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AQUA-TNET NEWSLETTERJune 2012
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Aqua-tnet Annual Event 2012 - Innovative and Creative Approach Inspires Aqua-tnet Network
The Aqua-tnet network's annual event was held from the 28th - 29th June in searing Málaga, Spain. The event brought together over 50 people from across Europe to discuss lifelong learning, generic skills, pan-European accreditation of courses and much more. The participants benefited greatly from the creative and innovative set-up of the event.
Aqua-tnet is a pan-European education network that plays a leading co-operative role between higher education institutions and other partners such as academic organisations, research institutions and industry in the European aquaculture, fisheries and aquatic resource management sector. EC reforms and policies emphasise the role of top-quality education as a prerequisite in developing Europe as the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. Aqua-tnet's multifaceted approach has enabled the network to make a real contribution to uniting academic and vocational aspects of the Bologna reforms, aiming for greater compatibility and comparability of the systems of higher education in Europe. Originally set up in 1996 as a small network of just 20 partners, Aqua-tnet has expanded to include more than 80 partners in the current phase, and is now being coordinated by the University of Stirling (UK).The two-day event provided an excellent opportunity to engage with issues in the network's domain fields that are important for the future of education and lifelong learning at a European level. Attendees learned about the network's achievements in its first year through creative presentations which were refreshing, stimulating and good fun. Keynote speaker Rui Costa, from sister Erasmus network ISEKI, delivered an interesting address on pan-European accreditation of courses. Among the important issues he noted was the need to secure and improve the quality of higher education in Europe and facilitate trans-national recognition of academic qualifications.
Participants were challenged to learn the latest interactive teaching techniques by actively taking part in a training session. Lluis Tort, coordinator of the working group on mobility, found this approach to be highly effective. "We were taught to make informative videos on a mobile device or laptop, which we then uploaded to http://aquatnet2012.posterous.com/. I think this is a great way to make teaching and learning more interesting and motivating, for both teacher and student."
The event was brought to a close with an intriguing mix of presentations about other relevant initiatives and projects presented by individual participants. This highly productive and successful event provided partners with a great opportunity to network and establish even more useful contacts for successful future cooperation.
For more information please check the website on info@aquatnet.com.
Aqua-tnet at AQUA2012 in Prague (1-5 September 2012)
Aqua-tnet will be represented at the AQUA2012 event, which will be held in Prague from 1-5 September 2012. The abstract "Aqua-tnet: taking European education to the next level" has been accepted for an oral presentation, and will be presented by Marieke Reuver at the "Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer" session, which will be held on Monday 3 September. Aqua-tnet coordinator John Bostock will give a presentation on "The aquaculture knowledge economy: boom or bust?" at that same session. Check out Aqua-tnet on Facebook and LinkedIn!
Are you a Facebook or LinkedIn user? If so, you can now engage in discussions and catch up on news relating to the Aqua-tnet project whilst also staying in touch with your network and making new connections. You can find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/466661380014705/ (or http://tinyurl.com/AquatnetFacebook) and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4447985 (or http://tinyurl.com/AquatnetLinkedIn). You will need to join the group before you can see the posts.Discussion and feedback are also being promoted through a new Aqua-tnet blog, which is part of the main website at http://www.aquatnet.com/index.php/161/blog/ (or http://tinyurl.com/AquatnetBlog). We would welcome your contributions to the wider Aqua-tnet debate through posts to the social network groups or articles for the blog.
