ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
​Through the Seaweed School and Community Network (SSCN), we aim to educate the younger generations about the environmental impact of seaweed influxes on coastal ecosystems. By empowering students with knowledge and encouraging them to spread awareness, we hope to create a ripple effect of informed communities.
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We believe that aware communities are key in solving the seaweed challenge.
OUR STORY
Our journey first began with the SARTRAC project, aimed at tackling the issue of pelagic sargassum (brown floating seaweed). Although this seaweed is a key and beneficial species within the Sargasso Sea, it has been invading and disrupting coastal areas across the tropical Atlantic since 2011.
Believing that citizen science was crucial for obtaining useful data to solve this problem, in 2022 we officially started working with schools in Ghana to monitor sargassum with our SargSNAP! project. ​
After achieving great results through SargSNAP!, we felt that these communities could benefit by being able to share their experiences with peers facing similar challenges. We started working with schools in Mexico in 2023 and expanded to Jamaica in early 2024. Driven by this vision, we funded the SSCN in July 2024, a network that welcomes any community facing any seaweed challenge in the world.
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Currently, our network spans from Mexico, to Ghana, Jamaica and the UK.
WHAT WE DO
Educational Opportunities
​We provide an opportunity for students to learn about their coastal environment and be engaged in citizen science activities. These activities are created by our research team in line with educational guidelines and shaped for each individual location/school.
Global Community
We build a sense of community among schools from different countries, by facilitating the exchange of information, experiences and knowledge. Our participating schools have access to a social platform where they can post their thoughts and/or pictures.
Seaweed Research
Drive Change
​Citizen science contributions help significantly scientists in obtaining information about seaweed patterns and coasts’ health. At the same time, it involves communities in the adaptation process.
​Collecting information about seaweed is one of the first steps towards developing adaptative strategies, to be used both on local and regional levels.
