More than 240 students took part in an Ocean Symposium at St George's International School in Luxembourg on Friday, according to a press release issued by the school.
The event, held in honour of broadcaster and environmentalist Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday, brought together students from St George's International School and the International School of Luxembourg, as well as educators, NGOs, and environmental organisations.
According to the press release, the symposium aimed to help students better understand the links between ocean health, biodiversity, climate, and human wellbeing. Through workshops and an exhibition, participants were encouraged to see themselves as future guardians of the planet's oceans.
Students also recorded a video of themselves singing "Happy Birthday" to Attenborough, which will be sent to him and shared on social media to mark the influence his work has had on generations of young people around the world.
The symposium also highlighted St George's Ocean Gatekeepers programme, a student-led sustainability initiative funded by ProBleu. According to the school, the programme aims to build ocean literacy by showing young people how everyday actions on land can affect marine ecosystems, while encouraging them to become active stewards of the ocean.
The press release notes that Ocean Gatekeepers won the 2026 COBIS Changemakers Award, an international award from the Council of British International Schools recognising student projects with social and environmental impact.
As part of its wider commitment to ocean literacy, St George's has also joined the EU Blue School Network, becoming the first school in Luxembourg to do so, according to the press release. Lessons from the Ocean Gatekeepers programme have also been added to the school curriculum.
Guest speaker Captain Alex Cornelissen, CEO of Sea Shepherd Global, toured the exhibition, met students and exhibitors, and officially opened a life-size whale mural created as part of the Ocean Gatekeepers programme.
"Ocean Gatekeepers is a wonderful initiative to harness the passion and ideas of the world’s future leaders. Like no others, young people understand the need for drastic change to preserve life in our ocean and our planet. I’m honoured to be able to share some time with everyone at the Ocean Symposium", Cornelissen said in the press release.
Anne-Marie McHugh, Sustainability Coordinator at St George's, said the symposium celebrated both Attenborough's legacy and the role young people can play in protecting the oceans.
"This symposium is a celebration not only of Sir David Attenborough's extraordinary legacy, but also of the responsibility young people share in protecting our oceans. We are proud to see students engaging so thoughtfully with these issues and to be building ocean learning into the life of the school through Ocean Gatekeepers and our journey towards becoming a Blue School", McHugh said.
St George's International School in Luxembourg teaches more than 850 students aged 3 to 18. According to the school, its curriculum encourages students to make a difference locally and globally through academic learning, leadership, social initiatives, the arts, and sport.
