Parliamentary Ocean Evening in Hamburg: German Ocean Foundation presents Germany’s first marine school
Germany’s first marine school
The German Ocean Foundation presented the concept for Germany’s first marine school during the first Parliamentary Ocean Evening in Hamburg. The educational model, developed by Head of Studies Dr Wiebke Endres, aims to inspire pupils to take an interest in the ocean as a key issue for the future, whilst at the same time opening up new personal and career prospects for them in the fields of marine conservation, research and the maritime economy.
Ocean Literacy Day
The concept was unveiled on Ocean Literacy Day on board the Cap San Diego. The event is a German contribution to European Maritime Day in My Country and takes place as part of the UN Ocean Decade, the implementation of which is supported by the German Ocean Foundation as the official UN Ocean Decade Implementing Partner in Germany.
The day of action combined educational activities for children and young people with scientific exchange, environmental engagement and political dialogue. In the Ocean Literacy Lab, school pupils explored the importance of the ocean for people and the climate through interactive workshops. The programme was complemented by the documentary Ocean with David Attenborough and the Ocean Science multimedia exhibition on board the Cap San Diego.
Parliamentary Ocean Evening
At the Parliamentary Marine Evening, representatives from the worlds of science, politics and civil society discussed ways of raising awareness of marine issues in Germany.
Prof. Dr Mojib Latif, a climate researcher at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and President of the German branch of the CLUB OF ROME, warned of the consequences of the ongoing warming of the oceans and emphasised the need to consistently protect the deep sea as a unique habitat.
Katja Günther, State Secretary at the Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, emphasised that young people in particular must be made aware of the importance of the oceans at an early age and encouraged to become ambassadors for marine conservation.
Dr Alica Torkov, Engagement Strategist at the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance, called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in light of the scientific uncertainties.
The evening was accompanied by music from Ingo Pohlmann. Afterwards, to mark its 11th anniversary, the German Ocean Foundation hosted a reception at the Ocean Science Multimedia Exhibition – the only permanent exhibition in Germany open to the public that is dedicated exclusively to the UN Decade of the Ocean.