Videos in teaching - Aqua-tnet examples
At the Annual Event 2012 in Malaga, the participants let their creative side shine and explored new approaches to teaching by making quick and informative videos on a mobile device or laptop, which were then uploaded to http://aquatnet2012.posterous.com/. Check it out! The winner of the 'contest' was Clive Dove and his group (Vid annual event 2012), teaching us about the bulería, a popular flamenco style. Congratulations! Update Aqua-tnet Education Gate
We now promote the Aqua-tnet Education Gate to a large public so it is ESSENTIAL that you update the information on your institution, person and courses as soon as possible. If you need any help on this, please contact Marieke (marieke@aquatt.ie). BACK to top
2. Programmes, Courses & People
To search for PhD, MSc and mobility opportunities and courses and to access information on your colleagues in Aqua-tnet3, please visit the Aqua-tnet3 interactive web portal available at http://aquatnet.djangofoo.com/. If you have any further additions or would like to make changes to your institution's information please contact Marieke Reuver at marieke@aquatt.ie
Unique Training Opportunity at the Institute of Aquaculture (Stirling University): Professional Introduction to Commercial Aquaculture
The Institute of Aquaculture is pleased to announce a unique training opportunity. This training course responds to the needs of entrepreneurs interested to enter the aquaculture sector. It combines a basic introduction to aquaculture technology covering current and emerging species and considers issues in environment, feed, health and broodstock management, with a strong emphasis on business opportunities (markets etc.) and risks. Meet like-minded individuals and drive your ideas forward.August 19th - September 1st 2012
For more information contact Anda at aquaculture@stir.ac.uk or +44 1786 467878
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MarineTT - How Do We Get More Innovation from Research?
The MarineTT workshop "How do we get more Innovation from Research? Bringing together and learning from pioneering initiatives and novel approaches" will be held in Brussels on 19th July 2012. MarineTT is an FP7 funded project which aims to increase the uptake of EU funded Marine Research for innovation (www.marinett.eu). The workshop intends to bring together experts from other initiatives in order to provide a forum for an open exchange on the findings of these projects and to identify common challenges and barriers to innovation.
Participants will explore how the research governance system could be improved in order to increase the likelihood of innovation from research outputs. The following FP7 projects will be represented at the workshop: WaterDiss 2.0, KNEU, Knowledge2Innovation, Liaise, STREAM and PROCEED.
MarineTT recently organised a workshop to explore the Challenges and Solutions to Effective Knowledge Capture and Transfer and identified a number of barriers to innovation which we believe to be common to all research sectors. The aim of the upcoming event is to develop a practical set of recommendations which can potentially be used to overcome barriers to innovation from research through adjustments to the research governance system. The outcomes from both workshops will be used to develop Best Practice Guidelines on Knowledge Transfer.
Click here (.pdf) for more information on the context for the workshop or please contact Gill Marmelstein at gill@aquatt.ie for further information.
Students, Are You Getting Ready for the 2012 Innovation in Aquaculture Award (Lindsay Laird)? Great Opportunity to Win the New iPad!
In 2008, AquaTT along with AMC Ltd established the Lindsay Laird Award for the most innovative poster (in English) in the Aquaculture area submitted by a student. This event takes place at the annual Aquaculture Europe Conference, this year combined with the World Aquaculture meeting (WAS) in Prague, Czech Republic, from 1-5 September. Entries submitted by students for AQUA2012 are eligible for the Award.
The Lindsay Laird Award consists of a certificate and an award in the form of the new iPad (to the value of €500). The jury will be composed of an AquaTT representative, an academic representative and a representative from the industrial sector. The award will be presented by the EAS President.
AquaTT is now accepting entries this year's prestigious award. So let's break last year's record for entries. See you in Prague!
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AQUAEXCEL - 3rd Call for Transnational Access Now Open
On a regular basis, the AQUAEXCEL project invites proposals from European research groups for scientific research that utilises the facilities of any of the participating Aquaculture Research Infrastructures. The AQUAEXCEL project unites major aquaculture experimental facilities with capacity to undertake experimental trials on a selection of commercially important fish aquaculture species and system types. These facilities are made available to the research community for Transnational Access (TNA) with the support of the European Union 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (Infrastructures). Interested researchers can propose projects that involve visits of one or two people to the chosen Research Infrastructure for periods of up to three months. The research work and associated travel and subsistence expenses will be paid under the project. The third Call for Access is officially open. Deadline is 14 September 2012. For more information visit http://www.aquaexcel.eu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=42:call-for-access.
The Future of European Aquaculture - EATiP AGM and Stakeholders Meeting
The 4th Annual General Assembly of the EATiP was held in the "le Meridien" hotel in Brussels on the 21st June 2012. This was an opportunity for the EATiP board members and stakeholders to view the draft Vision and Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform. The Final Vision documents will be launched in early autumn and will provide a detailed roadmap for efficient implementation of strategically-focused RTDI within the European research community as necessary to support the sustainable development of European aquaculture and meet its various challenges.
