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   Community Outreach
 
..... fostering a sense of environmental stewardship.
 
ITME has a strong community outreach program and has engaged in numerous activities to raise public awareness of the marine habitats of Dominica. In addition to introducing the youth and adults to life in the seas, the benefits of healthy ecosystems are highlighted while the negative effects of environmental degradation are explained. The ultimate goal is to foster a "sense of stewardship" towards marine environments. Avenues for this include but are not limited to, lectures and workshops (K, 1-12, College), media releases (print, radio, TV), consultancies for the Government of Dominica, creating publicly accessible data bases and permanent museum displays on marine environment.
 
Community Outreach Projects (a few examples)
 

The Dominica Museum Project
(Sep 2003 - 2006) The faculty and students of ITME have compiled a permanent exhibit on the reef corals of Dominica, and their ecological and socioeconomic importance to the island. In addition, current research is beeing posted on a regular basis. One of the main objectives of the project is to give Dominica's youth easy access to information on the local reef resources and benefits of conservation.

Environmental Education (Peer Teaching): (Mar 2001 - ongoing) Students of the semester programs regularly visit schools and colleges in Dominica to give lectures and workshops on marine issues. The aim is to raise public awareness about the island's marine resources and the threats currently affecting coastal ecosystems.

Collaborations with the Government of Dominica: The main objective is to provide the government with environmental data and technical background on the status of marine environments around the island. ITME has also been assisting the Government of Dominica in its National Policy for the Adaptation to Climate Change, as well as the Biodiversity Project.

COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA POLICY ON PLANNING FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE PREPARED UNDER COMPONENT 4 OF THE CARIBBEAN PLANNING FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT (CPACC)

Raising Environmental Awareness Through Public Lectures & Media

ITME Public Lecture Series: The students and faculty of ITME, regularity present their research findings to a broad audience ranging from government officials to entrepreneurs, fishermen, students, and nature enthusiasts. Visiting researchers are also encouraged to be part of this forum by providing the Dominican public with an insight into their work while on the island.

ITME at COLOQUE CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE: Le Caraibe en Danger! In 2006 ITME was invited (by the President of the General Council of Martinique) to give a presentation at public hearing/lectures series concerning climate change and its its consequences. The presentation was well received and strengthened ITME's regional links.

ITME Marine Habitats of Dominica (Website) In 2007 ITME launched a new site to share its findings with anyone interested in Dominica's marine environment. This provides direct access to the current status of the field research carried out in Dominica. The site was also created with the intent to allow Dominica's teachers and youth to learn more about the marine resources. Prior to this site, such information was not readily available. https://www.itme.org/mhdm

 

ITME Inc.©1999-2023

Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology ITME Inc., P.O. Box 36, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica