MESA is a national organisation that brings together people interested in the study and enjoyment of coastal and marine environments.
MESA provides a forum for sharing ideas to facilitate the development of leading environmental education and interpretation programs.
MESA also promotes the sustainable use of marine and coastal environments through education.
Seaweek is a national initiative conducted annually to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of our marine and coastal environments. Each year a different theme is chosen.
Seaweek is a celebration of the uniqueness of our "Ocean Planet"
Our aims are to:
Support educators in delivering best practice marine education in the Australasian region
Promote networking through the MESA website, forums and the MESA newsletter "Undercurrents"
Facilitate training, workshops and conferences for members
Develop community understanding, appreciation and action for the marine and coastal environment through activities.
Encourage and contribute to national and international marine education initiatives.
March 2010
Each year, the Marine Education Society of Australasia (MESA) runs Seaweek to promote educational issues of relevance to the marine environment.
In 2010, the theme is ‘Oceans of Life – ours to explore and conserve’ in recognition of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.
Why Oceans of Life as the Seaweek theme?
Australia is a marine nation. We have one of the largest ocean territories in the world, and it drives our climate and weather, generates employment, provides food and resources, and offers lifestyle and recreational opportunities. (Source:CSIRO)
Australia’s oceans also support rich biodiversity which we aim to explore in Seaweek 2010.
Seaweek in 2010 can:
• Inspire and inform you about the significance and value of our marine and coastal environment.
• Initiate interest and actions for our marine and coastal environments.
• Introduce you to activities and events facilitated in some states, through our State Representatives.
• Provide you with educational resources available on the MESA website for your classroom based activities.
• Involve your school and community participation in marine studies and exploration.
Redmap (Range Extension Database and Mapping Project) is a new and interactive website that invites the Tasmanian community to spot, log and map marine species that are uncommon in Tasmania, or along particular parts of our coast. The Redmap site contains a teaching resources section which provides interesting worksheets and lesson ideas to help teachers inspire their students. Students can learn about local scientists working on local projects. The background information provided tells the story of how Tasmanian scientists are addressing the challenges of climate change and contributing to science on a global scale.
Check out the site at www.redmap.org.au and register for their quarterly newsletter.
Do you have a marine website which you would like to promote? We have a section called Marine Links containing links to a a variety of useful sites which may be of interest to MESA memebers and site visitors. You can add your own link to our database. Once added it needs to be verified by our web manager and it will then be available to all!
A National
Approach to the
Professional
Development of
Sustainability
Educators Work in Progress Strategic Plan
.Four associations (Australian Association for Environmental Education, Waste Management
Association of Australia, Marine Education Society of Australasia and the Australian Water
Association) were successful in obtaining a grant from DEWHA to identify, recognise, and
facilitate the delivery of endorsed short course professional development modules for those
who design, deliver and/or evaluate sustainability/environmental education. Read the progress report
Send your own E-card and share it with others during Seaweek 2010.
Select from our beautiful range of E-Cards and send a message to your Local MP, Council, marine park's Authority, Fisheries Department or Environmental Department about the need for everyone to take action and protect and conserve our wonderful ocean resources.
Oceans Marine Art and Issues Primary School Art Challenge
There are separate competitions for K-2, Years 3 & 4 and Years 5 & 6. The tasks include hand drawn sketches, paintings or Digital Artworks. The winner and runner up in each age category will receive a certificate, book and art material prize.
2010 Seaweek Banner and Ecard Photography Competition
MESA invites primary and secondary students to create art work with clear messages about our Marine environment. The theme of the work should tie in with the 2010 MESA Seaweek theme: “Oceans of Life; Oceans to explore, ours to restore”
Entrants can draw, paint, glue, splash or sketch a full sized banner.
July 6 to 9, 2010
Outrigger on the Lagoon
Sigatoka, Fiji Islands www.ipmen.net
Vakarau ni se siga toka (Prepare whilst there is time)
Marine Education in the New Millennium
Join us at this green conference of marine educators dedicated to ensuring the health of the
Pacific Ocean and the communities who depend on it. Opportunities to participate in person
and via the web are available. Conference strands include:
· Key Challenges in Ocean Literacy: Assessing gaps in current marine education content,
projects, materials and delivery approaches (books, webinars, dvds, field excursions, etc.).
· Building Healthy Sustainable Coastal Communities: Integrating community-based science
and traditional ecological knowledge into formal and non-formal marine education
· Women in Fisheries: Partnerships for Change: Understanding women’s changing roles and
exploring ways to use their knowledge and skills in fisheries development and management.
· Climate Change Impacts on Pacific Children: Exploring the impacts of climate change and
unpredictable weather patterns on the children of the Pacific and their families.
A National Approach to the Professional Development of Sustainability Educators
In August last year a survey was held to identify the professional development short courses currently available to Educators in environmental areas and the providers of these courses, and secondly, to shed light on the needs of Educators in environmental areas for professional development especially within areas where short courses are currently not available.
A summary of the learnings from the review is now available.
As part of its Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has developed a suite of educational resources to help educators teach about the complex impacts of climate change on coral reefs.
