Photo: (left to right) Bernardo Riolo, Headmaster, St Theresa College Middle School, Ta’ Paris, Prof. Adriana Vella, SEA MARVEL project scientific coordinator at UM together with her research team members, Dr Clare Marie Mifsud, Dr Noel Vella, Isaak Koroma and Yacopo Baldacchino, Penelope Anne Fitzgerald (centre), Department for Curriculum, Lifelong Learning and Employability, Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes, Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation.
The Interreg Italia-Malta SEA MARVEL project is sharing its research photographic outputs in a unique educational photographic exhibition for the benefit of Maltese schools.
St Theresa College Middle School, Ta’ Paris, hosted the SEA MARVEL Workshop and the launching of this roving educational marine biodiversity and natura 2000 sites photographic exhibition. Dr Alice Micallef, Assistant Director of the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes, Bernardo Riolo, Head of St Theresa College Middle School and Prof Adriana Vella, SEA MARVEL scientific project coordinator in Malta, inaugurated the exhibition.
The SEA MARVEL project team launched an educational marine biodiversity photographic exhibition which shall be exhibited in Maltese schools before being made available to other stakeholders in marine science, management and conservation. With over 260 photos of different species, the exhibition manages to reveal extraordinary close-ups as well. But beyond the photos this educational resource makes available relevant information on the species, their habitat, pressures and conservation needs.
This launching event involved 60 students actively participating and learning about the incredible sea life found around the Maltese Islands, from the smallest organisms found in shallow coastal waters to the largest whales found offshore.
Students heard first-hand from different scientific researchers about various methods, instrumentation and skills that allow discoveries and advancements in science, knowledge and awareness of the different species and their ecosystems in Maltese waters. The topics covered also allowed for a focused discussion of the pressures and challenges our marine the environment faces especially, the increasing plastic, noise pollution, alien species, and climate change.
The students also heard which solutions and measures are needed now and how scientific understanding provides these with tangible inputs for effective mitigation and management. Also encouraged is the need for participation of the public and sea users through their responsible behaviour and greater involvement through citizen science initiatives.
This SEA MARVEL workshop allowed students to discover, answer, and open-up their curiosities about marine biodiversity with expert researchers. Through this event, students have learned much more about what sea life holds and how it may be studied, admired, and safeguarded.
The SEA MARVEL photography exhibits a selection of endemic, vulnerable species but also alien species. It showcases the marvellous diversity of species that often goes ignored when swimming, boating, and fishing in their habitat. Natura 2000 sites and threats affecting our biodiversity are also featured. The exhibition comprises 20 large stand-up posters composed of a collage of photos, and each poster has additional information accessible online through a QR code.
After this launching event, the roving exhibition is now available for schools in Malta and Gozo to host. The exhibits are an excellent resource for schools to valorise our marine life and its conservation. In addition, it is an eye-opener to how serious issues benefit from scientific innovation and research, encouraging these students to pursue a career in STEM.
The SEA MARVEL educational events and resource sharing are possible through the support of the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes and the various schools welcoming them. The SEA MARVEL Malta scientific team is led by Prof Adriana Vella, Conservation Biology Research Group, the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Malta with the support of Dr Joseph Vella, Dept of Computer Information Systems, Faculty of ICT, University of Malta and other members of the Conservation Biology Research Group.
During the SEA MARVEL workshop a short video clip was shown highlighting anthropogenic impacts but also measures to safeguard marine life. The SEA MARVEL educational marine biodiversity photographic exhibition to be displayed in Maltese schools before being made available to other stakeholders in marine science, management and conservation follows on these thematics. With over 260 photos of different species, the exhibition manages to reveal extraordinary close-ups as well. But beyond the photos this educational resource makes available relevant information on the species, their habitat, pressures and conservation needs.
For further information contact Prof. Adriana Vella.
