20.03.2019 | The Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) is one of the partners in the Bremen-Durban Network for Marine Environmental Education. As part of the cooperation project, ZMT was involved in the planning and implementation of a course for joung people on marine plastic pollution. The first two lessons were held in February 2019 in the South African city of Durban. Another course took place with students from the Gesamtschule Ost at the University of Bremen.
Together with Dr. Martina Osmers from the university’s chemistry school laboratory, ZMT students Anne Jäger and Lara Stuthmann developed the programme "Plastics through the lab glass" with various experiments on the properties and production of plastic. The course was held for the first time on Monday and Tuesday of this week in the school laboratory of the university and is still open to interested schools.
Also in cooperation with Dr. Martina Osmers, a further module is currently being established that deals with the responsible handling, recycling and production of materials that represent an alternative to plastic.
The Bremen-Durban Network for Marine Environmental Education was launched in 2018 as part of the long-term climate partnership between Bremen and the South African city of Durban. The aim of the project is to train young people to become so-called "Ocean Champs" and to enable them to become actively involved in marine conservation later on and to promote public awareness of its importance. One focus is on imparting the necessary knowledge on the subject of marine pollution.