19 February 2021
An afternoon dedicated to the exploration of the oceans
Visit of the UNESCO exhibition and educational workshops at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
On Friday, February 19th, 30 students from the 8th grade and 6 students from the UNESCO Club of the Charles III Middle School of Monaco came to visit the exhibition “Protecting UNESCO’s World Marine Heritage through Scientific Research”, currently on display on the gates of the Jardins Saint-Martin in Monaco by Monaco Explorations, with the collaboration of the Department of Cultural Affairs of Monaco. They then continued their visit to the Oceanographic Museum and took part in two educational activities.
The students were supervised by Ms Marjorie Gaggino, animator of the Educational Centre and of the UNESCO Club from the Charles III Middle School of Monaco, Ms Claire Castellini, teacher-documentalist and member of the FMCAU, Ms. Sonia Del Prete, sport teacher, Ms Sylvie Leporati, teacher of Monegasque language and Mr Philippe Nicolas, teacher of history-geography.
Mrs Milène Escarras, President of the Monegasque Federation of Clubs and Friends of UNESCO (FMCAU), was also present.
Monaco UNESCO clubs
Three UNESCO Clubs are currently operating in the Principality: the Club of Charles III Middle School, the H20 Club of Lycée Albert I and the Club of the Technical and Catering High School. The objective of these clubs is to engage their members and the public in UNESCO’s issues and to contribute to the construction of a world of justice, solidarity and peace by promoting access to education, culture and science for the greatest number of people.
More than 65 years after the creation of the first UNESCO Association in Japan in 1947, the movement counts now 4,000 UNESCO Centres, Associations and Clubs in more than 100 countries around the world.
In the wake of the Princes of Monaco
This year, the theme chosen by the Monegasque Federation of Clubs and Friends of UNESCO focuses on the commemoration of the centenary of the death of Prince Albert I in 2022. Through this school afternoon devoted to the exploration of the oceans, it was a good opportunity to raise awareness of the common dedication uniting the Princes of Monaco, from Albert Ist to H.S.H. PRINCE Albert II via Prince Rainier III, and to show the kids the Monegasque Principality’s commitment to long-term actions to protect the Ocean.
Highlights of the visit
The staff of Monaco Explorations presented to the students the 21 photographs of the UNESCO exhibition. The children were thus able to learn about the partnership between the Principality of Monaco and UNESCO, the sustainable development objectives of the 2030 agenda and the launch of the United Nations Decade for Ocean Sciences. Through Monaco Explorations expeditions, they discovered four marine sites listed as World Heritage Sites: the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (Philippines), the Malpelo Wildlife Sanctuary (Colombia), the South Lagoon of the Chelbacheb Islands (Palau) and the Lagoons of New Caledonia (France). The visit also provided an opportunity to explain some of the scientific techniques of marine biology such as the inventory of species by placing probes, environmental DNA or the use of remotely-operated instruments.
Then, supervised by the Museum’s educational staff, the students were able to go to the Museum and discover the Monaco & Ocean space. They were able to learn from the speeches of Prince Albert I, known as the “Prince navigator”, and his 28 campaigns, as well as the current Ocean-related events and the actions of the Principality. After this, they went looking for marine animals through visiting the Immersion exhibition featuring the reefs of the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
A full and intense afternoon that will perhaps generate some vocations…