Ocean Literacy Beyond Knowledge: Investigation of Ocean Connections Among a Sample of Italian School Students

Ocean Literacy (OL), introduced in the early 2000s, refers to the essential knowledge individuals should acquire about the ocean by the end of formal education. Over time, the concept has expanded beyond cognitive understanding to include affective and behavioral dimensions that support attitudes and actions. Among these, emotional connections emerged as a significant driver of environmentally friendly behavior and represent a potential lever for educational practices. In this context, we conduc