NRF-SAEON’s Egagasini and Elwandle Nodes, and the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), participated in the annual conference of the Marine and Coastal Educators Network (MCEN) held in January at Hartenbos in Mossel Bay. Funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the conference brought together marine and coastal educators, scientists and conservationists from across South Africa to share knowledge, develop innovative teaching methods and collaborate on ways to advance marine education in South Africa.

As a coordinating body within the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR) and funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), MCEN plays a crucial role in advancing marine and coastal education in South Africa. This year’s theme was Our Planet, Our Ocean, Our Future.

Representing the Egagasini Node, was the node’s science engagement officer and former national chairperson of MCEN, Thomas Mtontsi, along with ocean product developer, Aphiwe Mtetandaba, and ocean modeller, Gustav Rautenbach. They actively participated in the conference, with Aphiwe and Gustav leading an interactive session titled “From Shores to Seas: Exploring Marine Data with Beginner-Friendly Python Coding – A Hands-On Introduction to Python.” This engaging workshop introduced delegates to basic coding techniques for marine data analysis, allowing them to apply these skills in real-time. The session aimed to promote the integration of coding in marine and coastal education, empowering participants to process and utilise valuable but often underused data.

The Elwandle Node was represented by the node’s science engagement officer, Nozipiwo Hambaze, who delivered a presentation about NRF-SAEON’s Blue Schools Programme, an international initiative designed to enhance ocean literacy among high school learners, especially those from disadvantaged communities. The learners develop creative projects that raise awareness about marine conservation. Nozipiwo emphasised the programme’s success in fostering environmental stewardship and inspiring the next generation of marine scientists and advocates.

The South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) was represented by the engagement manager, Dr Wade De Kock and the research coordinator for Data, Products and Society, Rabia Mathakutha. Attending their first MCEN conference, they received an enthusiastic response from delegates interested in SAPRI’s work. In response, Rabia and Wade delivered an impromptu presentation on SAPRI’s role in marine and polar research in South Africa, providing valuable insights into the field. Wade also presented on including polar research within MCEN to educate learners. To their surprise, Rabia and Wade were awarded a prize for the best novice presentation.

Conference highlights 

The conference itself featured a blend of presentations and interactive workshops, highlighting innovative teaching techniques and hands-on activities for use in classrooms and educational settings. Highlights included puppet shows by the Two Oceans Aquarium and DFFE, a microplastic-focused beach cleanup by the City of Cape Town, a penguin pollution project and creative activities such as crafting 3D marine animal cutouts.

The conference concluded with a gala dinner and awards ceremony hosted by the MCEN national chairperson, Thomas Mtontsi. After three years of dedicated service, he formally stepped down, passing the baton to the newly appointed national chairperson.

As representatives of NRF-SAEON and SAPRI, we were honoured to participate in this inspiring event, which set the stage for another year of advancing marine and coastal education among South African youth. We extend our gratitude to the NRF, SANCOR and the DFFE for making this conference possible, as well as to NRF-SAEON for its support in enabling our participation.