Theme

Exploring Our Oceans

Bunch of Five - Ways to take part in Seaweek 2003

Here are five big ideas to help you get into the theme of Exploring Our Oceans – the Seaweek "Bunch of Five". A support package listing reference books and web sites for each of the five suggestions will be posted on this site in January 2003. Your local MESA delegate could also help find speakers or assist in organising a debate, forum or Seaweek event.

1. Explore the ocean without leaving the shore

• A few of the oceans secrets wash up on Australian beaches. For example, the blue fleet is a term used to describe oceanic drifters such as bluebottles and violet snails.
  
  Seaweek 2003 would be a great time to launch a Blue Fleet Beachcombing survey on your local beach. Go to www.southernshores.auz.info for details in mid January.
• Virtual ocean exploration – take a virtual research cruise or discover remote sensing by using the web.

2. The great ocean exploration debate

Organise a school or community debate focusing on ocean exploration. Here’s our suggested theme:

“The costs of ocean exploration far outweigh the benefits to Australians”

3. Ocean exploration forums

nvite a speaker from local scientific and research organizations and run a school or community forum on Australia’s past, present or future role in ocean exploration. These forums could become part of a new MESA service called e-Oceans.

4. ROV’s Down Under

Programmable equipment available to schools, such as LEGO MindStorms, allows us to build our own robots and to solve some of the problems that ocean explorers face.Try building working models of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) used in ocean exploration.

5. Celebrating Ocean Exploration

Organize an event that celebrates the theme of Exploring Our Oceans.This could involve posters, dioramas or other displays at school, a local library or a shopping centre.