virtual Urchin; Our Acidifying Ocean online modular curriculum
Virtual Urchin: Our Acidifying Ocean

Four module online and mobile friendly curriculum for students to experiment and learn about ocean acidification, it’s impacts, and actions students can take. Available in five languages.

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MACAN Water We Gonna Do? video game cover
Water We Gonna Do?: Dive into MACAN’s New Acidification Video Game

Come along with MACAN and adventure through an education video game that follows acidification through coastal habitats. Meet coastal and ocean friends and help them recover from the effects of acidified waters.

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Think Local

Species

Dungeness crab case study produced by NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
Toolkit: Dungeness Crab Case Study

This toolkit designed for educators and communicators to use to teach others about the impact of ocean acidification on Dungeness crab includes a fact sheet, infographic, slideshow with script, reference list, resource list, and public domain media.

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Figure of Biological Impacts of various Mid-Atlantic Species
MACAN Biological Impacts Graphics

The Biological Impacts Graphics from MACAN show conditions where negative impacts have been observed and potentially lethal conditions for Mid-Atlantic species. These graphics explore how species are impacted by the natural differences in pH and aragonite saturation values across different coastal and marine habitats.

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Regions

Photo of a beach on the Oregon Coast
Ocean Acidification Education Toolkit – Pacific Northwest

This Ocean Acidification Education toolkit utilizes effective communication strategies to convey the significance of ocean acidification effects and empower mitigation actions within communities. This Toolkit includes four modules that have led to increased ocean acidification literacy for ages 9 and older. All modules can be used independently or in their entirety and average about 15 […]

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Exploring our changing ocean storymap collection

Access six interactive StoryMaps showcasing relevant ocean acidification trends, science activities, stakeholder engagements and policy responses taking place across regions where NOAA supports U.S. Coastal Acidification Networks (“CANs”). The six regional NOAA CANs include activities in Alaska, California Current, North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic and the Gulf.

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SOARCE Webinars

soarce webinars: Sharing Ocean Acidification Resources for Communicators and Educators

This webinar series provides ocean acidification communication tools to formal and informal educators,  stakeholders, and rightsholders across the country.

SOARCE promotes a more integrated and effective ocean acidification education community by sharing activities and resources virtually. The ocean acidification education and communication communities can use and create cutting-edge communication tools incorporating current scientific and communication research to reach a variety of audiences.

Sign up for the SOARCE listserv

View webinar playlist

Coastal State Governments, Regional Networks & Others

The OAP works closely with coastal state governments, on-the-ground networks, industry and NGOs to develop their responses to ocean acidification

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Bioeconomic modeling to inform Alaska fisheries management

Fishing Dock in Juneau Alaska
Image credit: Allen Shimada, NOAA NMFS

Bioeconomic models are a multidisciplinary tool that use oceanography, fisheries science and social science to assess socioeconomic impacts. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center use a bioeconomic model to study the impacts of ocean acidification on Eastern Bering Sea crab, northern rock sole and Alaska cod. The goal is to predict how ocean acidification will affect abundance yields and income generated by the fisheries. This work informs the potential economic impacts of ocean acidification and future decision making and research planning.

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Effects of ocean acidification and temperature on Alaskan crabs

Red King Crab
Image credit: David Csepp, NMFS AKFSC ABL

Long-term declines of red king crab in Bristol Bay, Alaska may be partially attributed to ocean acidification conditions. These impacts may be partially responsible for the fishery closures during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons. Researchers found that ocean acidification negatively impacts Alaskan crabs generally by changing physiological processes, decreasing growth, increasing death rates and reducing shell thickness. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center continue to investigate the responses of early life history stages and study the potential of various Alaska crabs to acclimate to changing conditions. Results will inform models that will use the parameters studied to predict the effects of future ocean acidification on the populations of red king crab in Bristol Bay as well as on the fisheries that depend on them. Fishery managers will better be able to anticipate and manage stocks if changing ocean chemistry affects stock productivity and thus the maximum sustainable yield.

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Forecasts for Alaska Fisheries

Crab pots and fishing nets in Alaska's Dutch Harbor
Image credit: Michael Theberge

Understanding seasonal changes in ocean acidification in Alaskan waters and the potential impacts to the multi-billion-dollar fishery sector is a main priority. Through work funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory developed a model capable of depicting past ocean chemistry conditions for the Bering Sea and is now testing the ability of this model to forecast future conditions. This model is being used to develop an ocean acidification indicator provided to fisheries managers in the annual NOAA Eastern Bering Sea Ecosystem Status Report.

ADAPTING TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) works to prepare society to adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification and conserve marine ecosystems as acidification occurs. Learn more about the human connections and adaptation strategies from these efforts.

Adaptation approaches fostered by the OAP include:

FORECASTING

Using models and research to understand the sensitivity of organisms and ecosystems to ocean acidification to make predictions about the future, allowing communities and industries to prepare

Closeup of oysters cupped in someone's hands

MANAGEMENT

Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

50 more ways to reduce your carbon footprint >

On the Road

Drive fuel-efficient vehicles or choose public transportation. Choose your bike or walk! Don't sit idle for more than 30 seconds. Keep your tires properly inflated.

With your Food Choices

Eat local- this helps cut down on production and transport! Reduce your meat and dairy. Compost to avoid food waste ending up in the landfill

With your Food Choices

Make energy-efficient choices for your appliances and lighting. Heat and cool efficiently! Change your air filters and program your thermostat, seal and insulate your home, and support clean energy sources

By Reducing Coastal Acidification

Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats

TAKE ACTION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

You've taken the first step to learn more about ocean acidification - why not spread this knowledge to your community?

Every community has their unique culture, economy and ecology and what’s at stake from ocean acidification may be different depending on where you live.  As a community member, you can take a larger role in educating the public about ocean acidification. Creating awareness is the first step to taking action.  As communities gain traction, neighboring regions that share marine resources can build larger coalitions to address ocean acidification.  Here are some ideas to get started:

  1. Work with informal educators, such as aquarium outreach programs and local non-profits, to teach the public about ocean acidification. Visit our Education & Outreach page to find the newest tools!
  2. Participate in habitat restoration efforts to restore habitats that help mitigate the effects of coastal acidification
  3. Facilitate conversations with local businesses that might be affected by ocean acidification, building a plan for the future.
  4. Partner with local community efforts to mitigate the driver behind ocean acidification  – excess CO2 – such as community supported agriculture, bike & car shares and other public transportation options.
  5. Contact your regional Coastal Acidification Network (CAN) to learn how OA is affecting your region and more ideas about how you can get involved in your community
       More for Taking Community Action