International community
The National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) is a vibrant American based non-profit organization with a strong vision to make known the world of water, both fresh and salt. They provide a medium for the exchange of information and teaching materials. Its annual conferences are setting the standard for excellence in marine education by offering the best available science educational practices and resources, and by building strong, lasting professional and personal relationships among its members. NMEA publishes Current, the Journal of Marine Education, NMEA NEWS , a newsletter, the Bridge, an on-line teacher resource center and scuttlebut email list. NMEA has broad national and international coverage through regional chapters and affiliates such as the COSEE network, NOAA, … that share its goal to promote ocean literacy through outreach and education.
The International Pacific Marine Educators Network (IPMEN) is a developing collective of marine educators throughout the Pacific. The idea for this group began as one of the outcomes of a two-day meeting, the One Ocean Marine Forum (OOMF) on the Hawaiian island of Maui in July 2005. The aim of the Forum was to create a global network of marine educators to share knowledge, expertise and resources to solve ocean related environmental issues. It was decided to further the Forum goal by first forming a network of Pacific marine educators as a pilot. The International Pacific Marine Educators Conference (IPMEC) was held in 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and resulted in the formation of IPMEN. The first formal IPMEN conference then took place in Townsville (Australia) in October 2008, the second in Fiji in July 2010 and in 2012 in Chili. IPMEN aims to meet again in Japan in 2014.
The Marine Education Society of Australasia (MESA) is a national organisation that brings together people interested in the study and enjoyment of coastal and marine environments in the Australasian region. They provide a forum for sharing ideas, best practices, information, jobs, ... and facilitate the development of education programs, training, workshops and conferences.