The National Oceanography Centre has launched a free online video course in February 2026 to help residents and students in Southampton, Hampshire, learn more about marine science and the environment. This digital resource is designed to be easy to access, providing a way for the local community to connect with the high-level research taking place at the city Waterfront Campus.
The course, called Ocean Science in Action, is a self-guided library of videos that explains how new technology is used to look after the sea. It is specifically aimed at local classrooms and people who are teaching children at home, but it is also open to any adults who want to learn about the challenges facing marine life and how to manage ecosystems in a way that lasts.
This new resource comes at a busy time for the centre, which shares a site with the University of Southampton. On 23 February 2026, scientists from the centre contributed to a major international report on ocean carbon for UNESCO, and in January 2026, researchers also discovered a new species of deep-sea worm.
The lessons focus on how tools like underwater robots help scientists manage marine environments for future generations. This work is part of the centre’s wider effort to support the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, which runs until 2030, and its own plan to make ocean knowledge available to everyone.
By making these materials available for free, the centre aims to improve local science knowledge and help residents engage with the unique scientific work being done in their city. The project provides an easy way for people to learn about the environment using real examples from current research projects.
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