The Environmental Education and Public Awareness sub-programme of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme under the auspices of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, has provided inspiring real-life experiences, curriculum resources and interactive workshops to an estimated 200 000 school learners and their teachers around the fascinating story of the coelacanth and the world of marine sciences

The discovery in 2000 of a population of live Coelacanths in relatively shallow, accessible waters off South Africa captured everyone’s imagination and led to the formation of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme. In launching this Programme the Government declared it a flagship programme to encourage the youth to enter into marine sciences and environmental education. The Coelacanth is an ideal ‘flagship’ species as it gives rise to many tantalizing questions regarding the Coelacanth’s evolution and ability to survive unchanged for millions of years…..

A window to the past, a door to the future

 

The African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) runs a sub-programme titled Environmental Education and Public Awareness (EE/PA), which aims to bridge the gap between science, the youth and the general public. Through various initiatives and outreaches it strives to capture the imagination of the youth and inspire them to value and conserve marine and coastal resources and to seek careers in science, engineering and technology. The sub-programme also provides and supports educators with new educational resources that link the school curriculum to the marine environment.

Various display materials including interactive posters, models of the Coelacanth, a submersible and a variety of interesting and intriguing creatures of the deep, have been developed for this purpose. These are set up at various exhibitions where visiting learners are encouraged to become involved and interact with the display.

 

In 2004, the ACEP attended the SABC Careers, Education and Training Fairs in Johannesburg, Durban, Polokwane and Pretoria, reaching an estimated 125 000 learners from grades 8 – 11. The Programme also attended Sasol Scifest in Grahamstown and Sasol Techno X in Sasolburg with a combined attendance of 65 000 learners mainly from grades 4 to 12.

In order to conduct research in the deep oceans, a priority of the programme, the ACEP makes use of the research vessel, the FRS Algoa. Two extensive expeditions are undertaken annually and as part of the Programme’s commitment to environmental education, the ship docked in six ports along the Southern African coast. At these publicized stops, schools were invited to board the ship and experience what it is like living and working as a marine scientist. During the ship visits, learners are given an introduction to the Coelacanth and its habitat and the technology used that enables scientists to study the canyon habitat of the coelacanth.

This year the ship visited the following ports with the number of learners that visited in brackets: Mossel Bay (350), Port Elizabeth (170), Richards Bay (25), Maputo (48), Zanzibar (220) and Grande Comore (110).

The EE/PA sub-programme also conducts outreaches and during April and May 13, schools in the area surrounding Sodwana Bay were visited. A total of 923 learners were involved in activities that were linked to the marine environment. Resources including Coastcare Fact Files and posters were distributed to these schools. Through the programme selected youngsters are accorded the opportunity to experience first hand what it is like breathing and seeing underwater, via snorkeling excursions.

 

Learner support material in line with Outcomes Based Education and the newly developed National Curriculum Statements has been and continues to be developed. A fascinating video titled ‘Ocean Exploration with Old Four’, which supports the learning outcomes for natural science grades 7 – 9, has been produced. It highlights the importance of our oceans and the Programmes’contribution towards understanding this last frontier and also introduces the learner to the Coelacanth, research ships and submersibles.

 

A second video, titled ‘Exploring Ocean Careers with Old Four Legs, highlights various careers that are linked to the marine environment, including careers in ports, on research vessels, and in the physical and biological scientific fields. The video supports the learning outcomes for life orientation for grades 7- 9 and includes a section on identifying personality types and values required to work in the marine environment.

Each of these videos, produced in partnership with the Delta Foundation, comes with a facilitator’s manual, guiding the teacher through the video, learner activities and tips on how best to present and integrate the material in the school learning programmes. In addition a Learner Manual, which is a compilation of worksheets, background information and activities, supports the video content.

The Programme has also produced marine related Worksheets that introduce learners to different concepts linked to the marine environment and are divided into foundation phase, intermediate phase and senior phase. A number of workshops have been conducted throughout the year on these educational resources in Sodwana Bay, Mossel Bay, Cintsa, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Pretoria and Johannesburg and an estimated 250 teachers have received copies of these resources to use in the classroom.

 

In October 2004 our next exciting resource will be launched. It is an interactive CD-ROM entitled‘Scientists at Work’. Through essays, games, pictures & drop-down tables, the CD takes the learner on a voyage of discovery into the life of a marine scientist on an expedition. Learners are given the opportunity to pack their bags for an expedition as well as use real data to draw tables and plot graphs. The CD- ROM is accompanied by a Teachers Guide and Learners Workbook and is aimed at learners in grades 7 – 9.

In South Africa a number of governmental and non-governmental organisations run educational awareness programmes related to the marine environment. Many work together and belong to networks allowing for cross-pollination of resources and ideas. The ACEP chooses not to duplicate efforts or compete with these organisations, but rather work with and support them. In this regard the EE/PA sub-programme has links to or is a member of various education networks, including the South African Marine and Coastal Educators Network (MCEN), the National Marine Educators Network (NMEA) in the United States and the Marine and Coastal Outreach Group (MCOG).

The EE/PA sub-programme has exposed thousands of children, teenagers and adults to the Programme, the marine environment and the importance of conserving this environment. Feedback on the displays, ship visits and outreaches have always been overwhelmingly positive. Exciting resources which bring the oceans to the doorsteps of learners continue to be developed and to date have elicited an enthusiastic response from learners and educators alike.