Thursday 23 July 2015

Sea for Society Represented at the Our Ocean Wealth Conference, Cork

Sea for Society Irish Area Leader AquaTT represented Sea for Society at the Our Ocean Wealth conference, held in Cork, which was organised by Sea for Society partner the Marine Institute. 

Pierre-Yves Cousteau Presents Sea for Society at Ocean Literacy Workshop




AquaTT moderated Ocean Literacy workshop on 10 July 2015 . This important workshop on Ocean Literacy looked at how we can improve people’s knowledge of the sea at all levels of society.

The workshop featured a panel of national and international experts, including legendary diver Pierre-Yves Cousteau, who presented his recent work on Sea for Society in which he collaborated with IUCN and NUI Galway on analysing the results of the Consultation Phase of the project.

The Ocean Literacy workshop panel at the Our Ocean Wealth Conference, Cork

The workshop focused on discussing in practical terms the formation of an Irish Ocean Literacy forum consisting of education, research, industry and government stakeholders. The forum would have the objective of creating a seamless education and information programme from primary to third level.

Ocean Literacy, and the idea of introducing it to schools, is quickly developing momentum, with the EU placing a strong focus on it at the moment. For Ireland, the concept of Ocean Literacy is gaining significant traction, especially in terms of integrating it with the Atlantic Action Plan.

Ireland is an island with some 220 million acres of seabed territory. Yet few people know that half the oxygen we breathe comes from microscopic plankton in the ocean, that 95% of international trade is carried by sea, or that 60% of the world’s population lives within 60km of the coast. Few people know how fragile the oceans are and how our everyday actions impact on ocean health.

Our Ocean Wealth - Ocean Literacy Workshop Speakers:

  • David Murphy (AquaTT General Manager) - Workshop Moderator
  • Pierre-Yves Cousteau (IUCN) - Keynote Speaker, Sea for Society
  • Dr John Joyce (AquaTT) - Designing Ocean Literacy Programmes that Work
  • Susan Heaney (Titanic Belfast) - Driving Ocean Literacy at Titanic Belfast
  • Neil O’Hagan (Atlantic Youth Trust) - Is a Youth Development Tall Ship the Missing Piece of the Puzzle?
  • Sinead McCoy (An Taisce) - The Clean Coasts Programme

Sea for Society Information Kiosk at Seafest


The Sea for Society Information Kiosk continued its tour around Ireland during the Our Ocean Wealth conference and Seafest event. 

The AquaTT Sea for Society team were on-hand to engage visitors

Visitors to the stand were asked to commit to doing 'Just One Thing' to protect the sea

Those who made pledges proudly displayed their 'I love the Sea' stickers!

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Keith Duggan 'Writing Cliffs of Insanity - A Winter on Ireland’s Big Waves'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Keith Duggan is an award-winning senior sportswriter with The Irish Times. He has written three books: The Lifelong Season and House of Pain, which are explorations of Gaelic games, and Cliffs of Insanity. Cliffs of Insanity tells the story of a dedicated group of surfers in Co Clare whose lives revolve around the pursuit of Ireland’s wildest waves. Keith is originally from Donegal and grew up beside the sea. He now lives in Galway ten miles from the coast and that sometimes makes him feel a bit claustrophobic.




Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Margaret Rae 'Marine Biodiscovery'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Margaret Rae is a researcher in the Beaufort Marine Biodiscovery Programme, examining marine organisms harvested from the Irish coast and deep-sea territories in search of species with biological characteristics that may have medicinal uses and medical device applications. Margaret has over 20 years’ experience in industrial, regulatory and academic environments, both nationally and internationally.



Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Hugo Tagholm 'Surfers Against Sewage: Waves, Environment, Community'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Hugo Tagholm has been Chief Executive of Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) since 2008. SAS was formed in 1990 in Cornwall by a group of surfers who were fed up of the regular sewage slicks and sanitary debris at local surf spots. It has a network of over 150,000 regular supporters, mobilises 15,000 community volunteers annually and has 60 regional chapters around the UK. Prior to taking the helm at SAS, Hugo worked at a senior level with various charities big and small, including the Climate Coalition and the UK Wildlife Trusts. Hugo lives in Truro, Cornwall with his wife and son. His favourite wave is Droskyn.




Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - John Joyce 'Being Nemo - Misadventures of a Marine Science Communicator'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

John Joyce is a professional science communicator, published author and cartoonist with a background in marine science. He is currently the Irish Area Leader for the Sea for Society project. He was Communications Manager of Ireland’s Marine Institute until January 2012, where he created the Explorers marine science education programme. John has published four children’s books and five novels. His alter ego “Black John the Bogus Pirate” can regularly be found running children’s cartoon drawing classes at science festivals and aquariums around Ireland.



Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Hugh O'Brien Moran 'Fifty Years of Surfing - the Evolution of Surfing in Ireland'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.
Hugh O'Brien Moran is a surf instructor and professional photographer based in Tramore, Co. Waterford. He took up surfing in 1965 at the age of fourteen, and went on to surf competitively in national and international contests alongside his wife, Margaret, also a former surfing champion. He has won the Irish national championships five times and come second in the European masters surfing championships, as well as acting as tutor to Ireland’s national teams. Today, Hugh still surfs all year round; he carries out surf coaching accreditation courses across the country for the Irish Surfing Association and is an active member in T-Bay surf club, where he teaches surf lessons to children and adults throughout the year.




Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system! 

Monday 20 July 2015

Seashore ‘Explorers’ Course Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary

This year, the ‘Explorers’ teacher training course for primary school teachers celebrated its tenth year, with courses held simultaneously in Galway, organised by the Marine Institute, the Galway Atlantaquaria and the Galway Education Centre, and in Dublin, organised by AquaTT, The National SEA LIFE Centre, Bray, and the Blackrock Education Centre.

This year both courses were supported by the Sea for Society Project.

National primary school teachers in Galway increased their knowledge of the ocean and its impact on our daily lives through a teacher training course run by the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria from 1-5 July 2015.

In Dublin, over twenty primary school teachers donned wellies and waterproofs at Sandycove Strand to gain firsthand experience of the seashore as an open air classroom for the SESE ‘Living Things’ curriculum strand to learn how animals and plants adapt to the drastically changing conditions effecting them as the tide rises and falls. 

Then, back at the SeaLife centre in Bray, they learned how the curriculum strand ‘Energy and Forces’ can be taught through examples of ‘buoyancy’ - such as lemonade bottle submarines and ice cube tray models of the RMS ‘Titanic’, peopled with modelling clay passengers in icy seas made from washing-up bowls.

Teachers in Dublin took part in the Explorers training course organised by AquaTT, The National SEA LIFE Centre Bray and the Blackrock Education Centre from 6-10 July 2015

The ‘History’ strand was demonstrated with Irish maritime heroes and heroines such as the pirate queen Gráinne Mhaol, Saint Brendan the Navigator and the father of the modern submarine John Phillip Holland. While those interested in applying a marine flavour to the ‘Geography’ strand  needed to look no further than Ireland’s 220 million acre undersea territory, with its submarine canyons, deepwater mountains and cold water coral reefs.

“It really is wonderful to see how teachers’ eyes are opened to the possibility of bringing a new dimension to their classes by the simple inclusion of marine themes to the existing curriculum,” said Dr John Joyce who led the Blackrock Course with marine biologist Cathy Maguire this year. “Even after ten years, the experience is as fresh as ever as the teachers realise the potential of the sea to entertain and educate – a lesson we’re sure will be passed on to their pupils in the years to come.”

Teachers Take to the Shore to Improve Ocean Literacy

Twenty-five local national primary school teachers in Galway increased their knowledge of the ocean and its impact on our daily lives through a teacher training course run by the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria from 1-5 July 2015.

