Marine Photobank: Photo competition

1 Week Left to Photograph Your Way to the Galapagos! Guy Marcovaldi, Projecto Tamar Brazil/Marine Photobank Calling all ocean conservation photographers worldwide! Submit your images depicting the current state of the ocean and help raise awareness of human impacts on marine ecosystems and species. You may just win the grand-prize trip, courtesy ofLindblad Expeditions, on the National Geographic Endeavor to the Galapagos Islands! First place, runner-up, will be off to Fiji for a dive trip atMatava, Fiji's premier eco-adventure resort. Join the Marine Photobank as a contributing photographer and donate your most compelling ocean conservation photos.  This contest calls on photographers of all skill levels to compete and donate photos illustrating the many human impacts on marine life and marine ecosystems as well as ways in which people are working to turn the tide on ocean degradation. Find out more about how you can compete for this incredible grand prize as well as lots of other great prizes including gift certificates to Backscatter Underwater Photo & Video, photo prints from Bob Talbot Productions, Books, DVDs, carbon offsets from NativeEnergy and more on the  contest homepage >> A special thank you to Lindblad Expeditions and all of the prize donors! SeaWeb|   E-Newsletters|   Ocean News|   Contact Us|   Donate

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GLOBAL OCEAN FORUM, RIO+20 Friends of the Ocean

If you would like to catch up with the latest on the GLOBAL OCEAN FORUM you can visit them here.  


The Forum is looking forward to the RIO20+ United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Brazil 4-6 June 2012 - click here to see more. 


The Rio+20 Friends of the Ocean have a mission that aims to:

1. Support governments participating in the Rio+20 Conference to achieve significant ocean outcomes
2. Provide a 'rallying point' and a unified voice for oceans and coasts at the Rio+20 Conference
3. Provide a multi-stakeholder platform by which the needs, interests and concerns of all sectors of the ocean community can be voiced in the Rio+20 process, including through critical policy assessments and recommendations. Internet services and information dissemination, consultations, and an Oceans Day at Rio+20
4. Raise the global profile of ocean and coastal issues, both within the high-level political community and the general public, on the importance of the world's oceans and coasts to the three pillars of sustainable development

See the Global Oceans Forum RIO+20 Friends of the Ocean blog here

If you are aware of Australian efforts to prepare for the Rio20+ Conference please let us know.

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Integrated Water Management Scholarship

Receive $5,000 scholarship to study in 2012! In the context of current economic downturn, the International WaterCentre (IWC) is seeking new ways to support the world's future water leaders. IWC is offering partial-tuition scholarships to the first 50 students who enrol in an IWCIntegrated Water Management program(Masters, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate) for 2012. The scholarship is available to Australian or international students who do not receive any external full-tuition scholarship or full-tuition funding from other sources. Each partial scholarship is valued at AU$5,000 for the Masters program, payable per semester towards tuition fees (directly to The University of Queensland): Semester 1 (Graduate Certificate): AU$1,550 Semester 2 (Graduate Diploma): AU$1,550 Semester 3 (Masters): AU$1,900 To receive this partial scholarship you need to apply for the program receive an unconditional offer from The University of Queensland (UQ) be one of the first 50 students to enrol in the program (enrolments open in Dec 2011/Jan 2012) Application deadlines 15 Oct. 2011 for category 3 & 4 countries 15 Nov. 2011 for category 1 & 2 countries 18 Feb. 2012 for Australian/NZ citizens or Australian permanent residents The program commences in Semester 1(Feb/March 2012) at The University of Queensland. We look forward to welcoming you in 2012! Terms and conditions           Contact usEmail: admin@watercentre.orgPhone: +61 7 3123 7766 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +61 7 3123 7766      end_of_the_skype_highlighting Master of Integrated Water Management The MIWM program equips students with the integration, leadership and managerial skills to become part of an elite group of water leaders with sustainable and holistic solutions to global water and climate change challenges. Full-time and part-time/distance* study modes are available.  * part-time/distance study mode available only to Australian/NZ citizens and Australian permanent residents.

