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Description
The importance of SB Oceans – Junior Edition originates, firstly, from the fact that Portugal is a maritime country and that the importance of the sea and ocean is often undervalued by younger people, who associate these resources to a more traditional way of life and economy. The project thus aims not only to promote the value of the blue economy to the general community and students, but also to serve as a stage for the discussion of the importance of ocean conservation, encouraging citizens, policy makers and economic actors to become drive the change in support of the protection and sustainable use of these resources. To address these issues, the project includes one webinar composed of several topics related to Maritime Ecosystems and Blue Economy, such as “The new professions of the sea”, “The cycle of Microplastics”, “Solutions for the problems” and “The Portuguese strategy for Blue Economy”. There are also digital contents and activities: one educational e-book dedicated to the Sea and Ocean, one contest of original phrases and a beach cleanup. SB Oceans plans to achieve a higher level of engagement of students and the general community with the conservation of the sea and ocean, as well as spark the interest for the pursuing of sea sustainability related careers. Both the general community and technicians, as well as students from all levels are expected to benefit from this project, by gaining knowledge on the problems and solutions that they can be part of and by having a different perspective and contacting with policy makers, entrepreneurs and academic experts. The value added by project partners Quercus and Universidade do Porto is related with the proximity with the community and higher education students and their importance for the promotion of sustainability and education, respectively.
Summary of project results
Portugal is a maritime nation, being the importance of the Ocean, well based on the customs and traditions of its society. However, Portuguese society does not recognise the value of the ocean for its economy, as well as the need to protect it.
This project was unique since, to educate the general and school community on the subject, we brought together the highest experts of the blue economy, in a relaxed and discussion environment.
When the application was made, the project was based on a presential event, but due the COVID pandemy we addapted it to a digital format. however, the change in the format of the event allowed reaching a higher number of people. In addition, digital tools were created, such as e-books, which allowed information to reach an even wider audience. An entire digital campaign was planned and carried out with the aim of generating knowledge and thus increasing, on a large scale, the literacy of the oceans.
This project was ambitious and original, so the results weren’t be held just by increasing the knowledge of the community in general and school community. The discussions was enable to listen to all the "stakeholders" point of view, allowing to survey what they understand that needs to be changed in the blue economy, what great difficulties have been suffering and who knows, potentiate some type of partnerships between the speakers involved. All this made webinares as an engine of change and growth for the blue economy.
We believe that in order to achieve the objectives of blue growth it is necessary that all stakeholders be educated for the entire environment of the blue economy, becoming aware that they are part of a system with various areas of intervention.
Our project has thus linked connects several actors in the blue economy and society, fostering dialogue between the various parties and promoting the literacy of the general and school community for the blue economy and the education of all for the need of environmental awareness when exploring the Ocean.
Our project was a starting point for opening the blue economy to the community at large and school community.
Here the numbers that the project achieved:
- 360 awareness raising campaigns carried out in ocean literacy
- 803 people attended the webinars
- 3 webinars done
- 14655 views on social media
The objective for the year 2022 is to continue the project, making the second edition of Entra na Onda, also addressing themes related to the Oceans and to Environmental Sustainability.
There was recognition by all the partners involved.