All members of the EATiP are encouraged to visit the EATiP website (www.eatip.eu) where there is a facility in place to review the draft Vision. Please find below the link to the EATiP webpage where you can view or download the presentations given at the AGM: http://www.eatip.eu/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=569.
Last Call for Short-term Scientific Mission Applications by COST Action LARVANET
The COST network "LarvaNet" is pleased to announce the 7th and last call for Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) applications. The Short-Term Scientific Missions are aimed at strengthening the existing networks by allowing scientists to go to an institution or laboratory in another COST Country to foster collaboration, to learn a new technique or to take measurements using instruments and/or methods not available in their own institution/laboratory. These STSMs are particularly intended for young scientists.Deadline for submitting applications: 28th August 2012. For more details: http://www.larvanet.org/STSM.php
Launch of ARRAINA Project Website
Over the next five years the new pioneering €6 million funded FP7 project ARRAINA, led by the Nutrition, Metabolism & Aquaculture Unit at St-Pee sur Nivelle, Aquitaine region of the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), France, aims to respond to the challenge of the growing demand for fish. ARRAINA will increase the sustainability of farming fish by developing innovative vectors to supply alternative fish feeds that maintain the nutritional properties of the fish. ARRAINA brings together a multidisciplinary consortium from 21 institutes (research, industry and SMEs) based across Europe and guided by the ethos of maintaining European aquaculture industry productivity while addressing the issues of nutritional value, food safety and environmental impacts. The project commenced in January 2012 and the project website was recently launched in June 2012. Further information about the project, consortium and how to get in contact with the project can be found at http://arraina.eu/.
La Rochelle Meeting Indicates Real Progress
The SEAFARE partnership held its fourth project meeting on the 24th and 25th May in La Rochelle, France. Real indications of progress were presented at the meeting as representatives from IPIMAR (Portugal), IFAPA (Spain), IFREMER (France), Bangor University (United Kingdom) and AquaTT (Ireland) discussed the work that has been completed in recent months. The first day of the meeting concentrated on discussing the research that has been undertaken to date. Participants discussed the expected results and how these findings may contribute to achieving a more sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture. Sylvie Lapegue, representative from IFREMER, and organizer of the event, said: "The SEAFARE project is dealing with a wide spectrum of studies from different fields. These studies can be complementary and it's great to see how the potential interactions that may occur could contribute to deliver innovative solutions for coastal zone management and aquaculture".
The second day of the meeting initially focused on methods to increase cooperation among the partnership. The group analysed several options and provided feedback on solutions to increase the partnership's effectiveness through heightened cooperation. Then the focus switched to discussing how the partnership can further develop the research carried out so far. The Project Coordinator, Daniel Lee, stated: "I am happy to coordinate such a great team. Extremely interesting results are emerging from SEAFARE. We are planning to organize an event within the SEAFARE project where we will present these results and ensure an effective knowledge transfer to those stakeholders that may be interested in them".
The SEAFARE project has been granted a one year extension in order to fulfil the tasks that are currently being implemented and to ensure an effective knowledge transfer of the main results occurs once all the experiments are finalised.
SEAFARE is designed to provide small-to-medium enterprises and public authorities with tools for sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture. It will strengthen links between researchers and industry, and influence policy development at regional and national levels. It will deliver innovative solutions for coastal zone management and the sustainable management of economic activity. Download the Press Release here (PDF).
Sea for Society Kicks-off
Sea for Society (SFS) is a European Project funded by DG Research & Innovation under the Theme Science in Society. The project held a kick-off meeting from the 6th - 8th June 2012 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. The meeting was hosted by the project coordinator NAUSICAÄ. The project engages stakeholders, citizens and youth in an open and participatory dialogue to share knowledge, forge partnerships and empower actors on societal issues related to Oceans. In doing so, the project aims to develop and enrich the Blue Society concept".
