2020 Finalist in the Keep Victoria Beautiful Awards!
MESAC
Marine Science Education and Community (MESAC) is an independent not-for-profit organisation committed to marine education and communication of science. We share knowledge through publications and resources, and we communicate understanding of marine environments through community events and activities.
Our Mission
We exist to cultivate passion and care for our marine and coastal environment through science education and community activities.
Our Vision
We provide leadership in marine science and community collaboration that accelerates understanding and stewardship of our precious marine environments. Through these activities we inspire, educate and ignite passion among an expanding community to care for and protect this important diverse ecosystem.
In the longer term MESAC aims to develop a marine science education centre of excellence in the Bayside area. This facility would feature state-of-the-art technology, wet labs, meeting places, seminar rooms and a lecture theatre to facilitate activities with Victorian schools, Australian and international university researchers, community groups and the public, including the disability sector.
Our Values & Principles
We value community marine education as a means to:
- generate and share knowledge on biodiversity and marine ecosystems
- encourage first-hand experience and connection with marine environments
- encourage an appreciation and connection with ancient marine environments
- demonstrate the value of science in guiding community actions
- support individual and collective stewardship of marine environments
- support and collaborate with other groups with common goals
Our Uniqueness
The Bayside area and surrounding bioregion are significant to the local Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. Both the land and the sea hold memories and are alive.
This land and sea hosts a diversity of habitats, including rocky sandstone intertidal and subtidal reefs, sandy beaches, subtidal soft substrates, seagrass beds and an extraordinary geological heritage – both sedimentary rocks and fossils.
The Rickett’s Point Marine Sanctuary contains unusual geomorphological features, including extensive rock platforms and sea caves. It is home to diverse native flora and fauna and provides roosting and feeding areas for migratory and threatened bird life. Its location in a highly urbanised setting creates a unique living learning laboratory.
Our Activities
MESAC creates print, digital and video publications, and conducts awareness-raising events for local and broader communities.
MESAC undertakes creative activities and workshops such as our annual Art Show, photography courses, storytelling walks, seaweed identification and pressing courses, National Science Week lectures, and digital presentations.
MESAC communicates knowledge and learning via local and international networks, and can support campaigns on marine environmental issues, where they do not dilute our independent profile and marine education mission.
Some of the activities include; specialist guest speaker events, such as National Science Week and National Heritage Week, UN World Oceans Day, Marine Science Seminar Days, Marine Art Shows, Marine Photography courses, Activity Leaders courses, Seaweed pressing courses, support for Bayside Fossil Events, Winter and Summer Solstice Walks, Summer By The Sea activities, and community events with Beaumaris Secondary College, Sandringham Secondary College and other schools and community organisations. See Events
An aspirational view of what MESAC might look like
An environmentally sustainable building shaped as a marine mammal, the design and structure will be significant and put Melbourne on the world stage as an international marine science education and research centre……blending beautifully and coexisting with the natural environment.
State-of-the-art classrooms, seminar rooms and lecture theatres, were talks can be streamed live to and from around the world!
In situ marine research and training at MESAC.
Post graduate students will be able to do their marine research at the shores of Port Phillip Bay at MESAC research centre.