How can art help young people understand environmental issues, connect with the natural world, and see themselves as agents of change?

The folks at Bow Seat Creative action for Conservation have spent years exploring that question. Their newly published peer-reviewed chapter, Creative Currents: Art as a Tool for Ocean Literacy, draws on eight years of work with more than 38,000 young people across 142 countries.

The findings make a compelling case for creativity as an essential part of environmental education. Through art, film, poetry, prose, and performance, young people can deepen their environmental knowledge, develop stronger emotional connections, build confidence in their voices, and find hope and motivation to act.

As Bow Seat founder Linda Cabot reflects:

“Creative expression is essential for young people. It fosters critical thinking, deepens curiosity, and cultivates a sense of agency and purpose.”

The research also highlights something environmental educators see firsthand: art and science don't have to live in separate boxes. Creative expression can make environmental learning more engaging, accessible, personal, and memorable—and can help young people transform what they learn into something they care about.

Read Creative Currents: Art as a Tool for Ocean Literacy to explore the research and what it can teach us about the role of creativity in environmental education.