Primary school teachers use quadrants to search for marine life on Gratton Beach

The annual workshop, which is coordinated through the Galway Education Centre, provided teachers with the opportunity to venture to the seashore to learn new activities designed to innovate and inspire students about the animal species and seaweeds typically found on the seashore.

The workshop aims to introduce teachers to the Explorers Education Programme teaching materials and resources. "Through lesson plans and activities we aim to help teachers integrate marine themes as closely as possible with subjects on the primary school curriculum including science, geography, history, as well as English, maths and art," explained Cushla Dromgool-Regan of the Marine Institute.

Back in the classroom, Sarah Fox, St. Brendans Nation School, Loughrea uses seashore guides to identify some of the species found on the beach
"The course is very hands-on and provides excellent examples of how we can overcome some of the challenges of teaching students about the marine. The seashore is a great resource for exploration and discovery of animals, increasing environmental awareness as well as carrying out some fun art and PE activities," said Síle Nic Spáidín, of Gaelscoil Riabhach Primary School, Galway.

The Explorers lesson plans are at our fingertips and provide a great way to bring the seashore to the classroom," Caroline Burke of Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge added.

On Gratton beach, Caroline Burke of Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge uses seashore keys to identify species

The Explorers Programme was established by the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria and is supported by the Galway Education Centre, Sea Life Bray, Blackrock Education Centre and the Lifetime Lab, Cork.

Thursday 25 June 2015

Sea for Society Blue Talks, Dublin

Sea for Society Blue talks
6pm 14 July 2015
Paccar Theatre, Science Gallery, Dublin
Join us for an evening of talks about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

We’ll hear about surfers tackling pollution and riding Ireland’s biggest waves, a researcher exploring the depths of the ocean in search of new medicines and a seasoned marine science communicator bringing the seas to schools.

Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our actions impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Follow our Twitter feed @SeaforSocietyIE to receive updates on all our activities.

This event is FREE, thanks to EC FP7 funding, but registration is required. To register, please email SeaforSocietyBlueTalks@aquatt.ie

Download:

Speakers
Hugo Tagholm, CEO, Surfers Against Sewage
Surfers Against Sewage: Waves, Environment, Community
Hugo has been Chief Executive of Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) since 2008. SAS was formed in 1990 in Cornwall by a group of surfers who were fed up of the regular sewage slicks and sanitary debris at local surf spots.
Keith Duggan, Chief Sports Writer, The Irish Times
Writing Cliffs of Insanity – A Winter on Ireland’s Big Waves 
Keith is an award-winning senior sportswriter with The Irish Times. His book, Cliffs of Insanity tells the story of a dedicated group of surfers in County Clare whose lives revolve around the pursuit of Ireland’s wildest waves.
Dr Margaret Rae, Researcher, Marine Institute and NUI Galway
Marine Biodiscovery
Margaret is a researcher in the Beaufort Marine Biodiscovery Programme, examining marine organisms harvested from the Irish coast and deep-sea territories in search of species with biological characteristics that may have medicinal uses and medical device applications.
Dr John Joyce, Sea for Society Ireland Area Leader, AquaTT
Designing Ocean Literacy Programmes that Work
John is a professional science communicator, published author and cartoonist with a background in marine science. He is currently the Irish Area Leader for the Sea for Society project. John has published four children’s books and five novels.
Hugh O’Brien Moran, Irish Surf Association Photographer & former Irish Surf Champion
Fifty years of Surfing – the evolution of surf culture in Ireland
Hugh is a surf instructor and professional photographer based in Tramore, Co. Waterford. He took up surfing in 1965 at the age of fourteen. He has won the Irish national championships five times and come second in the European masters surfing championships, as well as acting as tutor to Ireland’s national teams.

Monday 22 June 2015

Science Communication & Outreach Driving Positive Change for Our Seas

Sina Bold, a current Science Communications Master's student at Dublin City University (DCU), recently joined the Irish Sea for Society mobilisation team during an internship with AquaTT.

