Presentation for the “Assises Jeunes et Méditerranée” 2009

General InformationEcoocean was first

established in 2002 by a group of Israeli scientists that wanted to enhance the public’s interest and understanding of the marine environment and the urgent need for its protection.

The organization is a non profit NGO that is supported by donations to achieve its goals.

How to Achieve the Goals Research

Enable the Academic establishment in Israel (and overseas) to conduct marine research and teaching programs that have marine environmental aspects.

Obtain scientific data and present it to the public

Education

Establish and implement educational programs for the

formal and informal educational systems and by doing so create the impact needed to change public attitudes towards the issues affecting the Marine

environment

Research & Academic Courses - Tools Ecooceans main research tool

is the R/V “Mediterranean Explorer”. The 21 meter vessel has the following scientific equipment:

Water sampler and CTD Mini ROV Grabber Dredger Plankton nets Diving equipment Corer Side scanning sonar Wet and dry laboratories

Examples of A Few Projects the R/V Mediterranean Explorer has been Involved In Memphis- Monitoring Israeli

Seashores Nitrogen Fixation in the

Eastern Mediterranean Tsunami Study in Caesarea The Black Sea project Eritrea project Study of Cetaceans (Whales

and Dolphins) in the East Mediterranean

Dynamics of the Deep Water Phytoplankton Populations

Kurkar Ridges

EducationThe following are the

two main active educational programs that EcoOcean has chosen to implement in order to achieve its goals:

The “Megalim Center”

The “Along The Sea” program

•188 Km coast•High density population

‘Megalim’ CenterAn Educational Center for the Marine

Environment

Daily Visits of Schools

Research Programs

•For high schools: Biology and Environmental Studies

•Sandy beach

•Rocky beach

•The estuarine environment

•The open sea

Special Events and Festivals

Children’s songs festivalKayak journey ‘rowing for a clean beach’

Environmental Education Program implemented by EcoOcean and The Green Network

School Leader (teacher)

Leading Group (25 students)

School

Community

All students in school

Parents

Student leadership group

Community

School princip

al

Leading

teacher

School teache

rs

Influence Flow Diagram

School teachers

Community

All students in school

Leading

teacher

The “Along

The Sea“ program

School Principal

Student leadership

group

Information and Support Diagram

Municipal Networking

Meetings of leadership groups from different schools .

Seminars and workshops for teachers and principals.

A working relationship with the Municipal education and environmental departments.

Relationships with other local bodies and organizations that have a connection to the subject.

Work towards cooperation and integration between the Arab and Jewish groups and schools in the mixed communities. Children from the leadership group

instructing first grade children

Inter-Municipal Networking

•Green network conferences for all leading teachers

•National- wide event of all leadership groups

‘Along the Sea’ Program Components

activitydescriptionFrequency

Weekly lessonsBy the leader teacher: facts about the marine environment, sustainability, explorations of the seaside, labs, environmental dilemmas, preparation of activities for the

rest of the school

Once a week, throughout the school year

Excursions to the nearby sea shore

Aims at creating appreciation and connection to the sea. Some excursions focus on seashore clean ups.

1 excursion lead by the Green Network staff person. 2-3 excursions lead by the leader teacher

Lecture by Ecoocean staff person

A lecture about the anthropogenic influence on the marine environment

Once a year

Visit to Megalim center

Learning about the biotic and a-biotic conditions of the sandy and rocky sea shore, invertebrates lab, ‘clean beach’ insex

Once a year

For the children’s leadership groups

ActivityDescriptionFrequency

Local Leadership Groups Meetings

Example: Activity in the old city of Akko

Emphasizing the history of the

city and its multicultural nature. Bringing about meetings of Arabs and Jews, religious and secular

leadership groups .

Once a year

Country- wide leadership groups events

Example: Meeting with the kayak journey “steering for clear waters”A full day’s activity at the seashore. Meeting with club members, lifeguard, divers and diving gear. Viewing an under-water clean up and discussing the importance of clean shores and seas.

Once a year

Community activities

Examples:1. School events- lectures and workshops by the leadership group2. Adoption of a kindergarten- by the leadership group3. “Give and take” market4. Marine environment learning center

At least twice a year

Joint parents-students activities

Example : Excursion to Achziv natural reserve.

Once a year

For the leading teachers

ActivityDescriptionFrequency

seminarsEnhancing the knowledge base of the leading teachers about marine environmental issues

6 times a year

National –wide teachers and principals conference

Exchange of ideas and dialogs between teachers, principles, experts and ‘Along the Sea’ mediators.

Once a year

Professional guidance

Personal guidance for all teachers participating in the program throughout the year

Year round

Conceptual Input and Educational Program Input

EcooceanThe Green Network

School children visiting a presentation corner created by leadership group with the leading teacher

Financial Base for the “Along the Sea “ Program

EcooceanThe Green

NetworkParents, Schools,

MunicipalityGovernment grants

Leadership group children at a school presentation corner they created

Our vision and belief is that the program can be the beginning of a regional, coastal network of schools

that are truly knowledgeable and capable of increasing both awareness

and action towards a healthy, lively and sustainable marine environment