Staff from the School of Marine Science and Technology at Newcastle University journeyed to England's capital to host a celebratory event marking the launch of the Inspiring Seas website. Joined by staff from NYK Group Europe Ltd., the Sea Cadets and Sea Vision, we hosted an Enterprise Interaction Day designed to provide a well rounded flavour of marine science and technology topics applied to the real world.
Hands-on with marine invertebrate classification |
The prestigious rooms at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington became awash with interactive activities and information stalls filled with free giveaways and resounded to shrieks of delight as 145 pupils from schools London-wide got to grips with the weird and wonderful world of marine science and technology. |
The interactive stalls presented a hands-on, practical flavour of what marine science and technology entails. These included a marine organism classification exercise, a ship design-and-make experiment and an interactive food webs game. The aim here was to facilitate learning of physics and biology concepts and to allow pupils to understand the repercussions of unsustainable use of our seas.
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The physics of ship design in action |
Food for thought with this practical food webs game |
Courses and careers advice on all maritime-related fields was brought to life through an interactive careers seminar delivered by staff from NYK Group Europe Ltd. and the Sea Cadets, which imparted sea faring experience to pupils at first-hand. The information stalls complimented the careers seminar. Amongst the most popular of the attractions was an aquarium of living rocky shore marine organisms that pupils were encouraged to hold and study.
NYK Group Europe Ltd. and Sea Cadets staff share their sea fareing experience |
Studying marine organisms at first-hand |
As a finale to the day, pupils engaged in a simulated courtroom debate entitled “Is shipping a sustainable form of transport for the 21st century” battling it out as prosecution and defence representatives to fight their case. An ‘expert witness panel’ composing of staff from Newcastle University and NYK Group Europe Ltd. were called to give evidence. School pupils also represented jury panel members responsible for deliberating a verdict and providing management recommendations for very real problems such as marine alien transportation, ballast water management and emissions from ships.
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Debating the sustainability of shipping for the 21st century |
A thoroughly successful and enjoyable day was had by all and everyone left tired but elated carrying a bag of marine related goodies! Kathryn Sullivan, a teacher at Addey and Stanhope school said "our pupils had a wonderful time. Thank you for the opportunity to take part in this exciting and fully interactive day". Kathryn added that the "pupils particularly enjoyed the courtroom debate and took great pride from participating in an activity that really gave them the opportunity to enquire and learn for themselves". All of the courtroom debate resources are available from Module C in the teaching resources area of the Inspiring Seas website.
We thank Addey and Stanhope School, Highbury Grove School, Fulham Cross Girls School, Deptford Green School and Burntwood School for participating in the NYK Enterprise Interaction Day.
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Staff and students pose for the camera at the end of an enjoyable day |