Supporting Ocean Literacy in the Baltic - EU4Ocean "Let’s make the Baltic Sea Blue"

Let’s make the Baltic Sea Blue!

EU4Ocean Coalition: Baltic Sea Basin Event on Ocean Literacy

26 August (10:00 – 13:00 CEST) and 27 August (10:00 – 17:00 CEST)

The EU4Ocean Coalition is organising its second Sea Basin Event in the Baltic Sea this time, on the 26th and the 27th of August of 2021, fully online. The EU4Ocean Coalition specific audience - members of the EU4Ocean Platform, Youth4Ocean Forum and the Network of European Blue Schools - will play a key role in the organisation and programme of the event. The Event will give visibility to all relevant Baltic ocean communities, including schools and pupils, teachers and marine science educators, stakeholders from marine related sectors, NGOs and conservationists, youth, policymakers and government representatives, public institutions, researchers and academia, entrepreneurs, other ocean professionals as well as citizens interested in the Baltic marine environment. The Event will have an additional specific focus on Baltic Youth as well as Baltic Blue Schools, allowing direct networking with policymakers and ocean professionals. All times in the agenda are in CEST and the language will be English. Together, we will gather key Baltic Ocean Literacy stakeholders to share our knowledge of and passion for the Baltic Sea!

Download Programme

Webstream link

Speakers Profiles

Programme 26 August 2021

10:00 – 13:00 CEST See recording

High-level opening

Conversation with key Baltic Ocean Professionals

Pitching Contest: Baltic Young Ocean Advocates

A Youth Perspective on Baltic Ocean Literacy

Closing Session: Collection of #MakeEUBlue Pledges

Programme 27 August 2021

10:00 – 17:00 CEST

Advancing Ocean Literacy in the Baltic – ways forward

Session 1: Bringing the Sea to the School – EU Blue Schools in the Baltic See recording

Session 2: How to engage and empower the Youth in the Baltic Sea Region See recording

Session 3: Engaging with wider public and businesses in the Baltic - #MakeBalticBlue Campaign See recording

European Blue Schools in the Baltic: Teachers Training Workshop See recording

Detailed Agenda

Day 1 - 26 August 2021 - See Recording

High-level Opening Session

10:00 – 10:25 CEST on 26th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

Starting off the event, notable speakers will welcome participants and set the scene. You can send in questions and comments throughout the day through sli.do.

Confirmed high-level speakers include:

• Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Marine Centre Director Paula Kankaanpää
• DG MARE Commissioner Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginius Sinkevičius (video address)
• DG MARE Zoi Konstantinou
• HELCOM Executive Secretary Rüdiger Strempel
• John Nurminen Foundation CEO Annamari Arrakoski-Engardt (video address)

Moderator: Lisa Simone de Grunt, SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG

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Key Baltic Ocean Professionals

Conversation 
10:25 - 11:15 CEST on 26th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

Following the high-level opening session, we will get to know some of the key players in Baltic Ocean Literacy. You can send in questions and comments throughout the day through sli.do. Confirmed speakers include:

• Centre for Sea and Society University of Gothenburg Director Lena Gipperth
• Baltic Sea Action Group Content Director Laura Höijer
• BONUS EEIG Executive Director and Coordinator of BANOS CSA Andris Andrusaitis
• VASAB Head of Secretariat Alda Nikodemusa
• PA Bioeconomy EUSBSR Fredric Nilsson
• CPMR Baltic Sea Commission Executive Secretary Lucille Ehrhart
• John Nurminen Foundation Director of the Clean Baltic Seas Project Marjukka Porvari

Moderator: Angela Schultz-Zehden, Managing Director SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG

https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/photo-displays-…

Baltic Young Ocean Advocates Pitching Contest

11:15 - 11:50 CEST on 26th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

The third Call for Young Ocean Advocates has recently been launched with a specific focus on engaging Baltic youth. From the received applications, 4 will be invited to pitch either in-person or via a video message, presenting their project (or project idea). A high-level judges panel consisting of Baltic Sea Action Group Content Director Laura Höijer, VASAB Head of Secretariat Alda Nikodemusa and CPMR Baltic Sea Commission Executive Secretary Lucille Ehrhart, will deliberate and select a winner, who will be awarded a special prize including the opportunity to present their project at the final event of the EU4Ocean Coalition. The pitches will include:

• Intro by Maelle Montier
• Veronika Saulite (Eco Citizen)
• Iida Pykko (BalticSeapp) and video recording
• Zuzanna Witek (Thriving Corals)
• Laura Stukonyte (Po Bangom)
• Luca Arfini (Young Leaders in Blue Economy)

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A Youth Perspective on Baltic Ocean Literacy

12:10 - 12:30 CEST on 26th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

Join this session to discuss how Baltic citizens and stakeholders can become more ocean literate and how to bring Baltic Youth in closer contact with ocean professionals - the session will include Baltic Youth Representatives as well as the high-level and key Baltic Ocean Professionals from earlier sessions.

Moderator: Lisa Simone de Grunt, SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG

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Closing Session - #MakeBalticBlue Pledges

12:30 - 13:00 CEST on 26th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

Closing off the workshop part of Day 1, the Closing Session will present the #MakeBalticBlue pledges, as part of the #EU4Ocean #MakeEUBlue Campaign. The high-level speakers, the key Ocean Players, the youth representatives and the EU4Ocean Team will all make dediated pledges for the Baltic Sea.

