2007UWM

Title: Let's discover 2007 underwater mysteries

Summary: Up to date, the wider Greek public is not enough aware of the significant achievements of the Greek scientific community and consequently marine research professions are not chosen. The overall goal of the project is an opening of the unique Hellenic Centre for Marine Research to the public, aiming at their familiarization and sensitization with marine research and its technology, by focusing on the following objectives to:

• Propagate the recent knowledge of the marine environment to the public
• Popularise research results, which include direct profits in the daily life- Increase the communication between researchers and the public
• Familiarize young people with marine science and technology issues, to stimulate their interest in researcher's profession

Target groups are school pupils, students, Local Authorities and the public in general. Events will be organised on the R/V Aegaio and at the Lavrio harbour (Attica). Land-based information activities will include various exhibits in special info kiosks, Videos, drawing and photo contest, children experiments, games and theatre, distribution of printed, electronic material, small gifts etc. On the R/V, visitors will be able to get to know more about the ship ""Aegean"", the submersible and the Remote Operated Vehicles of the Centre; sampling gears; the application and use of new technologies (e.g. program ""Poseidon"" for weather forecasting) as well as the possibility of access to scientific handbooks for the identification of marine organisms with the guidance of experts, which are simple examples of live communication that we expect to achieve.The simultaneous follow-up of the event, with the use of live connection, in two other different geographic regions (Crete and Rhodes, where the Aquaria of the Centre are located), will play an important role. After an appropriate awareness campaign, a large participation of the public is expected, which might be quantified and evaluated as described in the related WP.

For more information, please visit EurOcean Knowledge Gate.