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Citizen Scientist Course
POWERED BY GILLETTE VENUS
Ocean Literacy & Digital Photography Storytelling
As humans we are now seeking deeper connections to nature and the marine Eco-environment. We look to explore the world around us and engage in ocean related activities, by getting to know the lungs of our planet, "Mother Ocean."
In this Course we explore the fundamental basics of this new era in photography, "Digital Storytelling". You'll also learn how to drive change through your images and why Ocean Literacy is so important to clear communications about positive change.
LESSON SERIES BY MERMAID KATIE STORR
Our Vision
Our vision here at Ocean Goddess Academy is to provide an educational environment that offers digital ocean learning platforms, as we strive to create products and services that provoke authentic, comprehensive, creative, and challenging learning experiences. We want to break cultural and geographical borders to further learning, now.
Course Details
Date & Time
Date: 7th - 11th, October 2021
Time: 9AM - 4PM**(see field day details)
Location: TBA
In Classroom Sign Up:
For Females Ages 7-18yrs
Virtual Sign Up (Open Registration):
No participant restrictions
We've ensured that this program will cater to both Virtual & Face-to-Face participants by providing live links and home-based activities.
Food will be provided.
(No lunch will be provided on the 10th Oct - Field Day)
What You'll Need:
Field Days:
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Towel
- Swimwear
- Water Shoes *optional
- Change of clothes (for keeping dry)
Classroom Days:
- Snacks of choice
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Note Pad
COVID-19 Protocols
Due to COVID-19 Emergency Protocols, our in -person classroom is restricted to 8 spots.
Students will be required to Antigen Test to board the boat on Field Day 1 (more info on sign up)
Students will be required to wear masks at all times in the classroom.
There will be a sanitisation bay and all students will be required to follow COVID-19 Protocols for attendance.
DAY ONE & TWO
Thursday Oct 7th
Friday Oct 8th
Virtual & Classroom Event
The first two days of this course will be a fun, interactive Virtual & Classroom Learning event hosted by Mermaid Katie along with a group Phenomenal Ocean Goddesses making their own waves in the Ocean Science and Conservation Industry.
Location: TBA on Sign Up
Food will be provided between sessions.
DAY THREE
Saturday Oct 9th
Field Day 1 - Ocean Classroom
Time: 7:15am - 10hrs
Location: Rubis Gas Station East Bay Street
Return/pickup: 6:00pm
Rubis Gas Station East Bay Street
We'll be exploring the Exuma Land and Sea Park with the Bahamas National Trust to learn about their unique ecosystems and importance of Marine Protected Areas:
- Shroud Cay
- Compass Cay
- Warderick Wells Cay
Virtual participants will have access to live feed.
**(Meeting Time and Location will be shared on Day 2)
**Weather Permitting **
** Field Day 1 is only offered to In-Classroom Participants**
DAY FOUR
Sunday Oct 10th
Field Day 2 - Outdoor Classroom
Time: 8:30am - 6hrs
Location: Bonefish National Park
Cowpen Road.
Pickup: 3:30pm
Drop-ins (students) are allowed (ages 5-18) and Parents are welcome to join as we have a fun-filled day touring and learning about one of Nassau's beautiful National Parks.
Activities:
- Snorkeling
- Mangrove Planting
(Food will not be provided, for this experience a vendor will be present.)
DAY FIVE
Monday Oct 11th
Virtual & Classroom Event
Film Presentations & Open Mic
Time: 9am-2PM
Location: TBA on Sign Up
Food will be provided.
What You'll Learn:
Ocean Science Literacy and Digital Photography Storytelling from a citizen scientist point of view.
Day 1
- What is Ocean Photography
- The Ocean: The Lungs of The Planet
- Coastal Environments and Plastic Pollution
- Ocean Science Science and Photography
- Camera Fundamentals
Day 2
- Women, Creators of Change
- Climate Change
- Marine Protected
- Shark Education
- Ocean Communications
Day 3 & 4
- Exploring Exuma Land and Sea Park with BNT
- First hand experience: Digital Story Telling in the Field
- Exploring Nassau's very own Bonefish National Park
- Mangrove Ecosystems and Ecology
Real Adventure Time Experience!!!
Day 5
Guest Panelist Speakers
Film Presentations
Guest Speakers & Panelists
Nasreen Peer - Argonaut Science (Pty)
South African marine scientist, obtained her PhD specialising in the diversity and ecology of aquatic invertebrates in a wide range of coastal and freshwater habitats, particularly in estuaries, rocky shores and mangroves. Her current research interest involves understanding community-based conservation in Mozambique and South Africa, a project that involves collaboration between community members and researchers. She is now a lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Botany and Zoology. Here she teaches students about the natural world and makes them question the way we relate to our environment and each other. She is also the co-founder of Argonaut Science (Pty) Ltd, a small business based on the principle that science and exploration belong to everyone.
Symone Barkley - Black in Marine Science
Symone Barkley is a Baltimore-born scientist and educator with a passion for educating people about the ocean and the environment. She currently is the Chief Learning Officer for Black in Marine Science and a member of NAAEE’s Environmental Education 30 Under 30 program. She is also a co-organizer for the POSea Conference and #BlackInMarineScienceWeek and a contributor to #ElasmoWeek.