Sina has written an insightful post on LinkedIn about her experiences taking part in Sea for Society mobilisation activities in Dublin and Galway.

Click here to read Sina's post in full.

Science Communication student Sina Bold's LinkedIn Post about her Sea for Society experience

Tuesday 16 June 2015

The Irish Sea for Society Compendium




AquaTT has produced The Irish Sea for Society Compendium - a handy miscellany and all round sea-loving production as one of the key tools for the projects mobilisation phase, which is currently underway.

The Sea for Society project focuses on six themes: the sea as a place to live, the sea as a source of food, the sea as a means of transport, the sea as a source of energy, the sea as a place for leisure and tourism, and the sea as a support for human health. Each of these themes is further explored in the book. Readers are motivated to Do just one thing for the sea from a list of ten simple and achievable actions, which collectively taken would benefit the sea.

Furthermore, The Irish Sea for Society Compendium features profiles of famous Irish and international sea heroes, great shipwrecks in history, including those that can be found off the Irish coasts, some sea animals which are living in Irish waters, some fun lists (songs, books and movies) related to the sea, a comic, and  some colouring sheets. The compendium is accessible and has something for all ages.

Download The Irish Sea for Society Compendium here


If you are interested in hardcopies of The Irish Sea for Society Compendium, please contact Niamh Dornan, email: niamh@aquatt.ie

RV Celtic Explorer hosts National Schools Open Day as part of Sea for Society project




Over 150 children from five schools from Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Mayo visited an open day on the Marine Institute’s research vessel, the RV Celtic Explorer, as well as Galway Atlantaquaria, as part of the EU FP7 Sea for Society project to raise awareness of our ocean, this week in Galway city (10th June 2015).     

 Pupils from Scoil Iognaid Galway take a moment to enjoy the glorious weather at the Sea For Society open day in Galway



Gael Scoil Uileog de Burca are impressed with the new poster for ‘Exploring Our Oceans’

  

Briarhill National School on the docks beside with ROV Holland and RV Celtic Explorer



Pupils and teachers of Cork Educate Together School, together with the Marine Institute team and Dr Andy Wheeler from UCC, celebrate after their fantastic tour on board RV Celtic Explorer



Glenageary Killiney National School disembark from RV Celtic Explorer and ready to continue the events of the Sea for Society open day


The Sea for Society collective action aims to shape the concept of a "Blue Society" and improve Europe’s understanding on the relation between the ocean and our daily life activities. “As part of the Sea for Society FP7 project in Ireland, we provided the opportunity for children to see and take part in a wide range of activities including meeting with marine scientists, researchers and the Captain of the RV Celtic Explorer, as well as the team from AquaTT and marine experts at the aquarium,” explained Cushla Dromgool-Regan, Marine Institute.



Captain Denis Rowan explains some of the operations involved on the Bridge of the RV Celtic Explorer to pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School



Marine Institute scientists and pupils from Gael Scoil Uileog de Burca try to out-smile a wide mouthed monkfish in the Wet Laboratory demonstration



Marine Institute scientists discuss the lifecycle of flatfish with pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School during the Wet Labaoratory demonstration on the RV Celtic Explorer, as part of Sea For Society’s Blue Society initiative



Marine Institute scientists show pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School how to remove otoliths (earbones) from whiting to determine their age, as part of the Wet Laboratory demonstration 



Marine Institute researchers and pupils from Cork Educate Together study the survey data recovered from RV Celtic Explorer’s latest mission, mapping the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to the west coast of Ireland



Marine Institute researchers inform pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School about the thousands of shipwrecks discovered in Irish Waters, including the RMS Lusitania which sank off the coast of Cork in 1915

On the vessel the children meet with the fisheries research team who showed the children a wide range of fish from the deep ocean.  The seabed mapping researchers showed bathymetry mapping images of key shipwrecks around Ireland as well as the newly discovered submarine mountain ranges mapped by the RV Celtic Explorer on its latest expedition from Newfoundland to Galway.  The remotely operated vehicle ROV Holland I, which is to be used in the vessels next expedition filming cold water corals on the Porcupine bank, was also on display.  This provided a key opportunity for the children to learn about marine history, marine technology well as taking part in some simple experiments demonstrating pressure.



