Sustainable Seas: Forging Paths to Ocean Conservation
Join our event for years 10-13, taking place at the Dove Marine Lab on Monday 10 March 2025.
Taking place at our specialist beach-side laboratory in Cullercoats, join us for a day of interactive activities led by University staff.
- Date: Monday 10 March 2025
- Location: The Dove Marine Laboratory (Cullercoats, North Shields NE30 4PZ)
- Timings: 09:45 - 15:00
What can you get involved in?
We are excited to be working with charity 'Healthy Seas' to host an interactive event learning about the ghost fishing phenomenon, the ecosystem impacts and what Healthy Seas is doing to combat its impacts.
You will also have the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities looking at plankton and microplastics, design your own company or product that helps the ocean and also see our aquarium in action.
Event programme
|
Time |
Activity |
Description |
|
09:45 |
Arrival |
Arrival and registration |
|
10:00 |
Welcome |
Introduction to the day |
|
10:15 |
Healthy Seas presentation |
Ghost gear and ecosystem impacts, challenges of the ocean, circular economy, sustainability |
|
11:30 |
Healthy Seas |
Students working in groups:
|
|
12:30 |
Lunch break |
Students are encouraged to bring your own plastic-free lunch and refillable water bottles. |
|
13:00 |
Newcastle University activity |
Plankton workshop We will head out onto the pier to collect some plankton samples, before inspecting them under the microscope. Will we find evidence of microplastics?
|
|
14:45 - 15:00 |
Debrief and event close |
|
About Healthy Seas
Healthy Seas was founded in 2013 to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon that is responsible for the needless death of marine animals. Through clean-ups with volunteer divers and by working with stakeholders of the fishing sector toward marine litter prevention, Healthy Seas collects waste nets and ensures they become a valuable resource.
Nylon fishing nets are regenerated together with other nylon waste by Aquafil into ECONYL® yarn while the other types of plastics are also reused or recycled. Founded on the principles of circular economy, Healthy Seas champions the three pillars of sustainability and strives to make a positive and long-lasting impact to the marine environment, as well as the development of society, through education and awareness raising.