Jillian Morris - Sharks4Kids
Born and raised in Maine, Jillian’s love for the ocean started at an early age and has continued to play an integral role in her adult life. She has spent thousands of hours in the field working and diving with sharks across the globe. She is a marine biologist, shark conservationist, scuba instructor and educator. She has filmed for numerous television shows and networks, has appeared on Shark Week and is a PADI Ambassadiver. She was named Scuba Diving Magazine's July 2016 Sea Hero , awarded the inaugural Shark Con Shark Hero Award in 2017 and was the Go Blue Awards 2020 Blue Ambassador of the Year. She is the author of Norman the Nurse Shark and Shark Super Powers and a member of the prestigious Ocean Artists Society. Jillian is also the founder and president of Sharks4Kids.
Zandi Ndhlovu - The Black Mermaid Foundation
Zandile Ndhlovu is the founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, an organization seeking to create diverse representation in the Ocean Arena, her work centres around creating the first encounter that exposes the youth to the Ocean
As a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, she is able to make use of these skills in her advocacy for diverse and inclusive Oceans while working to reshape narratives through storytelling. She is a NEWF Fellow and most recently has been selected as a Jackson Wild 2021 Fellow.
Zandile is a change agent, using her voice to create the needed expansion in society, through her work in the Foundation, Public Speaking and on her Weekly podcast.
Lashanti Jupp - Siren Sundays
Lashanti Jupp is a Marine Conservationist and Science Communicator who believes in reconnecting people with their environment. Growing up in The Bahamas was key for sparking Lashanti’s interest in the marine environment. She earned a BSc. in Marine Biology from Barry University in North Miami, Florida and an MPhil. in Conservation Leadership from University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK. Over the last 8 years, Lashanti has been involved in educating young Bahamians and local communities about marine conservation through creative outreach and community meetings. Lately she has been interested in strengthening organizational partnerships through creating true, long-term collaborations. She believes the first step in conservation is breaking the myth that humans are separate from nature; humans play a key role in every ecosystem. She aspires that to reconnect people with nature by saving the world, one ocean at a time, with one conversation at a time.
With her passion along, past experiences Lashanti fits perfectly with her new role at the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) in the Community Conservation Education and Action (CCEA) program. The CCEA program seeks to provide the tools, training, and experience to help foster a greater conservation ethic across The Bahamas, while also building the next generation of Bahamian conservation leaders. She is excited to work with PIMS to begin building capacity for marine conservation in Bahamians, promoting conservation education and action in local communities and assisting in providing opportunities for collaboration across the conservation sector, as well as increase awareness of the issues impacting coral reefs through the Reverse The Decline (RTD) initiative.
Shivani Goberdhan - Speech and Language Sciences Specialist
Shivani Goberdhan has spent her career working in diverse, coastal communities, providing rehabilitation services to children and adults with communication deficits. In the ocean, she spends her time paddling various water crafts, surfing, sailing as well as facilitating freediving and introductory ocean clinics. Her focus is in ocean advocacy; conservation education and promoting inclusive spaces in water sports.
Follow and Support Shivani
Meet the Founder - Ocean Goddess Academy
As “Mermaid Katie”, one of the few professional black women in the world to teach Underwater Photography as a Professional Instructor, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and educate so many people within my ocean community. It has been an amazing journey, having the opportunity as a woman in ocean conservation to live my dreams and to explore the ocean in my own backyard, The Bahamas. My love for curating memories, sharing them with others and encouraging love and devotion for Ocean Education and Photography & Film has lead to the development of “Ocean Goddess Academy” with the vision of cultivating strong belief in representation within the ocean space. This community focuses primarily on bringing ocean awareness, education, jobs and training opportunities, and events featuring people of colour locally and internationally.
Through diligence and commitment our Team has reaped not just international recognition, but the support of Citizen Scientists and Environmentalists all around the world. We have been blessed with the opportunity to host Ocean Goddess Academy’s first Citizen Scientist Course (Powered by Gillette Venus), focusing on Ocean Literacy & Digital Photography Storytelling. Gillette Venus has chosen our program to receive the “Venus Wave Maker Project” grant, providing us with access to a global platform and funding to help develop this project that will educate and empower young women within the ocean conservation space.
This course will be offered free of charge to small group of young women of various ages, allowing them to explore marine environments with The Bahamas National Trust Environmental Stewards, and meet influential Women currently leading marine science efforts locally and internationally.
"Meaningful communication is the key to driving change to save our planet. "The ocean is our life support and we have the ability to create change! You don't have to live near the ocean to protect it, you just have to be willing to make small life changing steps to form new habits that will create a sustainable future for your families and your community." - Katie Storr
The Venus Wave Makers Project
As a brand that has been inspired by the ocean since our inception, we are excited to introduce the Venus Board of Trust Seas - six women who are breaking barriers in ocean science and conservation.
The board of Trust-Seas wouldn't be complete without our very own mermaid. @mermaidkaties is a Bahamian ocean and diversity advocate. To learn more about her diverse talents please browse the website.
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This Course is also offered via Virtual Sign - Up
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