10
COMMUNITIES
Collaborating with local communities and scientific partners “It’s within our power, because most of the problems are created by us, and we can solve them or should be able to solve them … Break down those walls and get people talking about it who wouldn’t otherwise meet.” Sir David Attenborough, naturalist, TV presenter, writer and campaigner There are few opportunities for the public to engage with and learn about our marine environment. The majority is hidden and inaccessible to most people. Lack of understanding is a risk – people need to understand the problem to find the solution. Making science accessible helps build awareness of issues and how to address them.
As a Charity our goal is to ensure that people, through having a positive engagement with our work, are motivated to help conserve Scotland’s seabirds and marine environment. We do this by working in partnership with local groups and the scientific community to provide resources and activities that enable people to enjoy, increase understanding of and contribute towards practical conservation projects.
200+
people interacted with experts in the field via 4 Meet the Scientist events
60%
of Seabird Social attendees had never visited before; 100% said they would consider visiting as a result of the event
Image credits clockwise from top © Marie Seraphim, © Phil Wilkinson
225
attendees across 7 guided wildlife walks as part of North Berwick’s Coastal Walking Festival
88%
of attendees to the Bryan Nelson Memorial Lecture agreed the event highlighted the importance of protecting the marine environment