Monday am option 1: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority plus Reef HQ Aquarium (cost $18)
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority office and the Reef HQ Aquarium are located in Townsville and within easy walking distance of the conference venue (Jupiters) and conference accommodation. Spend the morning exploring the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium, “your window on the reef” and take part in a behind the scenes aquarium tour that will hopefully include a look at coral propagation program as well as the living reef component of this amazing aquarium.
At the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority office there should be a chance to explore reefED programs such as Reef Guardians with GBRMPA educators . The field trip will finish in time for you to have lunch locally (at your own expense) then walk down to Jupiters for the IYCC student workshops. |
Reef HQ Aquarium |
Monday am option 2: Billabong Sanctuary and “Lunch with the Lizards” (cost $45)
Billabong Sanctuary is an Australian native animal wildlife park on the outskirts of Townsville. The Sanctuary is set in 11 hectares (25 acres) of natural tropical North Queensland bush and is home to all kinds of native mammals, birds and reptiles. It features koalas, kangaroos, wombats, birds plus snakes, lizards and crocodiles.
A bus will pick up delegates at Jupiters and the Park Regis Anchorage and take you to the Sanctuary where you can stroll around the park and mingle with the macropods (kangaroos and wallabies), take part in all the handling and feeding shows, plus talk to Billabong Sanctuary educators. After a barbecue “lunch with the lizards” (included in field trip cost) the bus will drop you back at Jupiters for the IYCC student workshops. |
Billabong Sanctuary (photo by Tourism Queensland) |
Monday pm: IYCC presentations (cost $10)
The International Youth Coastal Conference (IYCC) is based on the highly successful International River Health Conference model. Held biannually in Mildura, Victoria, Australia since 1999, these conferences have highlighted how important it is to provide the next generation with a sense of place and a realisation that proper management of their place will ultimately have an impact on their planet. Using the “Kids Teaching Kids” learning model, these river health conferences have developed thousands of resilient children. Children who are motivated, have high self esteem and respect for others. Using the same peer learning method, the 2008 International Youth Coastal Conference aims to provide students with skills in marine and coastal education, but more importantly it will build students who are optimistic, have a sense of future, are capable public speakers and can communicate ideas in many different forms.
As the IPMEN’08 conference and the 2008 IYCC are being held in parallel, IPMEN’08 delegates have a unique opportunity to take part in the International Youth Coastal Conference by attending the IYCC workshop presentations at Jupiters between 12.40 pm and 4 pm.
Monday full day option 1: sustainable cities tour (cost $45.00 including transport and lunch)
The sustainable cities tour will focus on three Townsville City integrated sustainability services that actively involve both schools and local communities.
- Creek to Coral's main objective is to protect coastal catchments, floodplains and wetlands in the Townsville-Thuringowa region thanks to a total water cycle management program. To achieve this, Creek to Coral uses an integrative approach and informs, educates and involves the community to address whole of catchment issues.
- The Solar Cities Program forms part of the Australian Government's long-term greenhouse response in the energy sector to move towards integrated use of low-emission supply technologies, distributed generation, significantly enhanced energy efficiency and markets that deliver responsive and effective wholesale price signals. The program is expected to run from 2005 to 2012 - 2013 (the first Kyoto commitment period).
- Greening Townsville Program is a commitment to the planting of 10,000 trees per year through shade tree plantings, free trees, revegetation projects, community and school involvement. Target areas include parks, streets, main roadways, industrial precincts, car parks, shopping centres, drains and waterways.
Monday full day option 2: AIMS plus JCU (cost $45.00 including transport and lunch)
AIMS, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, is 32 km from Townsville and is one of the most innovative and progressive research laboratories in the world with unparalleled capability in the field of cutting-edge tropical marine science and technology. AIMS’ mission is to conduct innovative research that advances understanding of our oceans and coastal ecosystems, facilitates good stewardship of marine resources, develops sustainable wealth creation opportunities, and contributes to the discovery and development of new marine-based bioproducts for industry and human health.
James Cook University (JCU) is Australia's leading tropical research university. It takes its name from the eighteenth-century British navigator and explorer Captain James Cook, whose epic voyages contributed to the world of science. JCU is a vibrant, multi-campus university with two main sites in the tropical Queensland cities of Townsville and Cairns. They also have modern campuses in Brisbane and Singapore plus smaller sites in Mackay, Mount Isa and Thursday Island, and they deliver courses through education partners in Asia and the Pacific. |
AIMS field operations at Cape Ferguson |
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