Youth and Oceans Conference attracts 160 students to Marine Institute

Junior high and high school students from across the Avalon Peninsula came together at the Marine Institute on Thursday, Feb. 25 for a Youth and Oceans Conference

Monday, March 1, 2010

“The speakers were fantastic. They were very informative and spoke out about a lot of important issues,” said Sheena Butler, a Grade 12 student from Ascension Collegiate in Bay Roberts who attended the Youth and Oceans Conference. “Now we know what we can do to help improve things.”

Butler was one of many students who took part in the group discussions and question-and-answer periods with the guest speakers. She came to the conference because she has a strong interest in environmental issues and was pleased to see so many other students had similar feelings. “I want to learn more ways to keep our environment and our oceans clean. It’s our problem and we have to fix it,” said Butler.

The theme for the Youth and Oceans conference was Sustainable Oceans: It’s now or never. Carey Bonnell, head, School of Fisheries, MI, provided the host address while Bob O’Brien, founder and former chair of Ocean Net, also took to the podium to address the young students. O’Brien has been an environmental activist for many years and as the former chair of Ocean Net attended many previous Youth and Oceans Conferences. He was pleased with the turnout at the event on Feb. 25 and praised the 160 junior high and high school students who attended for wanting to get involved.

“I wanted to instil in the kids that there are serious issues out there and that they should get involved,” said O’Brien. “It’s all part of sustainability and the survival of life on the planet. I hope some of them will step up and become leaders in regards to these issues. I like these conferences because it brings so many people together in one room. People listening and sharing ideas, it’s a good approach.”

The Youth and Oceans Conference keynote speaker was Sharon Porter-Trask, manager, education and communications, Provincial Department of Environment and Conservation. “The primary message I hoped to convey to the youth today was to really think about the decisions they make and how those decisions impact tomorrow,” said Porter-Trask. “Don’t get caught up in the negative images, stay focused on today and use the skills and abilities they have to build a better future. Change is possible and that’s what sustainability is all about.” Porter-Trask added the Youth and Oceans Conference is a great way to get youth talking about environmental issues such as sustainable oceans. “Conferences like this one are absolutely essential,” said Porter-Trask. “This age group is used to social networking, they’re on Twitter and Facebook. But this is different. A lot of energy is created when you bring them all together. To come here as a like-minded group is an important step.”

The Marine Institute’s Mary Pippy, head of MI’s Sustainability Committee and chair of the Marine Institute’s three-year Marine Environmental Technology program, also addressed the junior high and high school students. Covering a wide range of topics relating to events close to home and around the world, Pippy displayed how enrolling in programs at the Marine Institute could help students tackle the problems that affect oceans and the environment. “The Youth and Oceans Conference certainly raises awareness of the Marine Institute as a place where young students can get some training on the environmental side,” said Pippy. “If they’re interested in this kind of training, the Marine Environmental Technology program would certainly fit the bill, as would a number of other Marine Institute programs such as Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management, Sustainable Aquaculture and Water Quality.”

The next Marine Institute Youth and Oceans Conference will take place on Thursday, March 4 in Corner Brook. Conferences are also scheduled for Labrador and on the Burin Peninsula later in the year.