Since John Tomkin first lead a party Aussie marine educators to the west coast of the USA in 1990, MESA members have visited a wide variety of overseas venues.

You to can take a virtual tour beyond our shores to experience all manner of marine education programs, events and opportunities.

February 2007 update on the next NMEA conference in Portland, Maine. The conference dates are July 23 to 27, 2007 and the call for papers deadline is approaching fast. You only have until March 1st to submit a presentation – details can be found at gommea.org/downeast2007/.

The International Pacific Marine Education Conference (IPMEC) was a result of the One Ocean Marine Forum (OOMF) held in July 2005 (see right).

Web conferencing allowed educators who were unable to travel to Hawaii to participate in this conference and this is now available at www.coexploration.org/ipmec/. You simply need to register to access this information and add your comments.

The One Ocean Marine Forum (OOMF) is an international marine education initiative planned to occur in Hawaii in July 2005.

Sea ExChange

Sea ExChange is a cooperative international program between two professional marine education associations – the US based National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) and the Australian Marine Educators Society of Australasia (MESA).

The aim of Sea ExChange is to develop a web based program of international information exchange that is the first step in creating opportunities for marine educators (and students) in North America and Australasia to establish partnerships by travelling to work with each other.

California Dreaming 2000

In July 2000 five Australian marine educators travelled to California for the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) conference. The conference was held in Long Beach but we also took the chance visit marine education centres, aquariums and other attractions on the California coast.

Those travelling were Harry Breidahl (Nautilus Educational), Jane Breidahl (Woodleigh School), Anna Cooke (Gould League), Sheree Marris (Gould League) and Ian Wisken (Balnarring Primary School).

At the end of June 2004 MESA members Jane and Harry Breidahl fly off to the USA where we meet up with MESA/MTAQ member Simone Baker for a 4 week study tour of California and Florida.

Ocean Exploration

In May 2002 MESA member, Harry Breidahl attended the USA Government sponsored International Global Ocean Exploration (IGOE) Workshop in Paris France. One result of this Workshop was The Exploration of the Seas report to the US Congress.

Education has a high profile in the report and two examples of educators participating in internal ocean exploration programs Ocean Exploration Chapter 1 and Ocean Exploration Chapter 2. There should be more to follow soon.

‘Technology’ in this case means simply a tool; a process. Open Space is a method used around the world for convening fully participatory conferences, retreats and work meetings. It is also used to help people in high conflict situations communicate, and indeed, it is used for true peace work in places such as Northern Iraq, Israeli and Palestinian lands, Haiti, East Timor and Serbia.

Using Open Space one person can convene from 5 to over 2000 people for participatory decision-making, interdisciplinary task work and understanding each other across differences. In Open Space, teams, entire organizations, communities, and fusions of different groups work together more quickly; go deeper; break through to new thinking; appreciate each other in new ways. It’s a method you can teach yourself; workshops are also offered.