Oceans of learning activities for all online at marine.ie

Ireland's marine sector collaborates to celebrate European Maritime Day virtually with Oceans of Learning series

20th May 2021: In recognition of European Maritime Day on 20th May and World Oceans Day on 8th June, the Marine Institute has joined together with a host of partners to launch the 2021 Oceans of Learning series to celebrate our seas and Ireland's marine resource.

Over the next four weeks, Oceans of Learning will enable everyone to engage with our ocean from anywhere with a new podcast series, videos and short films, news and online resources all about our ocean. There's something for everyone and the Oceans of Learning series will explore all aspects of our marine resource - from our rich marine biodiversity, to our changing ocean climate, and our oceans future. This week's resources are available on the Marine Institute's Oceans of Learning web page at Our Ocean: Our Life. 

Speaking about the Oceans of Learning series Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D.said:
"I am delighted to see the range of Government Departments, State agencies and organisations coming together (virtually) through the Oceans of Learning series to celebrate the importance of the shared natural resource of our Oceans, Seas and coastal waters with the people of Ireland. As an island nation, Ireland has a special relationship with the seas and oceans and many of our coastal communities in particular also depend on them for their livelihoods. Collaboration and scientific research are now more important than ever as we continue to work together to understand and protect our valuable marine resource and ensure their future sustainability'.

Mick Gillooly, Joint Acting CEO of the Marine Institute said,
"Through our Oceans of Learning series, the Marine Institute with our partners, will explore the major role the ocean plays in our everyday lives. Ireland's marine resource supports diverse ecosystems, is a source of food, influences our climate, weather and our wellbeing, and has an important role in Ireland's economy, providing employment in fisheries, aquaculture, ports and shipping, technology, tourism and seafaring. Through Oceans of Learning, Ireland's marine sector will come together to celebrate our seas by providing a host of engaging and entertaining resources on the enormous opportunities presented by our coast and ocean."

The Oceans of Learning series launches with a special live webinar at 4pm today (Thursday 20th May), hosted by Irish marine scientist and author Finn van der Aar. Hear from filmmaker Ken O'Sullivan and Professor Louise Allcock at NUI Galway about Ireland's marine life, and Roberta O'Brien the first woman in the Irish Naval Service to achieve the rank of Commander.

The webinar will also include a climate change panel discussion with Marie Donnelly, Chair of Ireland's Climate Change Advisory Council, Professor Andrew Wheeler of University College Cork, and Glenn Nolan, Manager of Oceanographic and Climate Services at the Marine Institute. 

A new Oceans of Learning podcast series, presented by Finn van der Aar, will share stories from the people and professionals who have a connection with the sea – through science, careers, industry, art and more.

The first podcast episode focuses on the link between oceans and our health and wellbeing with scientist and big wave surfer, Dr Easkey Britton. Dr Aaron Lim, Lead Data Scientist at Green Rebel Marine, Sibéal Regan of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and Debbi Pedreschi, Post-doctoral Researcher at the Marine Institute, discuss marine life on rocky seashores to the bed of the deep sea.

This week will also see the Marine Institute launch its Sea Science Series with Mark Langtry, 'The Science Guy'. In this 4 part series Mark will bring the wonders of sea science to the screen with his entertaining, sometimes explosive, and totally educational sea science shows.

A new short film Ireland's Marine Life, a collaboration between the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Kerry based wildlife and underwater filmmaker Vincent Hyland and the Marine Institute will also premiere this week. Ireland's Marine Life takes a dive beneath the waves of Ireland's wild Atlantic waves to explore the variety of sea life found in Irish waters.

Speaking about the collaboration, Gerard Keenan CEO Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) said:
"The Irish Chamber Orchestra is delighted to join this year's Oceans of Learning celebrations. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do and enables us to broaden our reach. Our latest creation, 'Ireland's Marine Life' is a 'Meet the Cast' of Fiadh's Voyage and features a star-studded line-up of creatures from tiny hermit crabs and jellyfish, to dolphins and basking sharks in this magical first-time collaboration with the Marine Institute. 'Fiadh's Voyage' explores the marine biodiversity of Ireland's Atlantic Coastline and was created by the ICO with Vincent Hyland. Vincent was inspired by an ICO performance of Mendelssohn's iconic Hebrides Overture which amplifies the Atlantic Ocean from a coastal boat trip around the Hebrides"

The Marine Institute is working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and a range of partners across Ireland including Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Bord Bia, Met Éireann, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Irish Naval Service, SEAI, NUI Galway, UCC, Maynooth University, Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, Teagasc, Seavite, Codex Beauty, Green Rebel Marine, and GOAL to bring you Oceans of Learning to celebrate and highlight the vital role our ocean plays in all of our lives.

To view the suite of resources available for Oceans of Learning this week, visit Our Ocean: Our Life at www.marine.ie The Oceans of Learning podcast is available to download from Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

For more information, follow the Marine Institute on Facebook Marine Institute Ireland, Twitter @MarineInst, LinkedIn Marine Institute Instagram @marineInstituteIreland and YouTube MarineInstituteIRL

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Sinéad Coyne e. sinead.coyne@marine.ie m. +353 (0)87 947 7090
Sheila Byrnes e. sheila.byrnes@marine.ie m. +353 (0)87 225 0871