Aqua TT and Cushla Dromgool-Regan from the Marine Institute present the new Sea For Society information booklets and Exploring our Ocean materials during the Open Day on the RV Celtic Explorer.


AquaTT also asked the teachers and children to think about the small changes we can make in our lifestyle which have a significant impact on the ocean, such as using less water, eating fish that has been caught sustainably, disposing plastics in a responsible way, to taking part in beach cleans.



Pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School discuss what their ‘One Thing’ would be to raise awareness of our ocean resources and activities as part of Sea for Society’s Blue Society initiative.

Galway Atlantaquaria provided tactile learning opportunities where the students got to touch and see marine animals native to Irish seashores and ocean.

Teachers and pupils alike described the event as a unique and wonderful experience. “I’ve attended many trips with the school, but this one really stood out. We learned so much, ranging from how phytoplankton in our ocean provide up to 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe, to how to tell the age of a fish using their ear bones - otoliths. Raising awareness of our ocean and the impact that the ocean has on us is so important,” said Maire Ni Fhoghlu, from Gaelscoil Uileog de Burca, Claremorris.



Gael Scoil Uileog de Burca pupils and Marine Institute scientists explore the contents of a box of Dublin Bay Prawns during the Wet Laboratory demonstration

The children who attended the open day had taken part in the Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme which is run by Galway Atlantaquaria, Blackrock Education Centre, SeaLife – Bray and Lifetime Lab in Cork, and is also supported by other education centres in Mayo and Galway. 
 

  Pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School are surprised to learn that aging a fish involves removing its otoliths (earbones) as part of the Wet Laboratory demonstrations onboard RV Celtic Explorer



Cork Educate Together School and Marine Institute scientists investigate the different species of flatfish and sharks on display in the Wet Laboratory



Scoil Iognaid Galway pupils have a closer look at whiting earbones (otoliths) using microscopes in the Wet Laboratory



“The excellent marine activities and projects completed this year by the schools were evident in the enthusiasm and knowledge of the children who visited the Celtic Explorer.  For an island nation it is heartening to see that the children are learning about our ocean, understanding the importance of scientific marine research, as well as taking personal responsibility for caring for our marine environment,” Cushla Dromgool-Regan further said.

The Explorers Education programme also provides a range of cross curricular teaching resources and lesson plans for all primary schools to freely download at www.explorers.ie

School Children Eager to Do Just One Thing for the Sea



After their success at the Dublin Port Riverfest and the Galway Atlantaquaria’s World Oceans Day celebrations, the Irish Sea for Society team continued their activities at the open day of the national research vessel Celtic Explorer in Galway on 10 June, which was organised by the Marine Institute. More than 150 children from across Ireland visited the ship and were given tours of its facilities by its crew and Marine Institute staff members. 

The Sea for Society team was present with their special Information Kiosk in front of the Celtic Explorer, interacting with the children and raising awareness about how the ocean affects our lives and how our actions in turn affect the ocean. 

The students pledged to do at least one thing from a list of ten simple and achievable actions that collectively would help the sea. These actions included the recycling of plastic products or volunteering in a beach clean.

 Pupils from Glenageary Killiney National School eager to do just one thing for the sea


All of the children were eager to learn more about the sea and to spread the word about what they had learned during their visit. If everyone in Ireland would be as willing to Do Just One Thing for the Sea as these students, we could vastly improve the state of our seas.

The Irish Sea for Society team will continue to spread the word about the importance of the sea and to mobilise people to Do Just One Thing for the Sea at the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth and Seafest events in Cork from 10-11 July and at their ‘Blue Talks’ event in Science Gallery Dublin on 14 July. 

Watch this space for more information about these events!