AUSMEPA is always happy to acknowledge excellence in ocean education.If you are interested in Coral Reef Conservation? You should have a look at COSEE (here) Coastal Trends education modules and website:
"The goal of Coastal Trends, part of the Centers For Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) network, is to increase literacy in ocean science with a focus on understanding dynamic coastal trends through partnerships among scientists, educators, students, and the general public."
A healthy Australian coastal environment can be ascertained fairly easily by the presence or absence of the birds associated with that ecosystem. However sea and shore birds often have a difficult time sharing space with people and their activities.
Volunteers associated with the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre along the southern coast of New South Wales have been involved in a program co-ordinated by the NSW National and Wildlife Service to provide some protection for the birds.
Volunteering either as a community member or through school participation can contribute to the health of our coasts and oceans. There are many possibilities both local and national. To find out what is available in your area speak with your local council or search online
Visit the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Center here
FOR TEACHERS: AUSMEPA's new Coastal Conservation Leadership unit of work for schools will be available on our website in the next month or so. Watch this space!
HOW CAN A SCHOOL BUILD SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES INTO THEIR CAMPUS? The Dept of Education and Training in Queensland is on a fast track to building sustainability into its schools by providing support and resources to schools who want to turn green.
The Sustainable Schools program outlines how a school can start by developing its own School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP). This will allow a school to integrate environmental considerations into school planning as a whole. The step by step process pilots an overarching cultural shift guided by ecologically sustainable principles, adopting sustainable practises at a local level.
The SEMP tool for schools provides a choice of focus areas so every school has the opportunity to be engaged. Any school that wishes to participate can go to the Sustainable Schools website to register – click here. http://www.sustainableschools.qld.edu.au/
The IPMEN 2010 conference theme for Vakarau ni se siga toka is an old expression that means “Prepare whilst there is time.”
The IPMEN 2010 conference strands are: Strand 1: Key Challenges in Ocean Literacy. Strand 2: Building Healthy Sustainable Coastal Communities. Strand 3: Women in Fisheries - Partnerships for Change. Strand 4: How Does Climate Change Affect Children of the Pacific?
Any marine educator is need of mental refreshment and professional renewal in a beautiful island setting should seriously be getting themselves ready to participate in the IPMEN conference this year.
If you cannot physically go to the conference you should investigate how to participate via the web by contacting Sylvia.Spalding@noaa.gov
"Working at the intersection of science and policy, Enric Sala searches for the last pristine marine environments on Earth — and brings back data to help governments protect them"
National Seaweek is a longtime tradition with schools around Australia and AUSMEPA is a proud sponsor of the Marine Education Society of Australasia (MESA).
This year the theme is OCEANS OF LIFE; ours to explore, ours to restore. Seaweek is set for the first week in March 2010 although all are invited to pick up and take it further at any time of the year.
On the website you will find some interesting general information about oceans, who owns the sea and what are major threats to it. Healthy oceans are vital to our health. The Big Blue provides us with important environmental services and one of those is production of most of the oxygen that allows people to breathe!
I highly recommend that you take a good look at the articles and fact sheets available on the MESA website: www.mesa.edu.au There is still time to put your thinking cap on and create an activity to celebrate our Oceans of Life. What will you do?
Dr Sylvia Earle told the audience at her 2009 seminar in Brisbane that 90 percent of the big fish in the ocean have already been taken. What does it mean?
Perhaps the film End of the Line being presented by AMCS (Australian Marine Conservation Society) will provide some perspective on how this affects us and how what we do can make a difference.
"Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act. The End of the Line is the world's first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing."
Brisbane Premiere: When: Tuesday 8th December, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Where: The Regent, 167 Queen St, Brisbane City Tickets: $15 - click here for more information
Darwin Screening:The Australian Marine Conservation Society in partnership with The Environment Centre Northern Territory present this internationally acclaimed film in Darwin. When: 6:30pm Thursday 26 November 2009 Where: Darwin Museum Theatrette Tickets: $10, to reserve tickets please call Prue Barnard on (08) 8941 7461 or email pruebarnard@amcs.org.au
"ACID TEST, a film produced by NRDC, was made to raise awareness about the largely unknown problem of ocean acidification, which poses a fundamental challenge to life in the seas and the health of the entire planet. Like global warming, ocean acidification stems from the increase of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere since the start of the Industrial Revolution."
This like other excellent uTube clips tells a story that needs to be heard! Can it translate to action?
It is up to us to reduce our consumption, help others to understand, become an example that others can follow and make our voices heard.
Ocean Defense provides excellent information and this talk is well worth watching!
We can help to stop this great diffuse aquatic garbage dump from growing. Adaptability and innovation are characteristics that made humans successful as a species. It's time to use both our brain and our brawn to accept responsibility for our own actions and clean up our mess.
Think: how can I reduce my consumption by 10% and reduce waste that can find it's way into the ocean
Ask: shop with the 'no plastic' option in mind and ask retailers to review their policies
Do: pick up and properly dispose of rubbish that has escaped into the environment and voice your concern to your politicians, media and community.
The first project of its kind in the southern hemisphere, ClimateWatch allows the community at large to get hands-on in the science of understanding climate change through simple observation of the world around them.
ClimateWatch is a monitoring program being opened up to Australians so that they can be involved in collecting and recording data to help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change.
There is an urgent need for large scale data harvesting to evaluate how natural systems are responding to climate change. There are 2 marine species nominated. The photos are taken from the website to illustrate.
One of those is the Blue Mosaic jelly or Blue Blubber,Catostylus mosaicus (above).The other is the Blue Bottle Jellyfish, Physalia utriculus, a siphonophore. Personally I can't think of a better excuse to go for a walk than to assist in this project. How easy is that? If you see either of these animals make a note and record it on the website. You will find that you educate yourself as you contribute and communicate. Find out more about the project...
NOTE: ClimateWatch was developed by Earthwatch Australia, with the support of the Bureau of Meteorology, Land and Water Australia, The University of Melbourne, corporate and government partners, and scientific collaborators.
Friday 16 October 2009 - 9 am Alaska Daylight Time.
To join you must register online at PolarTREC. Once registered an email is sent out and downloads will be available on the website. If you can't join you should have a look at the IPY Polar Week classroom activities
What are Live events? * These are real-time, interactive events that utilize the Internet and phone for presentations. * These events allow participants to learn about the research being conducted in the polar regions. * Events are free to the public and at minimum require a phone or Internet access.
NOTE: To see what that time is where you live visit World Clock For Australians(Qld)this is 3pm Sat 17th October
The Dolphin Research Institute has been a flagship for cleaner seas education in Port Phillip and Western Port, Victoria, Australia. www.dolphinresearch.org.au/
Their student ambassador program "i sea, i care" has shown itself to be a perfect example of how to look for and find partners committed to finding science and education solutions for healthy ocean outcomes. AUSMEPA solutes them.
If you've got an innovative way to encourage integration of marine conservation education into schools or communities share it with us.
HOW CAN A SCHOOL BUILD SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES INTO THEIR CAMPUS? The Dept of Education and Training in Queensland is on a fast track to building sustainability into its schools by providing support and resources to schools who want to turn green.
National Seaweek is a longtime tradition with schools around Australia and AUSMEPA is a proud sponsor of the Marine Education Society of Australasia (MESA). 
The first project of its kind in the southern hemisphere, ClimateWatch allows the community at large to get hands-on in the science of understanding climate change through simple observation of the world around them. 
Personally I can't think of a better excuse to go for a walk than to assist in this project. How easy is that? If you see either of these animals make a note and record it on the website. You will find that you educate yourself as you contribute and communicate. Find out more about the project... 
