U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 11

U@MareNostrumU@MareNostrum

Hellenic Centre for Marine ResearchHellenic Centre for Marine ResearchHCMRHCMR

-participation--participation-

Vasilis Valavanis <vasilis@her.hcmr.gr>Vasilis Valavanis <vasilis@her.hcmr.gr>

U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 22

GIS Data ProvisionGIS Data Provision

Administrative BoundariesAdministrative BoundariesRiversRiversLakesLakesAerial PhotosAerial PhotosCitiesCities

U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 33

DisseminationDissemination

Int’l ConferenceInt’l ConferenceInternational Conference on Environmental

Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE 2009), June 21-26, 2009, Mykonos, Greece.

EmailingEmailingAssembly and provision of email contacts regarding

Greek Municipalities, Regions, Universities, and Research Centers (more than 50 email contacts)

U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 44

DisseminationDisseminationshort presentationsshort presentations

U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 55

ThoughtsThoughtsExperience derived from U@MN for HCMR (a marine-oriented research center):

1. First participation of HCMR to an e-participation project on water management issues

2. It’s relatively easy to advertise and communicate e-participation tools and issues to the public authorities and the general public

3. It’s relatively difficult to initiate as well as keep on e-participation and e-discussions among public authorities and the general public

4. The success of a productive e-participation initiative relies on the quality of e-participation and not on any large number of e-participants

5. Reaction from Municipalities: Positive initially, then degrading. Reasons: Re-organization of Greek Municipality structure, dedicated personnel, first-time on e-Participation method

6. Reaction from Citizens-Stakeholders: Positive initially, then degrading. Reasons: Not used in this kind of interaction, takes time to get used to, no belief that opinion will count in any decisions

U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 66

ThoughtsThoughts7. Next Steps?: Provision of developed e-participation platforms to public authorities in order to have a tool for easier and more direct communication with the general public

8. Dedicated-trained personnel on behalf of Municipalities in order to continually ‘tease’ general public to participate; takes time to get used to this type of participation

9. Use of NGOs: They have extensive public awareness programs; e-Participation tools may well be part of them

10. Any Commercial Exploitation?: Maybe only through Municipalities and/or Regions:-Municipalities/Regions receive public funds for public works through private

construction companies (e.g. construction of a bridge or road or a public recreation park)

-Municipalities/Regions may include e-Participation tools for public opinion prior to the planned public work and have construction companies to take this into account

U@MN Feb. 17, 2011U@MN Feb. 17, 2011 77

OverallOverall

E-participation: A new ‘method’ for the majority of the general public

-Relates to local environmental awareness levels-Takes time to become an established practice-Promising tool if it is ‘officially’ adopted by local Management Authorities

THANK YOU