MEMBERS PARTNERS

WEB: www.watercentre.org EMAIL: admin@watercentre.org ADDRESS: PO BOX 10907, Adelaide St, QLD 4000 Australia PHONE: +61 7 3123 7766 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +61 7 3123 7766      end_of_the_skype_highlighting FAX: +61 7 3103 4574 © Copyright 2011 International WaterCentre. All Rights Reserved.

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TEDx TALK: Richard Palmer - water:sewer:power:food

"Richard is an engineer by training, a consultant by profession and an ecologist at heart. In the real world he is employed by the WSP Group to offer design advice on green buildings and urban sustainability. He shares a way to rethink the way we engineer systems."


A very short clip that may start you thinking about the engineering pillars that might be planned better as integrated systems..

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TED TALK: Bill Gates on energy: Innovating to zero!

Nuclear waste, can this become a fuel in itself, making energy while it eliminates itself? Other innovations in energy and the importance of action now. Have a listen to what Bill Gates wishes for.

An interesting discussion.


www.ausmepa.org.au

TED TALK: Camille Seaman: Haunting photos of polar ice

"http://www.ted.com Photographer Camille Seaman shoots icebergs, showing the world the complex beauty of these massive, ancient chunks of ice. Dive in to her photo slideshow, "The Last Iceberg.""


The talk is certainly one of real wonder. 




www.ausmepa.org.au

AUSTRALIA'S SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD GUIDE

Thanks to the Australian Marine Conservation Society for alerting us all to the new iPhone application as below






It's now even easier for seafood lovers to make informed choices when choosing seafood with Australia's first Sustainable Seafood Guide iPhone App now available! The app is a fully mobile version of the printed and online consumer guide to sustainable seafood. You can find the app in iTunes here or search for Sustainable Seafood Guide and download the app for FREE today! 


Find out more here






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SPOTLIGHT ON: Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Terrigal, NSW

Photo by Robb Westerdyke

Australia has some awesome marine discovery centres and one of the very newest sits north of Sydney on the NSW Central Coast. Web site: www.ccmdc.org.au  The Cen­tral Coast Marine Dis­cov­ery Cen­tre (CCMDC) opened its doors to the pub­lic on Box­ing Day, 26 Decem­ber, 2009. After months of work from vol­un­teers and sup­port­ing organ­i­sa­tions, the CCMDC is now hosting visitors. 


Fea­tures of CCMDC include: 

• displays of local marine life, 
• environments and history; 
• a touch pool, 
• rockpool rambles, 
• ”Sea Star Theatre” 
• Dive Wreck Room simulating the underwater feel of the ex-HMAS Adelaide that was scuttled as an artificial reef.

If you are visiting the Central Coast these holidays you might like to call in. If your school would like to book an excursion phone: 02 4349 4756      


Marine Discovery Centres are education partners with AUSMEPA who provide free pre and post visit materials including curriculum units here literacy readers here and posters here for teachers and students.
.
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Introduction to Underwater Environmental Noise Course, Brisbane Nov 24 & 25

The SVT Engineering Consultants course outlined below provides an opportunity for those wishing to build skills in assessing how underwater noise impacts on marine life.

Overview

Do you need to assess the impacts of underwater noise from piling, blasting, dredging and shipping on  marine life?

This course looks at how noise can affect marine animals and provides guidance on the environmental impact assessment process.

Course Duration:

2 days

Venue & Address

Christie Conference Centre, 320 Adelaide St, Brisbane, Qld 4000

Content

• Fundamentals of underwater acoustics
• Auditory structures and bandwidths of various marine animals
• Common noise sources
• Underwater sound and modelling
• Guidelines for assessment

Who Should Attend

• Environmental Scientists
• Environmental Engineers
• Personnel involved in environmental approvals
• Government officials

Participants will learn about:

• Principles of underwater acoustics
• Underwater noise impacts on marine fauna
• Fundamentals of underwater noise assessment

Download brochure.