Moderator: Farah Obaidullah, Women4Oceans

Day 2 - 27 August 2021 - See Recording

Welcome Session

10:00 - 10:20 CEST on 27th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

• A short overview of the EU4Ocean activities in three communities and main conclusions from Day 1
• Overview of Day 2: parallel sessions, plenary, and afternoon training for teachers.
• Moderator: Olga Mashkina
• Breaking out into 3 parallel groups:

Practical steps and way forward in different communities - 3 parallel sessions

10:20 - 11:45 CEST on 27th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

Session 1: Bringing the Sea to School in the Baltics

Building on the experiences of existing educational networks and outreach activities in the Baltics, this session bring together different actors to present their projects and exchange best practices. Moderator: Vanessa Batista, Ciencia Viva

Opening | Vanessa Batista, Ciência Viva

The European Blue School Network | Evy Copejans, EMSEA

BSAG Baltic Sea School | Hanna Höijer, Baltic Sea Action Group trainee & high school student

Learning together in the Baltic Sea Project | Aira Undén-Selander and Mika Jokiaho, Baltic Sea Project

Baltic Quizz | Kasia Borowiak and Monika Wisniewska, Gdynia Aquarium

STEAM for the Baltic Sea | Nina Salonen, City of Turku, Development services

Outdoor learning, local water monitoring | Jari Silander, SYKE

Learn and study interesting Baltic Sea! | Eija Rantajärvi, SYKE

I live by the Sea project | Izabela Kotynska-Zielinska, Today We Have

The European Atlas of the Seas | Nathalie, EMODnet Secretariat

Closure session | Vanessa, Ciência Viva

Session 2: How to engage and empower the Youth in the Baltic Sea Region

See Recording

This session will share with the participants experiences of the members of the Youth4Ocean and discuss together with the audience which areas/topics, project types are (and will be) important for youth engagement in the Baltic region in the future, and where we need to put efforts to take these to the next level. The session invites experts, professionals, NGOs, educators, businesses, start-ups, communication experts and activists to share their experiences, and to get inspired and get involved! Moderator: Lisa Simone de Grunt, SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG

• Presentation Maelle Montier - Youth4Ocean Forum
• Presentation Lisa Simone de Grunt - Possible activities for Baltic Youth
• Presentation Iwona Gin – Youth4Ocean inspiration
• Presentation Aleksander Esipyonok - Friends of the Baltic Russia – Youth Projects
• Video: EuroFishion Contest
  https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/node/5966
• PPT Guillaume Lheureux - World Ocean Network - How Youth4Ocean Forum can contribute to COP 26 of the UNFCCC
• Presentation Tymon Zielinski – Relevant activities for Baltic Youth
• Video: Dance for the Oceans https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/node/5998
• Presentation Efthalia Arvaniti - Blue Generation Baltic Job perspectives

Session 3: Engaging with wider public and businesses in the Baltics – #MakeBalticBlue campaign

See recording

This parallel session invites businesses, NGOs, authorities, policy makers, media, and active citizens to come together to discuss what they can do to support #MakeBaltic Blue with their actions and what would be the pre-conditions to success. Moderator: Farah Obaidullah, Women4Oceans

• Introduction of the campaign|Farah Obaidullah, Women4Oceans
• Experiences from the field:
  •  
  • Hannah Griffiths Berggren WWF Sweden
  • Hanna Piepponen MarineFinland
  • Līga Pakalna BEF Latvia
  • Kirsi Kurki-Miettinen John Nurminen Foundation, Finland
  • Lucille Ehrhart CPMR the Baltic Sea Commission
  • Sanna Rousi and Juuso Tilaeus Itämeri Plogging
  • Andersen, Naja OCEANA
  • Manuel Bustelo DANEurope
  • Dominik Littfass HELCOM
• Open discussion with the speakers/audience: Where we should put our efforts in the #MakeBalticBlue Campaign? Who to engage, and how?

European Blue Schools in the Baltic: Teachers Training Workshop - See Recording

15:00 - 17:00 CEST on 27th August
English | Organised by EU4Ocean

The main goals of bringing the ocean into the classroom are improving the understanding of the ocean and developing a sense of responsibility towards our planet. The more aware and literate of the ocean students are, the more they become active and responsible European citizens.

In a European Blue School, teachers actively make the ocean a relevant part of the school curriculum through project-based learning. Schools that take up this Find the Blue challenge identify an ocean topic that is relevant to them and create with their students a school project. Student ownership, collaboration with ocean stakeholders and sharing with the community will be key values of these projects. After successfully completing the project, schools will receive the European Blue School certification.

This workshop will focus on becoming a European Blue School by developing school projects on the Baltic Sea. The online workshop features presentations and demos on the Baltic Sea by marine scientists and experienced educators who are renowned experts in their disciplines, small group discussions and professional guidance to become a European Blue School.

The workshop is designed for teachers who wish to become part of the Network of European Blue Schools, for all ages and at all student grade levels. Teachers in science, arts, languages, sports, economics, and other school subjects are all invited to participate.

After the workshop, you will:

• Understand why and what you should teach about the Baltic Sea.
• Know how to become a successful European Blue School.
• Be able to develop a school project on the Baltic Sea.
• Have inspiration to identify a topic, activities, and partners for your school project.

A detailed Programme can be found here

The workshop is led by EMSEA and Gdynia Aquarium, and supported by ACTeon, SUBMARINER Network and the European Commission, DG MARE, and partners of the EU4Ocean consortium. For more details about the Network of European Blue Schools, please visit https://ec.europa.eu/ocean-literacy/blue-schools. Further information is available here.