Sustainability is core to the Geography curriculum at EMS and a key building block of our learning. So far in year 8 we have enjoyed exploring global biomes and we have all taken a keen interest in the Ocean Biome in particular – probably because we have grown up living on the coast! On Tuesday 14th of June we were lucky enough to be chosen for a school visit from the global charity OceanHero. OceanHero is a new search engine with a mission to fight the ocean plastic crisis by raising funds for initiatives that actively recover ocean-bound plastic. For every five searches you perform on OceanHero, you help to recover one ocean-bound plastic bottle. This is done through our partnerships with Plastic Bank, Waste Free Oceans, and Trash Waste Solutions, whose plastic recovery process provides life-sustaining jobs for people living in extreme poverty.
Harrie Kerley, the head of Education and Community Outreach, stopped over on his cycling tour circling the United Kingdom, crossing over from East Africa on his bike. He delivered the magic of ocean ecosystems to all year 8 students in his wonderful presentation and interactive discussion with students. He talked to students about the plight of plastic in our oceans, what we could do to help and future careers in marine biology and conservation. OceanHero is a charity that see education as one of the most powerful tools we have in changing the attitudes, behaviours, and eventually the laws that will lead to the global conservation of our oceans and the future sustainability of the ecosystems, wildlife and human communities that depend on it. This year alone, EMS have taken part in a local beach clean and have made great steps towards a ‘plastic free’ school. Students wrote messages on Harrie’s bike to continue their support on his journey around the country.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to Harrie today for taking the take the time to visit us and share his work. Harrie left us, cycling 40miles north to Whitburn school, for his next visit! If you would like to know more or watch some of the work that Harrie and OceanHero have been doing please follow he links below.