Incorporating ocean acidification into K-12 education

The ocean absorbs over one quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions caused by fossil fuel combustion. As a result, seawater becomes more acidic and threatens the survival of calcifying organisms like corals and oysters. However, K-12 students rarely learn about ocean acidification in the classroom. This project will develop a teaching module that leverages a popular gaming platform known as Minecraft to engage students in an immersive education experience. By virtually swimming in the Minecraft ocean, students will explore and describe how ecological communities change as seawater becomes more acidic. The simulation will draw from data collected by Fiorenza Micheli, professor of oceans, off the Italian island of Ischia, where she has spent nearly a decade researching deep-sea carbon dioxide vents. Students will learn to assess changes in the marine community and evaluate the potential impact on shell fisheries and ecotourism. Micheli and Giulio De Leo, professor of oceans and of Earth system science, will work with teachers to assess how well students retain knowledge of ocean acidification through Minecraft versus traditional teaching methods. Micheli and De Leo are also senior fellows at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.