Ocean&Climate Village docks in Naples for its third edition, with Young Blue Minds in tow

The Ocean&Climate Village travelling exhibition, a first of its kind, brings the general public closer to ocean science, and improves understanding of the planet's most unknown environment. It allows visitors to take a journey to the heart of the ocean and discover its connection with the Earth's climate and its critical role in our lives. Digital and interactive installations, illustrations and infographics developed by the Design for the Ocean network combine education with entertainment and help visitors retain key "take-home messages" at the end of their visit.

More than simply an exhibition space, the Ocean&Climate Village is also a meeting platform, as each edition includes a designated area for talks and panel discussions. Here, visitors and guest speakers alike can discuss the need to preserve and regenerate marine ecosystems and related biodiversity, as well as debate the potential for technological innovation and design to provide solutions to the myriad challenges facing the ocean, both large and small. The exhibition targets different age groups and offers guided tours for students, led by young marine science students and researchers, transferring knowledge through generations.

The third edition of the Ocean&Climate Village was hosted at Castel dell'Ovo from 6 to 12 March 2023. The event was held under the patronage of and in collaboration with the Municipality of Naples, in cooperation with Grifal and the Prada Group and with the support of E.ON Italia. Scientific support was provided by the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Council of Research, the Stazione Zoological Anton Dohrn, and the University of Naples Federico II.

Organised by IOC-UNESCO, in the context of the Ocean Decade, the exhibition aims to disseminate the principles of Ocean Literacy by educating new generations about the ocean conservation. The exhibition was inaugurated by Ana Luiza Thompson-Flores, Director, Francesca Santoro, IOC-UNESCO Senior Programme Specialist, and Paulo Mancuso, Advisor to the Ecological Transition of the Municipality of Naples.

Among the guest partners present at the inauguration were Maura Striano, Councillor for Education and Family for the Municipality for Naples, Frank Meyer, CEO of E.ON Italia, Marco Sacchi, CNR-Ismar Research Institute, Chris Bowler, President of Institute of Marine Sciences and Zoo Station Anton Dohrn, and Federico Girotto, designer of the installation Feel the Change. Each participant disclosed their personal commitment to the ocean in a panel moderated by the green journalist, Diana de Marsanich.

During the event, the 'Feel the Change' installation was presented: a display of 3-D printings of marine species damaged due to ocean acidification and increased sea temperatures, designed so that blind and visually impaired people can feel and experience the change. The exhibition was also enriched by many contents and collateral activities such as roundtables, debates, videos, and insights to reflect on current issues related to the protection of the ocean, as well as the sea and islands in front of the city of Naples.

One of the exhibition's highlights was 'UpSea Down', an interactive installation about one of the lesser-known causes of sea level rise: the thermal expansion of water molecules, leading to an increase of the volume of the water body. The user controls a 3D printed cursor to navigate through time from 1960 to 2100, and watches as sea levels rise before one's very eyes. Using sound and graphic visuals, the installation - accessible to visitors of all ages - impresses upon hearts and minds throughout the week the need to urgently act within the coming 10 years to save the ocean from irreversible damage.