This first IPMEC is being organized to better use education to change public attitudes towards the ocean and to actively promote healthy marine ecosystems as a cornerstone of quality of life in the Pacific and on planet Earth.

We seek participation from the full spectrum of formal and informal educators practicing throughout the Pacific Ocean region. Through sharing of ideas and experiences we hope to define essential marine education content and to identify successful practices that contribute to a healthy ocean and to healthy communities that depend upon it. A goal of the conference is to formalize a regional network of marine educators.

The following session themes are scheduled (in English only):

• Local Marine Topics: Educational Lessons, Curricula, Resources & Projects on near-shore, coastal and cultural issues, etc.
• Regional, Sub-regional, Open Ocean Marine Topics: Educational Lessons, Curricula, Resources & Projects on ocean resources, climate change & natural disasters, stewardship & management, etc.
• Ocean Literacy / Essential Marine Topics for the Pacific
• Networking Marine Educators in the Pacific

Please submit an abstract (200 words or less) of your presentation, including title; author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s); full contact information for first author; abstract narrative; preferred format (oral or poster); and preferred theme (as above).

Deadline for abstract receipt is 31 October 2006.

Submit via e-mail as attached Word document to sylvia.spalding@noaa.gov or fax to +1 808 522-8226

Notification of acceptance will be sent by 1 November 2006. All participants must resister for the conference. Applications for scholarships are available.