Become a marine biologist with a little help from the Two Oceans Aquarium

Have you dreamed of being a marine biologist or an oceanographer and learning more about life beneath the waves? Do you have a love for the ocean and want to know more about South Africa’s rich and diverse marine life? Then your dreams may just come true.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is now offering a three-year online Marine Sciences course aimed at preparing Grade 10 pupils who would like to study marine sciences as an additional school subject in preparation for further study in the field of marine biology.

The World of Marine Sciences

The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation teamed up with the Western Cape Education Department to write up a curriculum for a formal school subject known as Marine Sciences. The subject was included for the first time as a formal Matric subject in 2020 and six schools offered it to their students.

The new subject features four areas, namely Marine Biology, Oceanography, Ocean Ecosystems, and Humans and the Ocean. Within these four sections, 85 topics are covered ranging from marine phyla, sustainable seafood aquaculture, gas laws used for diving science, water chemistry, and Marine Protected Areas. The new subject will form part of the Matric certification and will be reflected on the final Matric Certificate.

The Marine Sciences course is not limited to Grade 10s. If you have an interest in the ocean and can’t remember the last time you wrote an exam, you are also more than welcome to sign up for the course. Assessments and examinations will be arranged with each adult participant.

Learn From the Comfort of Your Home

The course will be offered online by the Aquarium Foundation and will be easily accessible through the Foundation’s own e-learning platform and classes via Zoom. Learners will need to commit to four hours per week which will be divided into two two-hour sessions on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

The online course will begin on 25 January 2021 and will take during the South African public school terms. The course will also provide students with the opportunity to partake in practical learning during South African public school holidays and exams will be written at the learners’ local school or an official examination centre.

Other Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation Courses

The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation has been offering highly informative and sought-after courses for years, ranging from academic and awareness courses to sustainability programmes for all ages.

Some of the online courses offered by the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation in addition to the new Marine Sciences course include Junior Biologist for Grades 4 to 6; Smart Living for Grade 6 to 8; and the Ocean “Fun”atics series for little ocean fans.

Learning isn’t just for young people – there are several online courses for adults too, such as Rocky Shore Biology; the Fins of Fish; and Shoreline Footprints: an introduction to coastal ecology and related human impacts.

For more information about the new Marine Sciences course for Grade 10s, or any of the other courses offered by the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, contact the foundation at education@aquariumfoundation.org.za.