Ocean Awareness Week (OAW) returns the last week of March with a focus on coral reef conservation, inviting students across the University of Miami to learn about ocean health and explore ways to get involved. The annual event is organized by Rho Rho Rho, the University’s Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Science Honor Society.
The week’s events aim to spotlight threats to ocean health while encouraging students across the University to get involved. This year, OAW is partnering with the Coral Restoration Foundation, a Key Largo-based nonprofit marine conservation organization.
“We chose to highlight the Coral Restoration Foundation this year [in response to a recent report published about how] coral reefs are the first ecosystem to have officially passed a tipping point into sustained losses if immediate action is not taken,” said Rebecca Lacy, OAW president and a senior studying marine biology and ecology. “We want to bring awareness about that issue and provide resources for students to get involved.”
Rho Rho Rho’s mission is to promote awareness and conservation of the marine and terrestrial environments. The organization fulfills this through trips, professional development activities, and community events.
OAW focuses on this mission by partnering with a different ocean conservation nonprofit each year and hosting a week of educational and community-focused events. Find more details on their Instagram account, @oaw.miami. This year, events include:
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Monday, March 23:
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Tabling at Westbrook Walkway
- 8-10 p.m: Movie at Foote Green with Marine Mammal Rescue Team
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Tuesday, March 24:
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Tabling at Westbrook Walkway
- 6:30 - 8 p.m.: Trivia at the Rathskeller with the Rathskeller Advisory Board
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Wednesday, March 25:
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Tabling at University Center-Richter Library Walkway
- 4-6 p.m.: MECA Career Fair Zoom
- 8-10 p.m.: Community Outreach Event with Rho Rho Rho and Coral Restoration Foundation at the Cox Science Building
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Thursday, March 26:
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Tabling at Lakeside Canopy
- 7-9 p.m.: Shake Shack with UM Aquarium Club and Sigma Gamma Epsilon
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Friday, March 27:
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Tabling at Westbrook Walkway
- 5-9 p.m.: Tabling at Salt Waterfront Restaurant
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Saturday, March 28:
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Community event at the Marine Campus
This year’s focus on coral reefs is especially relevant in South Florida.
“Miami is an ocean city,” said William Drennan, OAW faculty advisor and professor in the Department of Ocean Sciences at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. “We live by the ocean, play in the ocean, and sometimes make our living from the ocean. That said, very few residents or visitors have a good understanding of the many challenges faced not only by coastal cities like Miami but by nearby marine habitats.”
Lacy echoed the importance of coral reefs to the University community.
“Coral reefs bring in lots of money to the state of Florida,” Lacy said. “They protect the coastline from storms. They’re the baseline of a lot of fisheries here. If we lose them, that affects everyone.”
The events will take place at the Coral Gables Campus and the Marine Campus on Virginia Key, but all students are invited to participate.
“[In] past years, it’s primarily been Rosenstiel students who attend the events, which is fantastic, but we definitely want to branch out to the greater University of Miami community—especially because a lot of people who aren’t directly involved don’t know that these resources are out there,” Lacy said. “You’re not just doing something cool to help the environment, but it’s also fun.”
The OAW programming is planned and executed by a team of students.
“We have here at UM one of the best and strongest groups of undergraduates in the nation studying all aspects of the ocean,” Drennan said. “There isn't a more qualified and committed group out there to convey to others why understanding and protecting our oceans is so important.”
For the student organizers, OAW is more than just programming. It’s a chance to increase visibility and educate the campus community about conservation.
“It’ll be a really fun week of events, even if this hasn’t necessarily interested you before,” Lacy said. “Hopefully, you’ll be able to learn something that you find interesting that inspires you to take action and get involved. We’re not trying to change everyone’s minds or make them drop everything and focus on ocean conservation, but we do want people to be aware that there are issues happening and that it’s fun to be involved.”
For Drennan, the strength of the program lies in the dedication of the students behind it.
“Our students are really passionate about the ocean,” Drennan said. “Their energy and commitment is what excites me most and gives me optimism for the future.”
Support Ocean Awareness Week 2026 with a donation at canesgive.miami.edu/ocean-awareness-week-2026.
