Panels of the conference

Panel 1. Role of international organizations in fostering and improving education and training services to society in the area of environmental sciences
Taking stock of progress achieved by international organizations, globally and regionally, in the area of environmental sciences the Panel will focus on the obstacles to the progress, discuss ways to overcome them and create new partnerships in education and training, and define next steps necessary to achieve MDGs and the goals of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development.


Panel 2. Present and future of education and training development in the area of marine sciences with the attention to the role of science in sustainable development and related issues
There is a need for reorienting education towards sustainable development and education for all. An improved marine capability involves the strengthening of marine science infrastructure, the institutions, in which education and training activities are carried out. The aim is to achieve high-quality continuing education in environmental sciences and related disciplines.


There is a need to integrate environmental science in educational curricula at all levels.

Development of trust among science and education stakeholders becomes a key issue.

How to achieve this objective through educational and training processes will be in the focus of the work of this Panel.


Panel 3. Educational technology and modern methods of education for the development of national and regional potential for the support of marine sciences and observations
Development of innovative technologies for the collection of observations, for presenting and exchange of information and for connecting people around the globe opened a door for adding new approaches to traditional educational methods and for close cooperation between teachers, scholars, scientists, socio-economists in the formulation of relevant educational programmes.

Effective application of interdisciplinary approach will require an appropriate number of high quality human resources, facilities and infrastructure. Are the educators ready to cope with new technological developments and what should be done to make them ready to meet new challenges? All these and many other issues will be discussed by the Panel.


Panel 4. Management and funding of educational and training processes

There should be a political will to consider environmental issues and education as a priority for national development with the goal to create development-oriented knowledge and environment-friendly societies. How to make environmental education and training as a priority issue in governmental agendas?
There may be a need for restructuring existing educational and scientific governmental agencies to respond more effectively to the needs of society.

Standards for training and capacity development in the professions required for environmental research and protection need to be determined.

How to increase fund raising and its effectiveness, how to make it sustainable? How to adjust administrative and legal systems to new requirements in environmental research and education?

The Panel will look for answers to these and many other questions related to its theme.


Panel 5. Awareness raising of the importance of marine research and protection of marine environment on a scientific basis
Awareness raising is an important activity for fostering a climate for capacity building. It helps to keep in focus the latest scientific findings on the rapidly deteriorating state of the oceans, and to encourage broad public support for the protection of the marine environment and sustainable use of its resources.

Through the deep mass media attention and involvement it will be easier to understand and appreciate the need for public education at all levels from youth to seniors.

Participants of the Panel will recommend the approaches for designing an effective proactive broadcasting, information dissemination and awareness raising system using modern technology with the objective to ensure that quality information is easily accessible and widely available.

The agenda of the Panels will include oral presentations selected from submitted papers, their round table discussion and development of recommendations.