The ProBleu team recently attended the 11th European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) Conference in Zadar, Croatia. It was an inspiring event, filled with discussions, workshops, and presentations on marine and water literacy from across Europe. This was an excellent opportunity to connect and explore opportunities with our sister project, BlueLightS, and other EU Ocean and Waters Mission projects as Ocean Citizen.
The EMSEA conference offered a variety of sessions focused on the latest developments in marine education:
- Innovative Marine Education Projects: Across Europe, educators employ creative approaches like storytelling, digital tools, and outdoor activities to promote ocean literacy, inspiring participants to explore new methods in their contexts.
- Sustainability in Education: Several sessions were dedicated to incorporating sustainable practices into marine education, providing educators with tools and strategies for teaching not just about the ocean but also about ways to protect it.
- Science & Community Connections: The importance of linking marine science to communities was a key theme, with examples on how schools, research institutions, and NGOs can collaborate to raise public understanding of ocean issues, emphasizing citizen science.
ProBleu’s Contribution
Our Technical Coordinator, Eli Bonfill, participated in a panel session about the challenges and growth of Blue Schools across Europe. Key barriers were discussed, such as lack of time, funding limitations, and the need for more teacher support. The session also explored solutions like enhancing resource-sharing, providing accessible educational materials, and building networks to support teachers in bringing ocean literacy to their classrooms.
It was also rewarding to meet one of the teachers who received a ProBleu grant, Escola Galí Bellesguard, in person during our second funding call and hear firsthand about their progress and impact.
Beyond networking, we promoted our ongoing third funding call to key organizations based in Georgia, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Greece, the UK, Ireland, and of course Croatia. We expanded our reach and fostered potential partnerships for Blue School’s development!
Moving Forward Together
The EMSEA conference reinforced the importance of collective action in ocean literacy. The exchange of ideas and experiences strengthened our commitment to supporting European Blue Schools and empowering educators to take on ocean-related projects. ProBleu looks forward to continuing these efforts, overcoming challenges, and fostering a sustainable future for European ocean education.
Thank you to the EMSEA organizers and all participants for the inspiring conversations and great atmosphere!
Funded by the European Union