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A contest that kindles responsibility towards our oceans and marine bodies
This year’s theme of ‘From the bow seat’ is ‘Making Meaning out of Ocean Pollution’, and it challenges all participants to research, explore, interpret, and say something meaningful about the connections between human activities and the health of our oceans.
The Bow Seat is an Ocean Awareness program packaged in the form of a contest which seeks to galvanise youth across the world to become more serious and aware about the environmental impact of our activities on our oceans and seas.
The germ if this idea came in 2011, when Linda Cabot and her daughters journeyed through Maine filming a documentary about environmental issues impacting the Gulf of Maine. The very act of film-making gave Linda and her daughters a feeling of empowerment that can never be felt by merely reading about these issues in a book or a classroom.
At that moment, realizing the power of artwork and media to educate, inspire, and activate younger generations, she began to shape Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs into the organization it is today. She wanted young people to feel the same empowerment through creation and imagination and to become active stewards of the ocean that once inspired her and her daughters.
This program invites middle and high school students from around the world to participate in the 2016 edition of the Ocean Awareness Student Contest. The idea was to grow a deep sense of concern for the oceans and a desire to protect our seas.
This year’s theme is ‘Making Meaning out of Ocean Pollution’, and it challenges all participants to research, explore, interpret, and say something meaningful about the connections between human activities and the health of our oceans.
It’s simple, just focus on ONE type of ocean pollution and “make meaning” of it through art, poetry, prose, or film. The beauty of it is that it allows the creative freedom to choose the form of art that you are good at or can express best with.
This is an interdisciplinary contest that weaves together ocean awareness, creativity, and advocacy. Advocacy means taking a stand for something you believe in. It requires problem-solving skills, assertiveness, and most of all, knowing when to call the world to action.
This is a great opportunity for students from India to make a mark on the global scenario showcasing not only their creativity in arts but also the sensitivity and maturity towards our environment and come up ways to mitigate the abuse meted out to our natural resources currently.
Everything you need to know for the 2016 contest is on this page.
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