BalticSeaNow.info- Innovative participatory forum for the ...

www.turkuamk.fi

BalticSeaNow.info-Innovative participatory forum for the Baltic Sea

www.turkuamk.fi

BalticSeaNow.info in a seashell

• BalticSeaNow.info project is a broadly-based

expression of a common will to protect the Baltic Sea.

• The project develops and introduces innovative

communication tools to foster information

sharing and discussion about the Baltic Sea

environment.

• Open source –thinking in environmental discussion &

research : discussion groups, think tanks

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BalticSeaNow.info: project background

• The alarming state of the Baltic Sea

• Joint and determined actions needed

• The need to increase public awareness and

involvement has been acknowledged but is still

almost neglected, discussion is institutionalized

• Baltic Survey: people are worried about the state of

the Baltic Sea

-> shortage of proper channels for public participation

• Sensitization, information Awareness

Commitment, desire to act

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Background

The need for public dicussion and involvement

• Many enviromental policy programmes emphasize the

need for public participation and engagement

• ”Consensus”-type of action where different interest

groups seek jointly solutions for enviromental

problems: also views of the general public are valued

• Individual citzens can make a difference by:

– Choosing wisely in their everday life

– Affecting decision makers

• Science communication: democracy, need for

information in navigating in the complex world and

making own choices, decision making should be

based on scientific/tested results

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Project outputs

• a versatile, multifunctional and participatory web-

forum,

• channels for the general public to submit their

environmental observations to,

• a series of events and exhibitions organized in

participating countries,

• a new curricula focusing on the state and future of

the Baltic Sea,

• educational materials on the state and future of the

sea,

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WP2: Web portal

• Basic information

• News & articles (nature, environment, environmental

policy)

• Dicussion groups, think tanks (BalticWiki)

• Blogs & video portraits

• Environmental observation of the public (flora&fauna,

algae, transparency)

• Geo-tagged photos

• Video clips of the public, BalticSeaTube

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WP2: Web portal, cont.

• Stories and memories

• Online & other data produced by authorities and

research institutions

• Web cameras

• Interactive games, quizzes and questionnaires

• Protection tips

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WP3: Materials and events

• Brochures and leaflets

• Baltic Sea market –tours: a bigger event in every

country with a general concept in autumn 2011

• Visit to research vessels (Turku, Helsinki, Tallinn,

Sweden)

• Other events: public lecturers, excursions, panel

discussions, e.g. “Baltic Sea goes to the pub” –

discussions

• Circulating exhibitions

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What are we aiming to achieve?

• Increased environmental awareness of the state of

the Baltic Sea and actions needed to improve its

ecological status

• Increased public involvement to the work for the

better future of the Baltic Sea

• New approaches and tools for environmental

discussion and participation to be transferred and

utilised in other contexts

• Identification of good practices in public involvement

• Improved dialogue between science and the public in

Baltic Sea issues

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What are we aiming to achieve?, cont.

• Better understanding of the possibilities social media

and other web-based, “open source” approaches offer

for environmental discussion and participation

• Exchange of information and good practices between

accompanying countries, institutions and actors.

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BalticSeaNow.info: project structure

BalticSeaNow.info – Innovative participatory forum for

the Baltic Sea (BalticSeaNow.info) CB9

Sub-Programme: Central Baltic Programme

Budget: 1 281 735 Euro

Duration: 1.11.2009-31.10.2012

Financing: ERDF funding 78,50 %

National Public 21,50 %

Management: Turku University of Applied Sciences,

Lead partner

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BalticSeaNow.info: partners

Finland

• Turku University of Applied Sciences – Lead partner

• Keep the Archipelago Tidy Assoc.

Sweden

• SMHI, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological

Institute

Estonia

• Marine Sytems Institute, Tallinn University of

Technology

• Estonian Fund for Nature

Latvia

• Environmental Projects Ltd.

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BalticSeaNow.info: additional partners

• Finnish Environmental Research Institute (SYKE)

• Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku

• Union of Baltic Cities, UBC

• The Baltic Sea Challenge, cities of Turku and Helsinki

• Finnish Meteorological Institute / Marine research

• Baltic Sea Action Group?

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Contact:

Martti Komulainen Katariina Kiviluoto

Project manager Project coordinator

[email protected] [email protected]

Tel. +358-44-9072076 Tel. +358-40-3550907