Program And Workshop Outline

Thursday

Registration desk will be open from 3 pm

This will allow you to arrive during the afternoon and familiarise yourself with the camp and the Township of Portsea. We have arranged for a guided rock pool walk or you could go on a snorkel under the Portsea pier searching for dragons.

Afternoon: Workshops and Field trips

1. Mangroves and Marshes - A bus trip to Westernport and exploration of mangrove forests and salt marshes
2. Snorkelling the Subtidal - An introduction to snorkelling as a way into the subtidal world. Brief theory session in library then trip to pier to touch tanks and snorkel.
3. Sea Shores and Middens - Explorations of coastal geomorphology and an archaeological perspective on coastal indigenous culture
4. Investigating invertebrates - Immerse yourself in the astounding and outrageous world of marine invertebrates
5. Seaweeds & dolphins - This may seem like a strange concoction - marine plants and marine mammals, but these two are features of the southern Australian marine scene.

Evening: "These are a few of my favourite things" - a presentation of the best ten slides or pieces from some great marine photographers and film makers.

Morning: Ferry trip across the Rip

Marine Parks in Port Phillip Bay

Welcome at MAFRI, Queenscliff

Keynote: Linking Science and the Community

Panel presentation and discussion groups on links between research and education

Afternoon: Workshops and Field trips

1. Seadragon Monitoring - Community based monitoring program investigating the distribution and ecology of seadragons.
2. Farsight - Satellite Images - A new software program designed to allow students to access and use remote sensing to study ocean phenomena.
3. Sand Dune Revegetation -A field trip to investigate a highly successful schools and community revegetation project.
   
4. Swan Bay Discovery Tour - A canoe trip to investigate the seagrass community of Swan Bay and impacts on the Bay Swan Bay Integrated Catchment - A field trip to observe strategies implemented by community groups to effect integrated Catchment management at Swan Bay Marine Reserve
   
5. Student Monitoring Programs - Run by Secondary Students from Swansea High School, NSW a practical session on the application of monitoring techniques.
   
6. Bay Litter Watch - Down the drain issues. A highly successful approach to a Litter and Catchment education program. How it works.

Evening: Conference Dinner

Morning: Panel Presentation: Marine and Coastal Education - a Community and Schools Perspective

Seaweek '98
MESA AGM

Afternoon: Workshops

1. Publishing for Marine Education - Learn from authors and publishers the secrets to producing your own books
2. Fishing Culture - A workshop investigating approaches used in working with different cultural groups to effect fisheries management
3. Best practice in marine fieldwork - Using adult education practices to establish best practices, exchange experiences in the field and match with a set of criteria
4. Inside track to winning grants - the do’s and don’ts for your next submissions
5. Marine Aquaria: The balanced community technique - Description of establishment of a 2000 litre refrigerated marine system, showcasing difference marine communities in a laboratory.
6. Beach Secrets - education incognito - Insights into using costumes and drama to bring home marine concepts and conservation issues

1. Diving into Cyberspace - combining multimedia technology with marine education - interactive TV, WWW and a whole lot more
2. Octopus’s Garden - Building a resource treasure chest for early childhood and lower primary groups
3. Secondary Sharing - Who's doing what in marine programs for secondary schools. Bring some of your favourite tips and leave with a whole lot more.
4. Coastal Photo survey - This innovative project, explores the many opportunities to use the power of photography to monitor coastal change.
5. Volunteers in Community Marine & Coast Education - the benefits and some of the pitfalls

There are many opportunities to discover the magnificent environment of Port Phillip Bay through our range of Post Conference Trips. To cater for a range of interests the following programs will be offered.

Snorkeling at Popes Eye and with the Seals - Popes Eye is Australia smallest Marine Reserve and supports a great range of temperate marine life. The Bays seals are some of the most interesting animals you’ll ever interact with.

Scuba Dive - dive the spectacular Rip with its magnificent kelp forests and rocky reefs. Come eye to eye with blue devils and witness magnificent benthic communities .

Mud Islands adventure cruise. Visit this unique group of Islands in the middle of Port Phillip Bay. A must for wader bird and seagrass enthusiasts

Bob Moffatt, a founding member of MESA and a marine education publisher will be running a full day post conference workshop based on his new publication, 'An Introduction to Marine Studies'.