Sustainable Ocean Kick-Off event
23 June 2023
The kick-off event on June 12, 2023, marked the official commencement of the Sustainable Ocean community, a pivotal gathering aimed at uniting stakeholders, academics, and students. The primary objective was to foster collaboration, share insights, and collectively shape the community's agenda for the upcoming year.
Commencing with an insightful overview aligning with Utrecht University’s overarching theme of "Pathways to Sustainability," the event set the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the Sustainable Ocean community. An engaging ice-breaker game followed, encouraging participants to share their personal connections to the ocean in a relaxed and informal setting.
The highlight of the event was a dynamic panel discussion featuring distinguished representatives from diverse organizations, including Arjen Tjallema (Ocean Clean-up), Tom Diederen (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Tanja Stratmann (DOSI project). The panel delved into the theme of "Ocean & Sustainability Actions in the Netherlands," paving the way for an open discussion moderated by Sabine Gollner. This segment provided valuable insights and inspiration for addressing the myriad challenges associated with the ocean.
After a refreshing vegan lunch break, the Future Agenda Discussion unfolded, allowing participants to propose potential topics for the community's future endeavors. The collective input resulted in the identification of five broad interest areas: climate change impacts, biodiversity, ocean governance, public engagement, education, and the Whose Ocean project.
Subsequently, small group discussions ensued, focusing on concrete actions, community goals, and envisioned outputs for the identified topics. The final common outlook session brought together insights gleaned from these discussions. Community members enthusiastically shared their preferences for continued involvement, expressing interest in specific events, projects, and funding opportunities.
Gratitude was extended to all attendees, speakers, and contributors for their indispensable role in ensuring the success of the kick-off event. The diverse gathering, characterized by innovative ideas, played a crucial role in shaping the vision for the Sustainable Ocean community's future endeavors. The voices and ideas of the participants were acknowledged as the driving force behind the community's development, emphasizing its commitment to aligning with the unique visions of its members.