The project has brought together a multidisciplinary partnership of 20 partners from 10 countries representing marine research institutes, funding agencies, science museums and aquaria, civil society organisations, higher education institutes and business networks. From 2012 to 2015, SFS will shape the "Blue Society" concept and improve the governance of research related to the oceans and seas. It's the first stage of a cross-sector dialogue in Europe on the relationship between the Ocean and citizens' daily lives. For more information visit www.seaforsociety.eu.
Invitation to Interactive COEXIST Workshop on "Best Practice Guidelines for spatial planning to integrate fisheries, Aquaculture and other Uses in the European Coastal Zone"
Do you work in the field of aquaculture, fisheries, energy or tourism in the European coastal areas or are you a coastal zone manager? Then this workshop is of high relevance to you!
The workshop: "Best Practice Guidelines for spatial planning to integrate fisheries, aquaculture and other uses in the coastal zone" will be held at the Scandic Bergen City Hotel in Bergen (Norway) on the 19th September 2012. It is jointly organised by the EU-funded COEXIST project and the Annual ICES meeting.
If you would like to take part in this workshop, please complete the online registration form using the following link:
http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=4dbe44e1-074f-434d-b81d-9003b2e6ac3a
Places are limited, so please register early to secure your participation. Deadline for registration is the 15th August 2012. For more information download the full article here (.pdf).
EDEN Conference (European Distance and E-Learning Network) - Interesting Keynote Talks
The annual EDEN (European Distance and E-Learning Network) conference focused on Open Learning Generations - Closing the gap from "Generation Y" to the Mature Lifelong Learners. For more information: http://www.eden-online.org/publications/keynotes.html
Marine Board Position Paper 17: "Marine Microbial Diversity and its Role in Ecosystem Functioning and Environmental Change"
This Position Paper is based on the activities of the Marine Board Working Group on Marine Microbial Diversity (WG MICROCEAN) which convened in Brussels on 17 February 2010, 2-3 September 2010 and 10-11 February 2011, and in Oostende (Belgium) on 15-16 June 2011. It is now available at http://www.marineboard.eu/publications for download.BACK to top
FARNET Magazine no. 6 - Spring-Summer 2012
To access the latest newsletter of this fisheries areas network visit: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/cms/farnet/files/documents/FARNET_Magazine_06_EN.pdf. BACK to top
| 5. Aqua-tnet Calendar |
Please check the Aqua-tnet calendar for a live update of upcoming events, courses and workshops
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BibMail is a monthly overview of the content tables of the major aquaculture-relevant scientific journals. Information of Interest is a monthly overview of
interesting publications, reports, and manuals relating to aquaculture
in a broad sense, with links to the respective files or information
points. From January 2012 the BibMail & Information of Interest will be combined into one PDF document. For the latest editions and archive of BibMail CLICK HERE and Information of Interest CLICK HERE
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AquaTT's Training News is a free monthly e-newsletter featuring the latest announcements, news, and opportunities for collaboration from the European education 
community. The e-newsletter also has a section dedicated to students. Training News is an important dissemination channel for education and training opportunities for aquaculture and related sectors. CLICK HERE for the latest edition.
Please email news@aquatt.ie to submit your news which will reach over 6,000 international subscribers.
PiscesTT Jobs is a free online recruitment service used by over 300 companies globally in Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Science. If you are interested in viewing or posting a vacancy please go to http://www.piscesttjobs.com/ or contact aquatt@aquatt.ie Subscribe at http://www.piscesttjobs.com/feeds/ for live RSS updates.
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About Aqua-tnet
This update is published by the Aqua-tnet Secretariat. For further information e-mail aquatnet@aquatt.ie Previous editions are archived at marieke@aquatt.ie or aquatnet@aquatt.ie.
DISCLAIMER: AQUA-TNET provides this newsletter as a free service to its partners. Most of the information is provided by AQUA-TNET. Where it is not, the source of the news is provided in the text of the news brief or else AQUA-TNET attributes the news to the coordinating body as the "Data Source Provider". In no way does this newsletter intend to wrongly or inappropriately claim projects, news, etc. as its own nor is it responsible for incorrect information provided from other sources. The AQUA-TNET Newsletter is a dissemination tool and forum for both AQUA-TNET and its partners.