Ocean Odyssey Grants

Ocean Exploration Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility

Grant Overview:

NOAA Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation have a long history of working collaboratively to support ocean education. Since 2003 they have leveraged the public-private partnership to enhance America’s environmental literacy through the development of educational materials and educator professional development offerings that bring exciting deep-sea phenomena into the classroom to increase students’ understanding of our ocean planet.

In 2021, the two established the Ocean Odyssey Grants to expand the reach of ocean education by funding ocean education and workforce development initiatives that are equitable, inclusive, and accessible to all. The overarching goal is to support a future ocean workforce that is more representative of U.S. demographics by funding projects that minimize barriers to entry and increase retention of diverse learners from communities historically marginalized from ocean science and exploration industries. In 2023, the Foundation expanded the Ocean Odyssey Grant portfolio to support DEIJA priorities in additional NOAA mission areas, including Marine Debris. To date, Ocean Odyssey Grants have supported 4,764 K12 students, 207 college students, and 1,028 educators with ocean education and workforce development opportunities.

Read about the Ocean Odyssey grants and previously funded projects!

Investing in our Ocean Future StoryMap
Investing in our Ocean Future StoryMap

2024 - 2025 Ocean Exploration Awards:

Objective: The Ocean Odyssey Grants are investments in projects and partners that are leading efforts to increase inclusion in and/or access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and workforce development opportunities for diverse youth in middle school, high school, undergraduate, and/or community college to learn about ocean science and/or exploration.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate how their proposed project will directly or indirectly:

Deepen student understanding icon
Deepen student understanding of the ocean and Great Lakes
Ocean science and exploration careers icon
Increase awareness of ocean science and exploration careers
STEM skills icon
Advance STEM skills applicable to ocean science

Available Funding: The Foundation anticipates funding 12-15 projects with awards between $5,000 - $10,000.

Eligibility: Funding is available for schools, districts, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for profit institutions, local, and state entities from the United States, territories, and Freely Associated States supporting diverse students in these regions.

Implementation Period: Projects must be completed between December 2024 and July 31, 2025.

Application Packages Due: September 30, 2024, by 11:59 PM EDT

View our recorded webinar for tips on preparing a strong proposal.

Read our Ocean Odyssey Grants FAQ for application tips and examples of past projects.

Middle and high school students were introduced to local marine science research and scientists at the "Ocean Explorers," an immersive field trip. Image courtesy of Shannon McDonnell.
Middle and high school students were introduced to local marine science research and scientists at the "Ocean Explorers," an immersive field trip. Image courtesy of Shannon McDonnell.
Students in rural Kentucky "Dive Deep into Marine Biology" through a new STEM curriculum featuring an engineering design challenge to construct and fly remotely operated vehicles. Image courtesy of Emily McAfee.
Students in rural Kentucky "Dive Deep into Marine Biology" through a new STEM curriculum featuring an engineering design challenge to construct and fly remotely operated vehicles. Image courtesy of Emily McAfee.
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island students develop ‘Ike Moana (Knowledge of the Deep Ocean), through new Hawaiian language and culture-based education resource packages and teacher mentorship that bring Native Hawaiian worldviews into the classroom to support development of the future STEAM workforce. Image courtesy of Hōkūokahalelani Pihana.
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island students develop ‘Ike Moana (Knowledge of the Deep Ocean), through new Hawaiian language and culture-based education resource packages and teacher mentorship that bring Native Hawaiian worldviews into the classroom to support development of the future STEAM workforce. Image courtesy of Hōkūokahalelani Pihana.