EMPOWERING YOUNG LEADERS IN MELBOURNE TO BECOME OCEAN INNOVATORS.
Amidst a rapidly changing ocean, the 2024 Student Ocean Summit will be held at the Melbourne Zoo offering senior high school students and university students a unique opportunity to engage deeply with expert marine scientists, develop leadership and explore environmental action.
The ocean we want
Hosting a compelling program of keynote speakers, panel discussions and an innovative ideation hackathon, this full day Summit will lay the foundation for talking about the systemic change required to achieve 'the ocean we want'.
WHY DO WE NEED YOUNG OCEAN INNOVATORS?
WHO WE ARE
Young Ocean Innovators focuses on connecting Melbourne youth with our ocean through program, summits and workshops.
Our climate and our ocean is highly interconnected. To build a resilient future, we aim to develop and inspire young leaders to take tangible action for our ocean. We connect youth with ocean experts and focus on hands on learning.
Founded by a University of Melbourne Wattle Fellow to deepen young people's connection and understanding of our precious ocean, it is facilitated together with leading marine scientists, conservationist organisations and University student mentors.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to create a generation of passionate young environmental ocean leaders, through establishing a leading young ocean ambassador program for the city of Melbourne.
Our programs aim is to leave students equipped with the skills to innovate, advocate for, and conserve our ocean.
Meet Alyssa.
Alyssa Seckinger-Crow is the developer of Young Ocean Innovators. She has a deep passion for the ocean, yet has seen a lack of education addressing the profound importance of ocean health when working towards a just climate.
The Young Ocean Innovators Program addresses this gap; it educates and inspires young people to become ocean action makers in their local Melbourne community.
As the main facilitator, Alyssa combines a range of skills; with her studies in Science and Mechanical Engineering, over 4 years in the climate justice sector, 3 years as an educator and a lifelong dedicated to environmental and ocean conservation with organisations such as National Parks NSW and the World Wide Fund for Nature, she is driven to support young people to create innovative solutions to conserve Port Philip Bay.
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As a Wattle Fellow, Alyssa is a recipient of the prestigious University of Melbourne's global environmental leadership Fellowship. The Young Ocean Innovators Program is be funded by the University of Melbourne and Future Leaders.
"If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves"
Thomas Edison
We acknowledge the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations, and pay our respects to elders, past, present and emerging on whose lands we deliver our program and form connections with the land and water.