Città della Scienza hosts the Sea Beyond Ideas Box for World Oceans Day

by Marco Milano

For June 8, World Oceans Day, Città della Scienza in Naples is offering a series of interactive science workshops to explore the causes and consequences of marine pollution together. Over the weekend, Città della Scienza will host the activities created as part of the “Sea Beyond Ideas Box” project, a multimedia library entirely dedicated to Ocean Education, created by Biblioteche Senza Frontiere Italia with the support of “Sea Beyond”, a Prada Group project conducted in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (Unesco-Coi) since 2019 “with the aim of creating awareness about the preservation of the Ocean and its sustainability”. The mission is to “raise awareness among participants of all ages about the importance of preserving the health of our seas, promoting sustainable and conscious behavior. Through practical experiments, educational activities and moments of discussion, we will learn how every small gesture can make a difference for the future of our blue planet”. The project, launched last July by FOQUS – Fondazione Quartieri Spagnoli di Napoli, has also planned a five-stage tour in the Metropolitan City of Naples. To date, it has touched the islands of Procida and Ischia, in collaboration with the Marine Protected Area Regno di Nettuno, the Municipality of Procida and the Municipality of Forio, was hosted at the Darwin Dohrn Museum in collaboration with the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and reached the Ciro Colonna Center in East Naples in collaboration with Maestri di Strada onlus. In June, the fifth and final stage will be held at the Spazio Obù of the Terzoluogo Foundation in Sant'Anna a Capuana. “Together with the communities involved, we continue to work on spreading ocean literacy,” stressed Ilaria Gaudiello, director of Biblioteche Senza Frontiere Italia, “building and sharing a new language that is as inclusive and authentic as possible, in the belief that giving life to this type of experience for boys and girls, accompanying them in the discovery of this heritage, makes it easier to translate information and intentions into concrete actions of care for the environment.” The educators of Biblioteche Senza Frontiere will organize an activity for the youngest children (four to seven years old), the “Nel blu dipinto di verde” workshop, an exploration of the biodiversity of Posidonia oceanica, the submerged meadows that keep marine ecosystems alive. For children and teenagers (eight to thirteen years old), the “Una Pianta d'aMARE” workshop will be a journey to discover Posidonia Oceanica, a true ally of our sea. Furthermore, the “science show” conceived and conducted by the science communicators of “Le Nuvole” entitled “Choose your climate” will raise awareness of the undeniable climate changes through a series of experiments that will explain the role played by man in the process of climate alteration. Finally, during the weekend, an information desk with Unicef ​​will be set up to give visitors the opportunity to make a noble gesture, such as becoming regular donors and contributing to the realization of projects that are fundamental for the life and future of millions of children around the world. There will also be guided tours of the Interactive Museum of the Human Body Corporea, the renovated Insect Exhibition and shows at the Planetarium.