SOSF Shark Centre
Listen to a radio interview discussing the Wavescapes Surf Film Festival with Lesley Rochat. You will need RealPlayer to hear the interview. If you don't have RealPlayer already, you can download the free software here.
Project Leaders: Lesley Rochat, Alison Kock & Dr Leonard Compagno
Read the Centre's blog here.Listen to a radio interview discussing the Wavescapes Surf Film Festival with Lesley Rochat. You will need RealPlayer to hear the interview. If you don't have RealPlayer already, you can download the free software here.
Background
The establishment of the SOSF Shark Centre (SOSSC) provides a focus point and an establishment where scientists, researchers, marine educators, cinematographers, marketing and P.R. specialists are able to work in unison.
The SOSSC seeks to provide a platform for international collaboration of all SOSF projects focused on sharks and shark-like species. It does this through fostering relationships with other scientists, universities, organisations and governments that subscribe to its mission. It promotes the protection, conservation and sustainable use of sharks worldwide by continuing to develop and encourage scientific research, along with global education and awareness projects that target the general public, fishers, and in particular, children.
The SOSSC seeks to provide a platform for international collaboration of all SOSF projects focused on sharks and shark-like species. It does this through fostering relationships with other scientists, universities, organisations and governments that subscribe to its mission. It promotes the protection, conservation and sustainable use of sharks worldwide by continuing to develop and encourage scientific research, along with global education and awareness projects that target the general public, fishers, and in particular, children.
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Aims & objectives
SOSSC has 4 primary aims:
Original scientific research
This includes the development of its groundbreaking great white shark research being conducted by Alison Kock; the production and expansion of new research avenues for other endangered marine species and habitats; the use of our in-house research facilities in student training; the establishment of SOSSC as a dissemination hub for world-class shark conservation research.
Education & Awareness
This element concentrates on developing internationally recognised science, education and awareness programs, often centering around and using the iconic great white shark; the creation of multimedia educational materials and the continuation of outreach educational campaign for both children and teachers.
Video & Multimedia Productions
Our in-house editing suite allows SOSSC to develop productions to compliment current SOSF’ output; these include inserts, ads, and educational materials which will then be provided to distribution outlets.
Communications & Marketing
This element focuses on changing the public’s perception of sharks through high-profile local and international media campaigns, of which the most attention grabbing example so far is the Rethink the Shark campaign.
Original scientific research
This includes the development of its groundbreaking great white shark research being conducted by Alison Kock; the production and expansion of new research avenues for other endangered marine species and habitats; the use of our in-house research facilities in student training; the establishment of SOSSC as a dissemination hub for world-class shark conservation research.
Education & Awareness
This element concentrates on developing internationally recognised science, education and awareness programs, often centering around and using the iconic great white shark; the creation of multimedia educational materials and the continuation of outreach educational campaign for both children and teachers.
Video & Multimedia Productions
Our in-house editing suite allows SOSSC to develop productions to compliment current SOSF’ output; these include inserts, ads, and educational materials which will then be provided to distribution outlets.
Communications & Marketing
This element focuses on changing the public’s perception of sharks through high-profile local and international media campaigns, of which the most attention grabbing example so far is the Rethink the Shark campaign.
Project Update: 2009
- Develop SOSSC school outreach programs through our partnership with the City of Cape Town, The Jungle Theatre and in house school visits and teachers workshops.
- Participation at Events and Exhibits for example World Wetlands day, National Water Week, World Environmental Week, World Ocean Day, International Coastal Clean-up, Animal Action Week, National Marine Week , White Shark Festival, Green expo and Cape Town tourism Expo.
- Presentations/Talks/Screenings and organized events such as the Blue Flag Beaches Outreach Programme in partnership with COCT and the Pick-up Litter Parade in partnership with Jungle Theatre
- Development of the Volunteer Programme.
- Development of Saatchi & Saatchi TV Ads and Campaigns and SOSSC promo video and a quarterly news letter. Also develop teacher’s handbooks to complement the existing Shark handbook with supporting posters and children’s books.
Project Update: 2008
Following the opening of the Save Our Seas Shark Centre (SOSSC) , Lesley Rochat, Manager and Director of Education & Awareness for the SOSSC, has been directing the development of the various education and awareness programmes which are run by the Centre's educator, Verona Smith.
The SOSSC offers guided tours, displays of various SOSF research projects, a donation store, a large fish tank displaying local species, screenings of numerous documentaries produced by the SOSF, as well as popular talks given by one of the team members are on offer.
Encouraging children to embrace their role as guardians of the water world of tomorrow is one of the SOSSC’s primary goals. To achieve this, the SOSSC proactively runs educational outreach programmes for the youth. The interactive lessons are aimed at educating learners about sharks and our oceans by combining compelling information with puppet shows, or hands on snorkelling and rock pool lessons, which take place across the road from the SOSSC.
In only a few months of being open, and despite not advertising, there has been over 700 walk-in visitors, and over 1000 children participating in educational programmes at the SOSSC. A further 1000 children have been reached as part of a collaboration with the Jungle Theatre and there Whale Play, which is performed at schools around Cape Town. School groups of up to 30 learners are independently booked for lessons, while larger groups of up to 100 children visit the Centre as part of the educational train programme SOSSC supports in partnership with the City of Cape Town. Soon educational boat trips from Cape Town harbour will commence during which a further 300 to 400 learners per month will be reached.
