Environment and Health Seminar Series: Oceans and Human Health: From Ocean Literacy to Action with Dr. Chris O'Halloran
When and Where
Speakers
Description
The School of the Environment invites you to virtually attend this seminar led by Dr. Chris O'Halloran, as part of our 2026 Environment and Health Seminar Series.
Register here to attend online.
About the Seminar
The global Ocean sustains all life on Earth and profoundly shapes human health and well-being, yet public understanding of its critical functions and how to restore and protect it remains limited. This talk introduces the interdisciplinary field of Oceans and Human Health with a focus on “ocean literacy to action”: how knowledge, emotion, and ocean experiences can support everyday conservation behaviors. Drawing on research findings of a U.S. representative survey of 1,226 adults, I will highlight patterns of awareness of the seven ocean literacy principles, perceived emotional and health benefits of time in or near the ocean, and self-reported ocean conservation behaviors. Ocean literacy awareness in this cohort was mixed. For example, most respondents recognized that the ocean supports a great diversity of life but far fewer understood that Earth has one interconnected global ocean. Conservation engagement was higher among those who knew that the ocean is largely unexplored, regulates climate, and is linked to human health, and among those who visited the coast more often, felt connected to nature, experienced awe and sadness about the ocean, and engaged with ocean media such as documentaries and Instagram. I will discuss how these findings can help inform UN Ocean Decade aligned communication and education efforts that leverage ocean literacy, emotional connection, and blue-space experiences to foster ocean stewardship while supporting both oceans and human health.
About the Speaker
Chris O’Halloran is an oceans and human health epidemiologist. She is the founder and CEO of Healthy Oceans, Healthy People, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ocean literacy and turning concern for the ocean into pro-environmental action. Chris’s research explores ocean literacy, environmental identity, emotion, well-being, eco-anxiety, and ocean connectedness with an emphasis on helping people build sustainable habits.