Lessons Learned from Estonia MML workshops

Milestone 2

Define a clear triggering question highlighting the issue and goal to be addressed at the workshop;
Provide enough time for the presentation of science outcomes and sharing knowledge from research point of view;
Contact directly the person to recruit via e-mails or telephone;
Make marine issues visible and understandable to the public.

Milestone 3

Involve the private sector, policymakers, the scientific community and the local and national community for the definition of ideas, needs and solutions;
Help participants become active in the workshop by helping them understand the importance of the Marine Hot Topic;
Collaborate with your local partners, which can be great allies;
Use role play and "Decide" game to integrate difficult concepts in workshop discussion;
Adapt the workshop methodology to the local culture;
The reversed science cafe method motivates participants to express their opinions and views in a structured, inclusive, yet open manner;
Participatory workshops provide good opportunities for better discovering developments and problems of the studied industry;
Enable workshops participants to create networks and communities of interest to further research and identify solutions for the studied issue;
Engage participants via emails and phone calls, since it has been proven as the most effective means of recruitment;
Be aware that it is challenging to persuade people to participate in workshops;
Be flexible with the methodology adopted in order to finalize the process, even if not in the way you planned;
Choose your methodology considering your audience;
Dedicate the needed time to discuss and clarify the methodology and the agenda with the facilitator - and among the organizing group.

Milestone 4

Request participants keep trying to think from other stakeholders' position;
Request the participants to state their ideas in the form of action statements in order to “push” them to think in practical terms;
Encourage researchers to voice their opinions on marine issues in the media focusing on economic, environmental and social needs to enable the uptake of new technologies;
Focus on environmental aspects through a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure stability and availability of resources.

Milestone 5

Prepare take home tools and methods that participants can implement in their jobs;
Push for adjust rules to allow open access to relevant sector research results;
Raise awareness through education for developing/supporting new technologies for responsible maritime transport;
Push participants to move beyond exchanging ideas and to start co-creating a vision.

Milestone 6

Start measuring and collecting marine scientific data on board different non-scientific vessels.

Milestone 7

Governance should strive for active engagement of the key public and private stakeholder bodies for the development and impact on the societal challenge;
Be aware that only about half of the participants are likely to use the knowledge gained at the workshop;
Start specific economic changes (investment, taxation) to support the goal of efficient and sustainable activities.

Milestone 8

Coordinate collaborative activities and tools to push RRI forward;
Embed governance in legislation through accountability to ensure the sustainability and to address societal challenges;
Provide tax reductions or other benefits to businesses for massively applying environmental protection legislature and procedures and for making use of innovative technologies;
Raise the attractiveness of science studies by illustrating the application of science in societal issues;
Improve marine education provided in medium and higher education;
Engage government and law makers in order to make sustainable change in ports and ship;
Consider that National and International organizations must balance economic profit and a competitive market with the goal of preserving the natural environment of our seas;
Make ports hubs of sustainability;
Increase the usage of alternative fuels for ships as for instance Liquefide Naturaò Gas;
Involve a multitude of stakeholders and implement actions as widely as possible, even globally, in order for adopted policies and solutions to be as relevant as possible, resulting in more support to implement the changes by all sides.

See also...