The Last Ocean

Supporting Organizations

This website is the result of a generous grant from the Charl Van Der Merwe Trust, South Africa. The CvdM Trust supports non-profit development projects in education, welfare, health care, culture, and environmental conservation, aiming to benefit the broader community.

Mail Box 95422,
Waterkloof, 0145, South Africa
Charl.vandermerwe@worldonline.co.za

SeaWeb is a communications-based nonprofit organization that uses social marketing techniques to advance ocean conservation. By raising public awareness, advancing science-based solutions and mobilizing decision-makers around ocean conservation, SeaWeb is a leading voice for a healthy ocean.

SeaWeb’s programs combine science, communications and policy expertise to recruit and amplify leading voices for ocean conservation. The work is grounded in first-rate scientific research and data collection. Strategic communications skills translate this information into understandable and relevant initiatives.

SeaWeb has maintained Weller as a Fellow since 2005 to pursue The Last Ocean. SeaWeb’s support has been central to the development of the project.

www.seaweb.org

The Pew Environmental Group has awarded John Weller a 2009 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation to continue to raise awareness of the need for conservation in the Ross Sea. This fellowship will fund the development of the website, and a grassroots social-marketing campaign to further the goals of The Last Ocean.

The Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation funds science and other projects that address critical challenges in the conservation of the sea, including communication of project information to increase awareness of global marine issues. Through a rigorous nomination and review process, an international committee of marine specialists selects Pew Fellows based on the strengths of their proposed projects, including their potential to protect ocean environments. Five unique and timely projects led by outstanding professionals in their fields are chosen annually. Since 1996, the Pew Marine Fellows Program has awarded 110 Fellowships to individuals from 29 countries.

The Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organization that applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life.

www.pewmarinefellows.org

The Exploratorium is typically perceived as a science museum. In reality, it is a place that experiments with new practices for discovering the world; a museum filled with interactive science and art exhibits; a national center for teacher development; an award-winning Web site of new teaching resources; and a growing global network of partner museums. Fundamentally, it is a laboratory for the research and development of innovations in exhibits, Web publishing, and programs, linked to a worldwide dissemination network.

Its mission is to nurture curiosity in the world around us. Its audience is as broad and eclectic as that found on a public beach. Located in San Francisco and headed by Dr. Dennis M. Bartels, a nationally known science education and policy expert, the Exploratorium has extended its philosophy of learning beyond the museum’s doors, sharing its resources nationally and internationally with any who wish to take advantage of, or replicate, this innovative approach to exploring science, art, and human perception.

The Exploratorium has collaborated with Weller and Ainley in several different ways, including as a part of its NSF-funded IceStories project. Weller joined them in Antarctica for a month in the 2008-2009 season. The team will continue to work with the Exploratorium in pursuing better outreach for the Ross Sea.

www.exploratorium.edu

The Foundation for Antarctic Research is a newly-formed nonprofit organization that raises money directly for science and policy-based projects in Antarctica.

Recognizing the importance of these projects and the clear need for advocacy, FAR takes an active role in approaching individual sponsors and institutions, finding support that would otherwise be impossible to locate. FAR also acts as a node of connection for the community of Antarctic researchers. FAR has taken on these roles in support The Snow Hill Emperor Penguin Project led by Dr. Graham Robertson of the Australian Antarctic Division, and has acted on behalf of The Last Ocean.

Sandra Birnhak, Director
(Birnhardt@aol.com)

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) is a global coalition of environmental non-governmental organizations with more than 150 members in 40 countries worldwide. ASOC has worked since 1978 to ensure that the Antarctic Continent, its surrounding islands and the great Southern Ocean survive as the world's last unspoiled wilderness, a global commons for the heritage of future generations.

People around the world look to ASOC, which has the only “green” NGO seat at meetings of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and CCAMLR, as the key voice for protecting the Antarctic environment. The campaign team, working closely with ASOC member organizations, has been successful in keeping ASOC’s priority issues on the table and moving forward at Antarctic Treaty meetings and other international meetings that they attend.

Among the issues that ASOC tackles are: 1) promoting precautionary regulation of the krill fishery; 2) pressing governments to close down illegal, underreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Southern Ocean; 3) Regulation of commercial tourism; 4) urging Japan to stop its so-called “scientific whaling” program in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary; 5) setting ecologically-based standards to regulate marine acoustic impacts on whales and other species in the Southern Ocean; and 6) creation of a substantial representative system of Marine Protected Areas, which was endorsed in 2004 by CCAMLR. One of ASOC’s ultimate goals is creation of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea.

ASOC has supported The Last Ocean, bringing unique opportunities to expose the project. We, in turn, will be working to support ASOC in its campaigns.

www.asoc.org

Team