Added to this SOSSC has successfully raised the profile of the Foundation through their proactive involvement in events such as World Ocean Day, International Coastal Clean-up, The White Shark Festival, and Marine Week as well as taking their mobile exhibit to public areas such as shopping centres. SOSSC will continue to run educational programmes at the Centre for learners for the balance of 2008, as well as continue private bookings for adult groups. SOSSC expects to be very busy during the December and January period with Summer Holiday Educational Programmes for children, and with many visitors to the SOSSC when thousands of tourists flock to Cape Town.
Other events being driven through the Centre is the SOSF sponsored Wavescape Film Festival, which takes place in December. Lesley is managing the education and awareness aspects of the Festival, ensuring that our conservation message is well publicized.
Awards
The Rethink the Shark campaign, created for us by Saatchi & Saatchi, initially for the SOSF M-Sea Programme, and which includes 3 television ads, has won the Wildscreen Film Festival PANDA Award for Best Campaign Ad, while Lesley's documentary production, Sharks in Deep Trouble, won an award for its conservation message in the Montana CINE International Film Festival.
Books, Signage and Video Productions
Lesley has completed another children’s book titled: Sue Finds Happy Eddie, the Shy Shark, which will be illustrated and form part of the SeaSmart Kidz series she conceptualized for SOSF. Lesley is further committed to producing a number of other SOSF educational books, including writing a book for children for the soon-to-be released SOSF turtle documentary, A Turtles Song.
In light of the success of the public signage Lesley produced called Shark Encounters, which is erected at all popular beaches in Cape Town, she has been approached by the City of Cape Town to design a new coastal public sign on sharks, as well as other educational and awareness material to be distributed during the summer season.
Lesley has recently produced a promotional video for SOSF on shark finning called Save Our Sharks, which was shown at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, and that will be used to raise awareness. She is currently directing Saatchi & Saatchi for a new SOSF ad, while she continues to drive the Rethink the Shark campaign, as well as the new Rethink the Predator campaign.
The SOSSC offers guided tours, displays of various SOSF research projects, a donation store, a large fish tank displaying local species, screenings of numerous documentaries produced by the SOSF, as well as popular talks given by one of the team members are on offer.
Encouraging children to embrace their role as guardians of the water world of tomorrow is one of the SOSSC’s primary goals. To achieve this, the SOSSC proactively runs educational outreach programmes for the youth. The interactive lessons are aimed at educating learners about sharks and our oceans by combining compelling information with puppet shows, or hands on snorkelling and rock pool lessons, which take place across the road from the SOSSC.
In only a few months of being open, and despite not advertising, there has been over 700 walk-in visitors, and over 1000 children participating in educational programmes at the SOSSC. A further 1000 children have been reached as part of a collaboration with the Jungle Theatre and there Whale Play, which is performed at schools around Cape Town. School groups of up to 30 learners are independently booked for lessons, while larger groups of up to 100 children visit the Centre as part of the educational train programme SOSSC supports in partnership with the City of Cape Town. Soon educational boat trips from Cape Town harbour will commence during which a further 300 to 400 learners per month will be reached.
Added to this SOSSC has successfully raised the profile of the Foundation through their proactive involvement in events such as World Ocean Day, International Coastal Clean-up, The White Shark Festival, and Marine Week as well as taking their mobile exhibit to public areas such as shopping centres. SOSSC will continue to run educational programmes at the Centre for learners for the balance of 2008, as well as continue private bookings for adult groups. SOSSC expects to be very busy during the December and January period with Summer Holiday Educational Programmes for children, and with many visitors to the SOSSC when thousands of tourists flock to Cape Town.
Other events being driven through the Centre is the SOSF sponsored Wavescape Film Festival, which takes place in December. Lesley is managing the education and awareness aspects of the Festival, ensuring that our conservation message is well publicized.
Awards
The Rethink the Shark campaign, created for us by Saatchi & Saatchi, initially for the SOSF M-Sea Programme, and which includes 3 television ads, has won the Wildscreen Film Festival PANDA Award for Best Campaign Ad, while Lesley's documentary production, Sharks in Deep Trouble, won an award for its conservation message in the Montana CINE International Film Festival.
Books, Signage and Video Productions
Lesley has completed another children’s book titled: Sue Finds Happy Eddie, the Shy Shark, which will be illustrated and form part of the SeaSmart Kidz series she conceptualized for SOSF. Lesley is further committed to producing a number of other SOSF educational books, including writing a book for children for the soon-to-be released SOSF turtle documentary, A Turtles Song.
In light of the success of the public signage Lesley produced called Shark Encounters, which is erected at all popular beaches in Cape Town, she has been approached by the City of Cape Town to design a new coastal public sign on sharks, as well as other educational and awareness material to be distributed during the summer season.
Lesley has recently produced a promotional video for SOSF on shark finning called Save Our Sharks, which was shown at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, and that will be used to raise awareness. She is currently directing Saatchi & Saatchi for a new SOSF ad, while she continues to drive the Rethink the Shark campaign, as well as the new Rethink the Predator campaign.