This event will present the Educational Areas methodology, implemented in over 1,500 projects across France, and its potential to support the international expansion of the Blue School Global Network. The French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), which coordinates the initiative, will provide a practical overview, highlighting its role in ocean literacy and civic engagement to advance SDG 14. The Generalitat de Catalunya will share initial insights from a 2024 pilot conducted with OFB within the Bluelights project. The NGO EMA Australia, will offer insights into adapting this methodology across cultural contexts, helping to preserve Indigenous knowledge in south-western Australia. European and international Blue School networks will explore how this model can reinforce cross-sectoral partnerships and scale ocean education globally. High-level participation is expected.
This event is organised by OFB and IOC-UNESCO, with support of DG MARE.
🕐Time: 9-11am (open to anyone), 11am to 5pm
📌Location: Nice, France
Program:
9.30 am – 11.30 am: Discover the ‘educational marine area’ methodology, a powerful tool to develop Blue schools
Meet at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Baleine entrance for an outdoor welcome!
From 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: first part of the training at the Pavillon France – 3 Océans
11.30 am – 5.30 pm : Workshop (Put it into practice: develop an action plan to test the methodology in your country) and excursion to visit the educational marine area of Théoule-sur-Mer
The workshop and the excursion is upon registration. If you wish to be part, please send an email to louise.bigot@ofb.gouv.fr
📢Speakers:
Morning session:
OFB’s educational area team: Marion Besançon, François Morisseau, Manon Guyonnet and Louise Bigot
Bernardo Reduto Leal, Associate Programme Officer – Ocean Literacy, IOC UNESCO
Dominika Wojcieszek, Blue Schools Officer, European Marine Science Educators Association
Roger Espluga Garcia and Anna Gutiérrez Lopez, Project officers in charge of environmental education at Generalitat de Catalunya
EMA Australia representative (tbc)
Afternoon session:
Students from Les Mimosas secondary school working on the Pointe de l’Aiguille educational marine area with one of their teachers, Emmanuel Blanc, and the school’s headmistress, Elise Theiller.
Representative of Théoule-sur-Mer Town Hall (tbc)
Delphine Lambert, accompanying the educational area at Les Mimosas secondary school, school activities coordinator, Centre de Découverte Mer et Montagne
OFB’s educational area team: Marion Besançon, François Morisseau, Manon Guyonnet and Louise Bigot
Bernardo Reduto Leal, Associate Programme Officer – Ocean Literacy, IOC UNESCO
Roger Espluga Garcia and Anna Gutiérrez Lopez, Project officers in charge of environmental education at Generalitat de Catalunya
