Tag: sharing learning

A little step for me…. One giant leap for octopus fisheries management

Not only was it my first time in the “Old Town”, the beautiful heart of Zanzibar’s Stone Town, where the labyrinth of alleyways transport you to another time, and the historical monuments and museums bear witness to the cultural and artistic...

/ Mar 3, 2015

A Muddy Mangrove Experience for Expeditions!

Mere hours after the annual conference for Blue Ventures had ended in Andavadoaka, our eighth, and final, expedition of 2014 began!  Typically, when the cars arrive on-site, volunteers have the chance to unpack, shower and get acquainted with their new...

/ Feb 9, 2015

Uncovering the hidden power of Population-Health-Environment programmes

Have you ever wondered how offering family planning to communities in Madagascar might be affecting the size of fish in the Mozambique Channel? Or how working with octopus gleaners may be impacting women’s use of contraception? Or how seaweed farming...

/ Nov 20, 2014

Student Conference on Conservation Science in Bangalore, India

by Cicelin RAKOTOMAHAZO, Socioeconomic Scientist – Blue Forests, Madagascar This was not only my first time on a flight but also my first time travelling outside of Madagascar. I was heading to Bangalore, the third largest city in India, to...

/ Nov 3, 2014

Spreading the word about lionfish!

By Winnie Courtene-Jones, Field Scientist, Belize Since their arrival in Belize in 2008, lionfish have dramatically increased in numbers and spread throughout the country’s waters, devastating the World Heritage listed Belize Barrier Reef. What better way than to help tackle...

/ Oct 10, 2014

Lobster with a side of lionfish

by Silvia Parmeggiani, Community Officer, Belize Despite the early start, the full sun was already beating down on us as we drive down the dusty road from Sarteneja, on our way to Belize City. Belize is a country of many cultures,...

/ Aug 29, 2014

In the making: the future biologists of Belize

by Winnie Courtene-Jones and Meira Mizrahi, Field Scientists, Belize  Throughout this academic year, Blue Ventures’ staff team has again been working closely with the natural resource management classes at the Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College (CEMJC). This enthusiastic group of students...

/ Aug 13, 2014

Staff Q&A with Florence Pichon, Maintirano & Barren Isles Project Coordinator

In the latest instalment in our series of staff Q&As, we ask Florence Pichon, Maintirano & Barren Isles Project Coordinator, some searching questions about science, conservation and superpowers… What is your job and academic background? I’m the Barren Isles project...

/ Jun 20, 2014
Vik shaking hands with Sir Crispen Tickell, with David Chenier (President, UK, ConocoPhillips) and Professor Louise Richardson (Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews)

A victory for PHE: Blue Ventures wins the 2014 St Andrews Prize for the Environment

Against the elegant backdrop of the University of St Andrews, I spent an inspiring, exhausting, and at times terrifying three days, competing against two other finalists for the 2014 St Andrews Prize for the Environment.

/ Jun 4, 2014

Staff Q&A with Zo Andriamahenina, Blue Forests Research Technician

In the latest instalment in our series of staff Q&As, we ask Zo Andriamahenina, Blue Forests Research Technician, some searching questions about science, conservation and superpowers… What is your scientific background? I studied Sociology at the University of Antananarivo, during which time I did...

/ May 2, 2014

What happens when animals go to school?

by Silvia Parmeggiani, Community Officer, Belize As we (we being the BV Belize team) wait for our new batch of volunteers to arrive and join us for the third expedition of this year, we ‘re getting very excited. They arrive throughout the day, some...

/ Apr 30, 2014

A theory of change: communities think critically about pathways to sustainable management

By Cicelin Rakotomahazo, blue forests socioeconomic scientist, Madagascar A few months ago, the blue forests team set out to facilitate a “Theory of Change” exercise with communities from nine villages in the Bay of Assassins, in the Velondriake locally managed marine area in southwest Madagascar. The Bay of...

/ Apr 24, 2014

Learning about lionfish

By Susan Adams, expedition volunteer, Belize As an interdisciplinary marine conservation organisation, Blue Ventures targets its efforts across many levels. In Belize, the main focus is tackling the lionfish invasion that is threatening to decimate juvenile fish populations in the local...

/ Apr 17, 2014

Setting sail in Maintirano: the early days

by Florence Pichon, Barren Isles Project Coordinator, Maintirano, Madagascar I can hardly believe it’s been two months since I arrived in Maintirano; a sleepy, beautiful coastal town in western Madagascar. Settling in here as the new project coordinator for the...

/ Apr 14, 2014

Using the right tools for the job: my experiences with TESSA

by Lalao Aigrette, Senior Blue Carbon Scientist, Toliara, Madagascar According to my colleagues, Kenya is my second home, as this trip marks my sixth visit to the east African country. I recently attended a follow-up workshop about the uses of the Toolkit...

/ Apr 8, 2014