Since April 13, 2008, the EOBV has had the first 4 trained eco-trainers: Erwin Matiasch, Mayer Christian, Deisl Ernst(Assi), Alexander (Xandl) Friedrich (Assi). The two-day seminar in Linz was exhausting, but according to the feedback from the participants it was a complete success.

On Saturday April 12th (9:00 am – 9:00 pm with an hour break for lunch and dinner) the participants were confronted with the general ecology and with the special theory of water bodies. The program was loosened up by practical exercises (getting to know biological working methods such as handling the plankton net, handling magnifying glasses, microscope and identification literature) and short films that were intended to consolidate what was heard. Above all, microscopy awakened the research instinct because the samples contained many organisms. Another focus was the determination of water quality with the help of indicator organisms (bioindicators). It was important to me to raise the participants’ awareness of interrelationships, i.e. systemic thinking. Also, the fact that there are multiple perspectives and therefore multiple points of view when considering ecological problems (which does not exactly simplify the situation) became clear to everyone.

On Sunday we tried to implement the theory didactically, i.e. to find ways in which ecology can best be anchored in diver training. At 5:00 p.m. Mario Fordinal (EOBV Ecology), Joachim Aschl (EOBV Vice President) and Christian Hofinger (EOBV Ecology) congratulated the participants on the successfully completed seminar.