EMSEA 2015 - Days 2 and 3

Image credit: EMSEA

EMSEA - Day 2

Sessions, Workshops and Open Space

The first full day of EMSEA 2015 had an amazing array of outstanding presentations and workshops! Dr. Meghan Marrero and I shared our work on Draw the Ocean and invited others interested in the topic to join us. Draw the Ocean is theoretically based on mental models and practically adapted from the Draw a Scientist and Draw the Environment tests. We began by asking session attendees to think about what comes to mind when asked to "Draw a Scientist." This became the basis for our presentation in explaining the successes and challenges in working with mental models.

Draw the Ocean presentation with Meg Marrero.
Photo credit: Ivar Babb

Prior to the lunch break, attendees were given the option of joining in one of four workshops: Storytelling, Communication, Marine Litter app or OL in curriculum. The workshops would be repeated on Day 3, providing an opportunity to attend two of the four workshops. Today I selected the Communication workshop, led by Geraldine Fauville, Anouck Hubert, and Jan Seys. The workshop provided a broad overview of a variety of communcation strategies and offered best practices for challenges often faced in each strategy.

The remainder of the day focused on Open Space or an "unconference." This allowed conference attendees to suggest topics based on their interest that perhaps may nto be addressed otherwise except at coffee or lunch breaks. People wrote ideas on post-it notes and placed the post-its on a "bulletin board" for others to see. People were able to sign up to join any group they wished - and to come and go from room to room as they pleased. Each group designated a note taker, with the assumption that notes would be emailed to the conference committee for posting on the EMSEA 2015 scheduler at a later time.

Before leaving for dinner at a "secret location," EMSEA 2015 attendees gathered for a group picture at the CretAquarium.

The EMSEA 2015 group picture!
Photo credit: Tom Dyer

Evening Event at Lynchnostatis 

EMSEA 2015 conference organizer Martha Papathanassiou was very quiet about the dinner location, wanting to surprise us all with a very Greek experience! The Cretan Open-air Museum Lynchostatis was a very interesting introduction to Cretan folk cultural heritage. There were many things to see including agricultural tools, handcrafts, local plants and plenty of music and dancing! 

Our evening dinner and entertainment venue!
Photo credit: Diana Payne

We had a guided tour of the grounds and dwellings on site, which were brought to this location. Our evening at Lynchostatis provided a great introduction to the heritage and culture of Crete. An interesting artifact was a tree with many carvings depicting the history of Crete.

Carved tree with the history of Crete.
Photo credit: Diana Payne

Close-up of one of the images on the carved tree.
Photo credit: Diana Payne

Our dinner was set in a beautiful outdoor area, with a stage that came alive with local musicians and dancers. EMSEA 2015 attendees did not hesitate when encouraged to join the dancers on stage!

Our dinner awaits!
Photo credit: Diana Payne

Lots of singing and dancing!
Photo credit: Susan Haynes

EMSEA - Day 3

Another great day of sessions focused on evaluation and innovative ways of promoting Ocean Literacy. We were again able to select from four workshop sessions in the afternoon. Today I chose the  Storytelling workshop which was very well attended an quite interesting!

The final major focus for EMSEA 2015 was to look ahead and begin to shape the way forward for Ocean Literacy in Europe and beyond. The EMSEA girls led a discussion about EMSEA beginnings and status, while current NMEA President Bob Rocha provided an overview of the structure of the organzation as an example.

So what should EMSEA look like in the future? How should it be organized? To try to answer these questions, the Eurpoean attendees divided into groups by regional sea while some non-Europeans were asked to facilitate the discussions. I worked with the group from the Baltic and North seas. The conversation centered on the structure of EMSEA as an organization. Several options were put forth, including grouping by regional sea, country, topic/issue or from a larger European standpoint. Each suggestions has its merits and challenges, which the EMSEA board will need to disucss prior to making decisions.

The day ended with prizes for the winners of "Aquarium Bingo" and some rest and relaxation prior to the field trip day.

See you at EMSEA 2016 in Belfast!!!