Project Assistant：CHANG, YAN-LING

　　On August 20, 2024, the Taiwan Marine Education Center organized the 2024 Marine Professionals Cultivation Forum as a response to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The forum focused on the theme of “Sustainable Actions in Marine Science” and emphasized the concept of youth empowerment in practical applications. The goal was to encourage continuous public engagement with marine sustainability while also promoting concrete actions for change.

　　The forum featured special guest speakers from the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), a Japanese think tank specializing in marine policy, law, and environmental research. Researchers Sachiko Oguma and Miho Takakura delivered keynote presentations, facilitating an in-depth dialogue on marine education policies between Taiwan and Japan. They also shared various practical experiences. In addition, Chin-kuo Wu, Director of Taiwan Marine Education Center, presented on the current development and trends of Taiwan’s marine education base schools. Furthermore, Professor Chung-ling Chen from National Cheng Kung University spoke about Taiwan’s policies and practical approaches to promoting marine sustainability education, sparking further exchanges on sustainable collaboration between Taiwan and Japan.

　　In the afternoon, the Youth Forum, titled “SDGs × Marine Sustainability Actions,” featured online participants from Wakasa High School in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Student teams from Nuannuan High School and Keelung High School in Keelung, Zhudong High School in Hsinchu, Longjing High School in Taichung, and Xindian High School in New Taipei City presented on key marine-related issues. They shared the action plans implemented by their respective teams, encouraging students to reflect on the connection between their initiatives and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby deepening young students’ engagement with marine issues.

　　The final session of the forum featured a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Ministry of Education’s Department of Planning and the K-12 Education Administration’s Division of Academic Senior High Education, along with senior high school teachers. They provided advice and a vision for the education required to develop marine sustainability talent. The forum, which had approximately 160 participants both online and in person, brought together professionals from industry, government, and academia who have long been engaged in marine education. Hopefully, this forum will inspire more ideas for action in education for sustainable marine development and further contribute to advancing marine education in the future.