Education/SAS Reports
Surfers Against Sewage has for many years delivered an educational programme, through campaign tours, beach clean initiatives, educational talks and the numerous digital and print resources we’ve produced, some even following the national schools syllabus. So, as an organisation, we have a long history of educating, in informal and formal settings, helping all ages to better understand the marine and coastal environment, and hopefully inspiring new generations of campaigners and environmental activists.
“The talk that Dom gave was brilliant! We filled the lecture theater and some people actually had to sit on the stairs!” Falmouth Student Union
In 2010 SAS delivered an unprecedented level of educational reach in schools, universities and higher education institutes but we also reached a significant new audience at outside events such as at surf contests and beach cleans. SAS’s environmental talks were delivered to all age groups from primary school level through to university students.
The SAS educational programme focuses on current campaign areas from climate change and marine litter through to the protection of the recreational wave resource. The presentation highlights the environmental problems and promotes the Sustainable Achievable Solutions that SAS currently calls for in reducing coastal and marine degradation nationwide. We outline what SAS is doing nationally and locally, along with effective examples of SAS using science at the heart of its campaigns to solve issues affecting the UK’s unique coastline. Educational sessions also provide tangible actions that can be taken by the audience in tackling marine pollution along with, at times, complementing the cross curricular syllabus’ at the primary and secondary levels.
In 2011 and 2012, we will be working closely with the Quiksilver Foundation to reach out to an even greater number of schools and universities. In June, we will be holding a flagship education event to launch this collaboration, which will be attended by SAS ambassadors, Quiksilver Pro Surfers and the SAS campaign team. If you’d like to organise an SAS talk at your school, university, business or organisation, please do get in touch on 01872 553 001 or email dom@sas.org.uk. We can also send your school, business or university copies of SAS’s marine litter guides, scientific reports and other materials as part of this programme.
Dominic Ferris, SAS campaigner, surfer and educator says:
“Through our educational programme we hope to share the beauty and complexity of our marine environments with the whole student community, sharing SAS’s 21-years worth of campaigning experience and supporting people in building their personal interest and understanding of our beautiful and fragile coastline. We want to give them the inspiration and tools needed to help protect their beloved beaches.
Our campaigns and presentations are based on hard scientific facts and sustainable, achievable solutions to the problems that the UK’s coastal waters face. We also know that nobody likes to be preached at by boring, stuffy types who take themselves far too seriously, so as surfers and water users ourselves, we work our little wetsuit socks off to make our educational days as fun and engaging as possible.”