A weekend filled with clown fish and marine adventures is what you can expect at the annual conference for the Marine Discovery Centres Australia network.

The weekend brings together over 10 marine discovery centres from around Australia to share ideas and insights into the world of marine education.

This year the conference was held at the Port Macquarie Marine Discovery Centre and all participants were impressed with their wonderful set-up including their own clown fish and coral breeding operations. 

The weekend includes presentations from a variety of experts, we were lucky enough to hear from:

• Lloyd Godson aka Bio Sub man – View details of Lloyd’s exciting next project re underwater habitats and marine education at http://startsomegood.com/Venture/tik_and_bubbles_foundation/Campaigns/Show/underwater_superhero_headquarters
• Brian Hughes – Brian is the CMA Coast & Marine Officer and he spoke about the “Bag It” shopping bag campaign and recent research findings on soft corals, turtles, black cod and white sharks – check them out at  http://www.youtube.com/user/HCRCMA
• Dr Norman Duke – Norm is a mangrove ecologist with James Cook University. He introduced the group to a new citizen science project aimed at monitoring mangrove habitats around Australia called MangroveWatch.

The group also workshops on activity ideas for open ended investigations, exhibit design and school education programs.

It’s not all hard work though, we also get to get out and experience the local marine environment through kayak trips on the river, snorkels in the bay and a boat trip on the XLCR owned and operated by the Port Macquarie Marine Discovery Centre.

It really is a fascinating and worthwhile experience and it leaves me feeling enthused and full of new ideas.