Morning Session: Collaboration, Connection, and Curiosity
The morning session launched the IOLN’s Training Links Network seminars, as funded by The Wheel. This Members-only series of expert-led seminars and peer-to-peer best practice sessions is designed to strengthen and enhance skills in the community and voluntary sector, with the topics identified by IOLN Members through a Training and Capacity Building Needs Analysis. The first session covered ‘Practical Skills in Ocean Literacy’.
The day kicked off with Emma Armshaw from the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), who got us thinking about collaboration right from the start. Emma reminded us that nature doesn’t see the lines we draw on maps — it’s “all one ocean,” and our marine life doesn’t care who is in charge. Her core message was that every skill is needed for ocean conservation, from marketing and coding to storytelling and art. That central concept became the theme for the entire day.
With this collaborative spirit in mind, we moved into a hands-on training session with the brilliant Jessica Mason from Streamscapes. We became citizen scientists for an hour, peering into trays of river water to identify the tiny macroinvertebrates that are living indicators of a waterway’s health. It was a great reminder that our waterways are teeming with life, and that you don’t need a high-tech lab to start exploring them.
Next, we got to grips with a complex marine food web using just a simple ball of string. With each of us representing a species, from algae to a heron, we passed the string around to map out the connections for food, clean water, and a healthy habitat. The web we created showed how a problem in one area, such as an algae bloom, can put a strain on the entire system.
We then took our learning outside for a guided walk with Bernie Connolly of the Cork Environmental Forum. We explored how the city was built on and around the River Lee, grounding the day’s talks in the history of the place itself. It was also a great reminder that when you take learning outdoors, you invite the community in. People walking by stopped to ask what we were doing, sparking the exact kind of conversations we need to be having.
Afternoon Session: A Showcase of Skills in Action
If the morning was about exploring the idea that every skill is needed, the afternoon was about seeing it in action. We heard from a variety of speakers, each bringing a unique talent and perspective to the table:
- Artist and freediver Nina McGowan (Seabed Sanctuary) shared how art can make huge topics like climate change feel more personal, connecting us to our shared maritime history and the sense of freedom the water gives us.
- Elaine Doyle from Clean Coasts brought a message of hope, sharing encouraging stories about the public’s willingness to get involved in tackling marine litter.
- Katie McShane from Wisewater Academy discussed her work engaging diverse groups across Ireland, exploring the deeply transformative experience that comes from connecting personal wellness and education through water.
- Jim O’ Donovan gave us a window into the wonderful work of Meitheal Mara, a maritime cultural organisation based in Cork, involved in everything from community boat building to running the annual Cork Harbour Festival. He also shared a fun claim to fame—one of their boats was featured in the TV series Game of Thrones!
To finish the day, Dr. Maria Marra of the IOLN shared some early findings from a survey on ocean activism, and her insights tied everything together perfectly. She noted that while time is a barrier for many, the bigger challenge is that people often don’t know how to help, or they assume they need a science background to contribute.
The whole day proved the exact opposite. What we saw in Cork is that every skill is valuable. The real work for us as a network is to get that message out there and make it easier for everyone to bring their unique talents to the table. It was a day all about connection—to our rivers, our ocean, and most importantly, to each other.
