Fauville, G., McHugh, P., Domegan, C., Mäkitalo, Å., Friis Møller, L., & Papathanassiou, M. et al. (2018). Using collective intelligence to identify barriers to teaching 12–19 year olds about the ocean in Europe. Marine Policy, 91, 85-96. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2018.01.034

Rutgers University

Collective intelligence results from the collaboration of many individuals. People bring their own unique knowledge base and way of thinking. Since there are many unique individuals working together, many barriers can occur that prevent collective intelligence from reaching its full potential. One main barrier to collective intelligence is a lack of awareness of a subject. If people do not consider a subject important enough, then they would not be willing to work together to address a subject. Other main barriers can result from the education system. If the school does not address a subject enough in developing coursework, then it is likely to receive very little attention in the future. For example, the ocean has often been neglected in scheduled lessons, which has resulted in a low collective intelligence in the subject, subsequently leading to some people polluting the ocean and others unsure of how to save it. 



Barriers to Collective Intelligence

Using collective intelligence to identify barriers to teaching 12-19 year olds about the ocean in Europe

There is a widespread lack of knowledge on the ocean and how to keep it healthy. Many barriers have prevented collective intelligence from growing within the field of marine science. For example, the ocean has often been neglected in scheduled lessons, which has resulted in a low collective intelligence in the subject, subsequently leading to some people polluting the ocean and others unsure of how to save it. Other barriers to collective intelligence within the field of marine science are awareness, policies, engagement, the ocean, and the economy. Ultimately, people tend to value things that they can understand and are profitable to them. Harmful acts to the ocean, such as an easy method to dispose of trash, tend to be profitable for companies. In addition, the ocean is extremely complex and people do not have complete knowledge on how to care for it and it can seem intimidating. 

Issues to Collective Intelligence in Marine Science

Collective intelligence was key in this study, because there was limited understanding as to what exactly is impeding marine education in schools across Europe. 

Stakeholders from different European countries came together to contribute to a holistic understanding of the barriers facing marine education, looking at the issue from many different perspectives and achieving a common understanding. 

This common understanding then allowed them to identify solutions to the barriers and ways these solutions could be implemented.

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