Upcoming dates:

Thu Nov 24, 2011 - Fri Nov 25, 2011

www.ausmepa.org.au

World Oceans Summit 22-24 Feb 2012, Capella Singapore

February 22nd 2012 - February 24th 2012

From the official website here

"The world’s oceans are the setting for increasing economic activity and will continue to be so for years to come. Only in recent years have scientists begun to understand the significant impact of this growing industrialisation on the ecosystems of the seas and, by extension, on the broader biosphere we all inhabit. Now is the time to engage the global business community and change the nature of the debate.

The Economist’s World Oceans Summit will examine how the increasing activity in and around the oceans can be managed sustainably and what this means for business and other key stakeholders. Chaired by John Micklethwait, Editor-in-chief of The Economist, the summit will bring together more than 200 global leaders from various sectors and disciplines, including government, business, international organisations, NGOs, think-tanks and academia to participate in a unique, outcome-driven dialogue."

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HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY PLANET?

Red Paw Paw, fresh local Queensland fruit

What makes a healthy life and how does taking care of ourselves affect the planet? Every human activity from basic provision of food has an impact on nature. As our numbers grow the effects are intensified. 



Food choices also trigger trends in  how and what food is available to us. While working towards a healthy body you can also reduce the impact on the planet. 

Do we need to eat as much as we do? Sometimes just eating less can improve our health. Lower food intakes draw more lightly on our resources with less waste products produced. 


Highly processed foods often strip away desirable properties including fibre, vitamins or minerals (sometimes being added back later). The more highly processed foods are the greater the environmental impact -- more energy and water are used and emissions from processing, handling and transportation are created. 


Where we choose food that has been changed less usually less changes will occur to the environment. 


We are increasingly aware that chemicals used in the primary production of food can accumulate as toxins in our bodies. Some chemicals pass through our bodies before eventually being expelled through ocean outfalls joining other pollution entering from the land to the sea. 


Eating fish? Many top choice fish from the wild have depleted in alarming numbers however you can make sustainable fish choices. For easy reference download Australia's Sustainable Seafood Mini Guide at the Australian Marine Conservation Society here. If you are a school you may be inspired to see how Palm Beach Currumbin Senior High School students are working on a local communication project related to sustainable fishing here


Be healthy, make healthy choices for yourself and the environment. Keep it simple, natural, fresh, local and as sustainable as possible to tread more lightly on our injured planet. 










www.ausmepa.org.au

Rhondda Alexander Memorial Education Grant (RAMEG) awarded to Palm Beach Currumbin Senior High School

AUSMEPA would like to thank the Marine Teachers Association and the Australian schools were able to submit some wonderful projects for the inaugural Rhondda Alexander Memorial Marine Education Grant. The grant was awarded to Palm Beach Currumbin Senior High School, Currumbin, QLD for their project Students Against Overfishing (SAOF).

Year 12 Students at Palm Beach Currumbin Senior High School are initiating a campaign against overfishing after recently viewing a documentary called ‘The End of the Line’. Students had never heard about the issue before and became engaged in finding out what the local situation was. They determined that they could use a number of sources of media such as Facebook, webpage and production of a documentary for general viewing related to sustainable fishing in Queensland where fish stocks have depleted by 60% since the 1940s. Using the passion of the students Palm Beach Currumbin Senior High School have demonstrated a way for schools to introduce marine environmental study and action by integrating it into technology, marine science and communication studies.

AUSMEPA were impressed with the student's initiative to learn more and look forward to sharing the student’s video clip with you at project completion.

Other excellent submissions for 2011 were:

• Turtles in trouble in Moreton Bay, Ormiston College

• Clontarf Beach SHS Mangrove revegetation project,  Clontarf Beach SHS

• Environmental Marine Management Boating Study, Heatley Secondary College

• Establish a Marine Protected area/Park and conduct a water treatment feasibility study and plan for Malevu Fiji,  St Leonards College

• Getting to know our reef and coastal area,Townsville SHS

www.ausmepa.org.au