Engaging Students with Ocean Technology: A Journey from Floats to Ocean Literacy

The U.S. BGC-Argo (BioGeoChemical) profiling array is a transformative initiative designed to deepen our understanding of the Ocean’s role in climate regulation and biogeochemical cycles. With over 500 robotic floats equipped with chemical and biological sensors, this array provides a sustained, open-access data stream, offering unprecedented insights into Ocean chemistry, carbon cycling, and biological processes. This chapter explores the deployment and impact of BGC-Argo floats in synergy with the Core-Argo and Deep-Argo systems, while also highlighting the array’s educational potential through programs like the Global Ocean BioGeoChemical Array (GO-BGC) Adopt-a-Float. These initiatives advance Ocean Literacy by connecting classrooms and communities with real-time scientific data, fostering hands-on, inquiry-driven learning experiences. As a critical component of global Ocean monitoring, the BGC-Argo profiling array contributes to long-term scientific research and empowers the next generation of Ocean stewards through its educational outreach. The program’s goals closely align with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade) Challenge 10, which seeks to foster an Ocean-literate society capable of making informed decisions to ensure sustainable Ocean stewardship. This chapter introduces the BGC-Argo profiling array, explains how educators can join the Adopt-A-Float program, and provides lesson plans for integrating float data into curricula.