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Inaugural International Marine Kids Congress in Kuching tomorrow

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KUCHING : Tomorrow, scientists from all over the world will be gathering here to listen to young people aged 7-14 give presentations on the most important marine conservation issues at the inaugural International Marine Kids Congress (IMKC).

These children are keen to impress upon scientists how important it is to act now on ocean plastic pollution and to protect sea turtles, dugongs and coral reefs.

The IMKC is the brainchild of international not-for-profit, the Society for Conservation Biology Marine Section. For a decade, more than 600 of the planet’s top marine scientists have been gathering every two years to take part in the section’s International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC), but many were becoming frustrated with the lack of contact they were having with a next generation, who are about to inherit the challenges of keeping our oceans healthy.

“A congress just for adults was no longer enough”, says Chair of IMCC 2018,. Edward Hind-Ozan, “Kids are old enough to care about the ocean, so they are also old enough to conserve it! We had to partner our main congress with a new one for them.”

The first IMKC will run alongside the fifth iteration of IMCC. At IMCC, experienced scientists will listen to talks and share ideas. At IMKC, the attending youths will do exactly the same. “They are going to hear from Melissa Marquez, an amazing and inspiring shark scientist, undertake a local beach cleanup, and work with a local artist on environmental awareness projects” shares Patrick Goff, a middle school science teacher from Kentucky, USA who is leading IMKC.

They’re also going to present their own ideas for marine conservation and science to the scientists at the main congress. “During the week, our kids are going to work on designing posters about pressing marine conservation issues,” says Goff.

“Then they’re going to go out on the IMCC conference floor and show the scientists what the future great minds are thinking”. The scientists will be walking around the posters asking the youths questions, just like the questions they will ask their colleagues in the other rooms hosting the main congress.

In return, the delegates of IMKC    sons and daughters of the IMCC delegates and of professors at the local Universiti Malaysia Sarawak – will also take part in the main meeting’s poster presentation session at The Waterfront Hotel in downtown Kuching. “Every scientist loves the chance to share their work with others, and in this case they should expect to get some hard-hitting questions about what really matters – that is, how their work really makes a difference to future generations!”

Importantly, the IMKC will also open the youths’ eyes to new marine issues. They are going to see the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins and also hearing from the keynote speaker, Melissa Marquez of the Fins United Initiative.

“Involving kids in congresses is great”, exclaims Mexican-Puerto Rican shark biologist, Marquez. “I can’t wait to talk to them about the importance of our oceans and simple ways they can help keep them healthy”.

And while not strictly ocean-related, the IMKC youths will also get a chance to see Borneo’s orangutans.

“You can’t come this far and not see the amazing wildlife here!” says Daniel, Goff’s son and IMKC delegate.

“We had to give them that opportunity” says Hind-Ozan, “but we are glad they will also be talking ocean conservation. Right now, our marine species need just as much support as Borneo’s amazing forest creatures.”

For more information about IMKC and IMCC5, contact:

Katie Walters, Communications Officer
(SCB Marine)

Email: scbmarinecomms@gmail.com  Twitter: @SCBmarine or

Matthew Tietbohl, Communications Chair (IMCC5)

Email: info@imcc5.com

Twitter: @IMCC2018

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