
Areas of Focus
While anyone can discover the ocean through reading a book, booting up their computer, or even stepping outside, really learning about it requires a more orderly or systematic process. COL enhances this discovery through community-wide research programs we manage and support. These programs allow scientists to discover, in a systematic way, what the watery abyss that covers our blue planet does, needs, and supplies – and allows us to help it thrive.
Education
One way we foster ocean literacy is through our academic competition for high schoolers, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. Other programs and events we host help further education for everyone from educational administrators to early career scientists.
Ocean Exploration
While the undersea environment holds new discoveries, the ocean should also be appreciated for its own inherent value, not just for its potential use to humanity. And there’s plenty still to learn – we’ve only discovered a fraction of what lies in the water that covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface.
Ocean Observing
Discovery of the physical, biological and chemical properties of the ocean critical to supporting life on our planet.