From the food we eat, to the air we breathe, to the weather we experience, the ocean affects our everyday lives and the health of planet Earth. Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), as a proud advocate for diversity in science, is expanding opportunities for women and girls in science with a new national project, the #OceanDecade Challenge. This spring, ONC, an initiative of the University of Victoria (UVic), will launch the project in partnership with Girl Guides of Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The Ocean Decade Challenge, which is planned for launch in March, is designed to encourage youth to celebrate and participate in the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. It reflects ONC and UVic’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The challenge contains fun and engaging ocean science learning activities and is open to youth of any gender across the country to participate and receive a crest from ONC. This fun challenge has been designed to approach ocean and climate science with novel activities and youth perspectives, empowering all young Canadians, and especially girls, to be actively involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "The Ocean Decade Challenge encourages participants to discover how data, science and our choices contribute to the health of our ocean,” says Maia Hoeberechts, associate director of learning and community engagement at ONC. “We want our youth to have fun, learn about the ocean and feel empowered throughout the activity.” “Supporting women and girls to be scientists, engineers and leaders brings balance. It also grows the vital pool of smart, strong and committed people dedicated to enhancing ocean intelligence,” she says.