Also this year I was able to carry out four fully booked seminars with our team in our training center for freshwater biology at Fridolfinger Weiher.
First, the most important fact: We are finally equipped with excellent optical devices!
The participants were enthusiastic about the high quality devices. 4 microscopes and 8 binoculars (stereo magnifiers) are now available.
In short, the story: When I took up my work at BLTV in 1993 as environmental officer, the first binocular from Zeiss was purchased. A great device that is still up to date. In the following years, I supplemented the courses with a few small devices that have been accumulated in the life of a biologist (mine). For some time now we have been provided by the company bioConsult with a professional microscope for the seminars every year. At the beginning of 2017, I personally bought 6 devices with a sponsorship pledge in my pocket. Manuela from my club managed that the Sparkassenstiftung provides the money. The beneficiary is my club, the TCO Rosenheim, who in turn lends me the microscopes. Due to the statute problems in Bavaria, everything has moved, but it looks good that after almost 1 ½ years, the money will arrive soon at me. This purchase was an important impetus, because then the BLTV has gone to work and also bought 4 more devices. I am happy!
Since 2017, I am environmental officer and since 2018 head of department biology at VIT. Florian, our webmaster was at the seminar this year with his partner Edith. Both have eagerly participated and also had a lot of fun. I hope for more VIT member and divers next year.
I am particularly pleased that Alfred Hammerl, the district instructor for water, nature and environmental protection of the Wasserwacht has participated. We know each other since 2016 when I was allowed to hold a limnology lecture at a Wasserwacht lesson. Also Helmut Huber, district instructor in Upper Bavaria and CMAS TL** visited the course with two of his dive buddies. Helmut is also committed to nature conservation. During his dives, he freed our native shells from the entrained zebra mussels sitting on them. He showed us how it works.
We all want an intact nature while diving. But for that, each and every one of us has to DO something. That's why I've been adding a 45-minute module on general environmental issues and their solutions, such as climate change, plastic issues and species extinction, to the program for some time now. The ambitious title is: How can we as divers save the world? I am very pleased that the reactions are very positive. A participant from the WLT (Württemberg) was so enthusiastic that he invited me to Friedrichshafen to give this lecture. Another invitation came from a member of the Lions Club who also attended the seminar. These are opportunities to carry our environmental work in the most diverse clubs, there to inspire people, doing something for environmental and nature conservation, and at the same time to do some lobbying for us divers. Incidentally, at the beginning of June, I'm holding my first seminar in Switzerland on Lake Biel.
I wish that in the next few years many divers will come to our seminar in Fridolfing and we can further promote our environmental work. Pre-registrations at: biologie@vit.info
Best regards
Your Head of Department Biology Dipl.-Biol. Uwe Scherner
