Dow Joins Cousteau in Teaching Kids About Our Oceans

The oceans are not only a beautiful site to behold above and beneath the waves, but are also critical to human survival. However, global waste and disrespectful behaviors are creating problems that, left unchecked, could be irreversible. That’s why Dow has partnered with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society (OFS) to educate young people around the world about our oceans, and to inspire behaviors that help protect the natural world.

The alliance began with Dow’s exclusive corporate sponsorship of the six-part PBS film series, Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures, and now continues with an exciting classroom curriculum called Don’t Be a Beach Bum. Kicked off at the National Science Teachers Association annual conference in Anaheim, California, in April and “tested” on kids at the Midland Center for the Arts in Michigan, the program includes complete lesson plans for teachers, fun activities, a poster and much more.

“The education program is fun — not boring — and will therefore be remembered easier by most kids because it makes each lesson a part of real life,” said Jean-Michel Cousteau, founder and president of Ocean Futures Society. “With these exercises, kids will see how their actions are connected to the health of the oceans, and how they can make a positive difference for the future.”

Teachers lined up at the NSTA conference to pick up free Don’t Be a Beach Bum materials and meet Cousteau. More than 6,000 items were given away and requests for more are pouring in at www.doweducation.com.

According to Rebecca, a middle school student who participated in one of the programs, “It was very weird to see the collection of trash that came from nowhere — trash was found from over 52 different countries on an island way out in the Pacific Ocean. We all need to be more careful with our litter.”

“The first step in solving a problem is in understanding it, which is what educational programs like Ocean Adventures and Don’t Be a Beach Bum are designed to do,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow’s president, CEO and chairman. “They raise awareness that everyone is part of the problem and that we all have a role to play in being part of the solution. At Dow, we are proud to be part of the solution not only through educational support, but through science and technology solutions as well.”

For a copy of the Don't Be a Beach Bum educational curriculum, go to www.doweducation.com.

Related Links:

• April 7, 2006 dow.com release, “Dow Develops Educational Curriculum with Jean-Michel Cousteau to Help Protect the Oceans”
• May 8, 2006, local newspaper release, “Cousteau Shares Adventures with Midland Seventh-Graders”
• June 28, 2006 dow.com release, “Dow Underwrites Final Segments in Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures”
• Alliance Web site
• Dow’s Education Web site