A certain amount of redundancy is included for continuity. One of the most important needs of ocean scientists and educators is a mechanism that encourages and facilitates interactions of different types among members of the community. Collaborations involve substantial cooperative activity in intellectual pursuits, such as research endeavors or development of new programs. They require a commitment of a group of people to work together for an extended period of time to produce a product. Linkages involve sharing of information, and can be accomplished either virtually or in person.
Liaisons can take two forms.
The first is that of an intermediary between two groups who assists in communications or transitions between them. For example, a liaison could facilitate the transition of community college students into their first year at a four-year university. The second form is that of a liaison acting as an information channel between two groups whose interests are similar or who need to be brought together. All types of interactions are required throughout the lifelong educational process, and must involve not only ocean scientists and formal and informal educators, but also policy and decision makers, the media, and the general public, particularly underrepresented groups. An example of a particularly valuable type of collaboration is the development of new educational materials that include current scientific data.