Sea Life

CALLING ALL 13-15 YEAR OLD CONSERVATIONISTS...

WILL YOUR SCHOOL VOTE TO STOP WHALING?

As part of the education activities of our STOP WHALING campaign, SEA LIFE and WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, are facilitating a junior version of the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) for the UK's school children. 

Join us at our Junior Whale Conference on 11-12 November 2009 and help stop commercial whaling.

Where?

The conference will be held at the Alton Towers Hotel. Accommodation and food cost will be met by SEA LIFE, and £200 will be offered per school for transport to and from the venue.

A visit to the new 'Sharkbait Reef' will also be included.

What?

The conference is an innovative educational project that will benefit students studying a range of curriculum topics including English, ICT, Science and Citizenship.

Prior to the conference, schools will be assigned a topic to research and then to prepare an information poster and oral presentation to be given at the venue.  Topics will include the impact on whales of things like climate change, by-catch in fishing nets, noise pollution and whaling - some of the same scientific factors that are debated by IWC committees from countries around the world.

After presenting their research project findings, the pupils will be helped by WDCS's International Director of Science, Mark Simmonds and long-standing member of the IWC's scientific committee, to debate the issues and put forward their own solutions to be voted on by everyone present.

There will be prizes for the best presentations and we hope that the findings of the conference will be reported on in the press.

How?

For your pupils' chance to take part...

Places are limited to 12 schools from around the UK (4 pupils and 1 teacher from each school).

For your chance to research, debate and vote on whale conservation issues that must be addressed if we are to give whales a future, please answer the following question in 50 words or less:

"WHY DO WHALES DESERVE OUR PROTECTION?"

Please send your answers to:

Whale Conference, WDCS, Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, SN15 1LJ

Or email education@wdcs.org

Together with name and address details of your school.

Entries for UK Schools except Scotland must be received by MONDAY 20th JULY.

Entries for Scottish schools must be received by FRIDAY 4^th SEPTEMBER.

Selected schools (one to represent each of the UK's SEA LIFE Centres) will be notified by FRIDAY 18^th SEPTEMBER.

Costs?

Costs to schools will be minimal. Accommodation and food cost will be met by SEA LIFE, and £200 will be offered per school for transport to and from the venue.