AKMA2-OceanSenses: an expedition in the Arctic Ocean, Training-through-Research

The CAGE22-1 AKMA2/Ocean Senses Research expedition on board Kronprins Håkon in May 2022 in the Arctic Ocean comprised science and education. We have worked across research and education to develop classroom tools to bring the ocean floor to life for all our senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell or taste). The aim of the expedition was to collect data from “extreme environments”, such as areas characterized by natural methane emissions, and develop prototypes that can be used to teach different aspect related to “oceans”. The prototypes were developed by teachers and scientists and will be used in high schools and university courses in Norway, Italy, France, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Brazil, Tanzania, and Botswana. Once tested, we will make all the ideas openly available online for other teachers around the world to use. We also want to make these activities as inclusive as possible so that they can also be used in schools and classes with hearing- and sight-impaired students. The ocean is something distant and abstract for most of us. Through this project, we hope that we can get students and all society to feel and get to know the ocean in a more personal way. Connected to the AKMA project now there are schools in Norway, Italy, France, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Brazil, and Africa. During the expedition, teachers from some of these counties will be onboard and we will connect with all the schools. We want to inspire the next generation on topics related to the ocean