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Hi Claire,
Social license has risen in importance throughout the world over the previous years. Projects and plans set out by government and/or private institutions in countries are vitally dependent on social acceptance from the community they are going to be set in. Without this acceptance from the community, or prior engagement with the community, this can lead to further issues down the line regarding sustainability of projects and social unrest. If you are further interested, one example is the Astley warehouse project in Wigan in which the community living nearby were not engaged with prior and has led to a variety of problems since the project has been completed.
Enabling children at a young age to foster a sense of responsibility towards their local area can allow them to become better citizens later in life, through critical thinking and problem-solving. Thus, enabling them to drive sustainable progress within their own community.
Hugh.
Hi Frances,
Thank you for your post to Module 1, I am glad to hear you are enjoying the course so far!
Interactive and video modes of learning, such as YouTube, are excellent resources for children due to the variety of tools that are used within. It offers some variation to the teaching day and also provides a fun way to STEM learning.
Aquaculture can be used in Ireland to facilitate the protein demand for growing populations. In other developing countries, which may not be in as suitable a climate for agriculture, aquaculture can be a vital resource in helping feed populations and reduce the strain further on land-based resources.
Hugh.
Hi Jessica,
The Donegal coast is a great place to grow up in, I spent a lot of time there when I was younger and I can appreciate just how important seafood is especially in towns like Killybegs.
We notice that many children along the coast are very familiar with the benefits of seafood, even though they might not know the exact nutrients that are associated. Omega-3 oils found in oily fish such as salmon are highly important for developing brain use, function, and capacity, especially at a young age.
I like what you have said about encouraging children to develop healthy eating habits at a young age, not just for their own health but also to highlight the importance of buying local produce to them. Providing an emotive context to this is very helpful, maybe through sustainability benefits and also through bringing in local seafood farmers, fishers, and/or processors to the area which the children may know and allowing them to tell their story of why seafood is important to their livelihoods.
Hugh.
Hi Claire,
Thank you for your forum post to Module 3. The ARC is one of many resources that can facilitate STEM education under the SSE guidelines. We try to highlight different branches of STEM in our workshops and also in our Transition Year presentations to pique the interests of a variety of students.
The geography section, especially identifying suitable locations for a variety of aquaculture farms under different conditions, allows the students to critically think about how geographic conditions can impact each species. It also aids in problem-solving where the students must identify the variety of reasons why some locations are unsuitable and what effects this might have on our species.
Hugh.
Hi Rosemary,
There has always been a tendency for younger generations to move to cities in Ireland, or even further abroad, in order to find consistent employment. Aquaculture is just one resource that we try to highlight to schools and individuals around the country that can provide full-time employment and allow younger people to live and work in the area which they have grown up in which is what many want.
You have mentioned some other excellent resources such as tourism, fisheries, and leisure-based activities which rural communities along the west coast are becoming reliant upon. Integrating these resources into a sustainable model considering social, environmental, and economic factors, will be highly important to rural areas of Ireland to allow communities to be able to thrive.
Hugh.
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your post to Module 1 – An Introduction to Aquaculture. Many people in coastal communities in Ireland will be very knowledgeable on fishing practices, but are unaware that aquaculture is also relevant to their area. Many may not realise the links between jobs in their community and aquaculture as there are quite a lot of indirect roles that are supported throughout the industry, showing how connective aquaculture can be.
Thank you for your kind feedback on the ARC project, and we hope you enjoy the remainder of the Farming at Sea online course!
Hugh.
Hi Emily,
Thank you for your forum post for Module 1. I agree, that more knowledge should be available into where our seafood is coming from and how it is produced in the classroom. I always find it shocking how little our oceans and seas are mentioned throughout the primary and secondary curriculums. Hopefully this will change in the future especially with the environment and sustainability becoming more important in the curriculum!
Hi Eimear,
Great that you have highlighted the socioeconomic benefits of aquaculture as that is a core pillar of sustainability as well which many people do not realise! Creating these direct or indirect employment opportunities allows for sustainable job development and sustainable growth within a community through indirect diversification of employment.
Hi Serena,
We find that hands on activities and lessons really aid in students understanding of STEM and environmental issues. Hopefully this will help in their futures and with the ARC, we would like to be able to provide more ‘hands on’ opportunities at second level for transition year students to be able to showcase the real life activities/work that would take place in the marine industry.
Hi Michelle,
This is something we find across Ireland and it shocks me as well considering that just under 2 million people, roughly 40% of Ireland’s population, lives within 5km of the coastline! Educating children into the vast nutritional benefits of whole foods over processed foods seems to be a priority with the large quantities of processed foods available in the present day.
Hi Sinead,
As you have stated, seafood can be a major contributor to students diets and to maintaining healthy nutritional requirements! There are many ways to exhibit this in the classroom to students and starting with the food pyramid is a great example as its something students will recognise and grasp immediately!
Hi Eimear,
Bantry Bay and Castletownbere are two important seafood production areas in Cork, one for aquaculture (Bantry) and the other for fisheries (Castletownbere). You are right in saying both showcase the sustainable benefits of foshing and aquaculture methods!
Those are all excellent ideas to get the children thinking about sustainability! In our workshops, we also talk about the Dodo bird and how it became extinct due to unsustainable practices. We then prompt the children to think of other animals in the world today that may be endangered and we discuss what is putting them at risk. We also discuss examples like the red squirrel in Ireland which was endangered, but thanks to great conservation efforts the species has bounced back. This allows the children to understand how being unsustainable can harm other animals in the world, but also, how being sustainable and conserving habitats we can counteract this and help species at risk!
Hi Rachel,
Social license has become very important as of recent times and for good reason, it allows the community to lead decisions for what will take place in their own local area! The Taste the Atlantic project is a great example as we are attempting to showcase to coastal areas primarily the benefits of seafood and try to inspire new generations to take more seafood in their diet through creating new and innovative recipes all while working alongside regional producers and learning their craft!
Hi Caitriona,
You have listed out some excellent nutritional benefits of seafood! Especially Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for young children to aid in proper brain development, growth and function . Making children aware of the nutritional benefits of fish and shellfish will help them to form a balanced diet and provide a much more varied nutrition!
Hi Tommy,
That’s great to hear stories about communities striving to become more sustainable! Many schools are becoming more sustainable now too with many growing their own fruit/vegetables, contributing to clean ups, or even working towards their green/blue flags for their school. Hopefully one day, they will become champions for sustainability within their own community!
