Today@Dal

Photo: Nicolas Winkler, conference chair and Marine Affairs student

The common phrase “out of sight, out of mind” has been our approach to the oceans for too long. Despite the extensive supply of information we have available about marine issues we continue to ignore the impact we have on our oceans.

Students in Dalhousie’s Marine Affairs program agree. They have made existing knowledge the central topic of their upcoming student-led conference titled, “Transforming a Sea of Knowledge into Effective Management.”

Open to the public, this conference aims to address the challenges with knowledge integration in marine policy and management. The students suggest that by identifying issues across sectors and through various knowledge sources, we can determine more effective strategies for sustainable ocean management in Canada.

Exploring existing knowledge

Scientific knowledge, local knowledge, indigenous knowledge and personal experiences are some of the approaches used to understand the marine environment and our interactions with it.

“In this conference attendees will be presented with various opportunities to explore these knowledge systems and how they can be used for effective management and policy for sustainable oceans,” says Nicolas Winkler, conference chair and Marine Affairs student.

“On Friday we host Martha Stiegman, director of the documentary film Seeking Netukulimk; and Kerry Prosper, a passionate fisher, Mi’kmaq elder, and central figure in the film,” says Chloe Ready, conference promotion chair and Marine Affairs student. “Seeking Netukulimk is a lyrical exploration of the traditional laws that govern fishing in the Mi’kmaq world, and some of the political battles that have been fought to defend them.”

Preceding the documentary film on Friday their will be a reception and afterwards an exciting panel discussion featuring Kerry Prosper, Mi’kmaq elder; Sherry Pictou, Dal PhD student; Dr. Fred Metallic, a senior policy analyst, with the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government; and panel moderator Dr. Claudio Aporta, associate professor in the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie.

“Our conference theme speaks to the often-nuanced relationships at the interface between different types of knowledge and policy formulation,” says Winkler. “Conference participants will be able to explore this theme through three interactive and innovative workshops on Saturday April 12, the second day of the conference.”

The interactive sessions are as follows: 1) Visual Graphic Art Interpretation; 2) Mi’kmaq Language Session, and 3) Town Hall Policy Simulation.

Students leading the way

This year's Sustainable Oceans Conference is made possible by the Sobey Fund for Oceans - a unique partnership between Dalhousie University's Marine Affairs Program and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

“The goal of this fund is to inspire students and focus innovation on solving some of the most pressing problems facing our oceans using funds from this permanent endowment to both Dalhousie and WWF. The significance of this legacy is that it is directed at young people who will change, for the better, how we view, use and value the ocean and coastal environment and the goods and services they provide,” says Robert Rangeley, vice-president, conservation & Atlantic region, WWF.

Attendees can look forward to the following four themes being explored throughout the conference: 1) Sustainability & Knowledge Systems, 2) Marine Governance, Policy & Law, 3) Communication Between/Among Stakeholders & Policy Makers, 4) Addressing Uncertainty in the Marine Environment.

“Incorporating these knowledge systems into effective management and policy for sustainable oceans is an ongoing challenge, but a worthy one,” says Winkler. “Taking steps like these to bring people together will help us move forward on ocean management issues.”

Dates and times

This year's event will take place April 11th and 12th, 2014 at Dalhousie University.  

Friday, April 11th, 2014 (6:00 pm): Reception, Documentary screening, Panel discussion

Location: Potter Auditorium - Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building 6100 University Ave.

Saturday, April 12th, 2014 (8:30 am): Student presentations (posters and papers), Interactive Sessions: 1) Visual Graphic Art Interpretation; 2) Mi’kmaq Language Session; 3) Town Hall Policy Simulation.

Location: Life Sciences Centre, Room 236 & Dalhousie Ocean Science Building, Atrium 1355 Oxford St.

Everyone is welcome and attendance is free, but registration is required. To register, email OceansConf@dal.ca