Outputs

We are a community of people from the scientific and artistic world who are passionate and concerned about preserving our waterways. At the Blue Genes Workshop, you will find projects, open calls, tools and methodologies to further the goals of the project.  We want to learn together in a strong interdisciplinary network between the arts and sciences. We want to promote best practices and inspire the urgent need for societal change. We want to co-create and perform actions and activities to raise awareness to increase peoples’ connection with the marine world. We believe that increasing the connection that people feel with marine ecosystems is by finding new collective rituals.  

BLUE GENES WORKSHOP

On October 27th, 2022 a group of scientists, activists and artists participated in a workshop. The participants were divided into 6 groups to discuss a number of questions that were already prepared by the organisers. To facilitate the discussion and ensure an active participation, attendants were introduced to the Miro tool and they were requested to add their answers and ideas in post-it notes. The leader of each group was then invited to share the main conclusions of their group in the plenary session. Those conclusions were used afterwards to summarise the main goals and prioritise areas of action. ACCESS

Authors: Collective 
#tools&methodologies

SEASIT

This project comes from the observation that the pH of the oceans are not balanced and the de-acidification of its waters can be dangerous to a healthy ecosystem. Sandra collaborates with restaurants from the sea shore, collecting the waste shells, crushing them down to powder and creating a water soluble material. She builds urban furniture to use on beaches. These pieces will last no longer than a few months, adding the right amount of shell powder to keep a healthy pH level of the sea.
 
Authors: Sandra Martín
#newmaterials #blueeconomy #newrituals 

EMBRACING THE OCEAN ARTIST

The European Marine Board is looking for two new artists for the 2023 – 2024 edition of their ‘EMBracing the Ocean’ artist-in-residence programme. The EMBracing the Ocean programme provides grants of €10,000 for creative individuals and groups to co-create artwork in collaboration with ocean scientists to expand societies’ understanding of the oceans’ value and inspire wide reaching societal change for ocean sustainability.

Do you want to submit a project within the group? ACCESS  

#opencall #residencyprogram 

METALIZED SAND

A work of contemplation, observation and analysis of our surroundings by creating a visual analysis of the high level of heavy metals in Bilbao’s beaches. A poetic field-work with a scientific sample-case, photography and a short film as a result.   ACCESS

Author: Pablo Amorós
#newrituals #fieldwork #video #photography 

LOST IN A SEA 

While walking on the beach south of Catalunya, one can observe the surrounding mussel hatcheries being harvested on the shore, then analysed for research of this critical aspect of the region and highlighting the multitude of species lost every year. Culture and nature link together the oceans through folklore.  This project is a poetic approach to the near disappearance of Nacra, a big sea mollusk, a species that used to be highly valued for its fibres and became a source of one of the world’s most admired silks.

 Author: Núria Ferrer
#newrituals #fieldwork #photography #collage

MARITIME DEEP LISTENING GUIDE

The sea holds complex ecosystems with complex sounds and rhythms. We believe there is a need to enhance our capacity for listening to profoundly understand the importance of sound for healthy ecosystems. Through research and experimentation we created a system to be able to “listen” to the compromised and conscious. 

Authors: Manuela Chavez y Mar Revert
#newrituals #fieldwork #deeplistening

SEABOARD AUDIO TOUR

Between history, facts, critique and mythology, Emma proposes a walk through an old industrial area of Barcelona city, next to the shoreline. While listening, the spectator walks through the mouth of the river, the station of residual waters, the entrance of the wire 2Africa, the trap/interceptor and the three chimneys factory. A journey for self reflection on needs, actions for the present and the future of the infrastructure. LISTEN

 Author: Emma Prats
#storytelling #newrituals #fieldwork

WASTE AND FASHION

Auxiliadora’s research is based on finding new ways to upcycle waste materials from the sea. She uses old fishing nets with an alginato recipe to create new materials suitable for sewing, therefore suitable to create new garment pieces.  

Authors:
Auxiliadora Cabrera 
#blueeconomy #upcycling

TOOLKIT

A toolkit for Engaging youth in ocean health and conservation. With support from The Ocean Foundation and National Geographic Society, a group of young writers between the ages of 18-25 are creating a “youth ocean action toolkit” focused on ocean literacy principles and marine protected areas (MPAs). This toolkit – written by youth for youth – provides community examples of how young people can take action to conserve their ocean by demonstrating the benefit of MPAs for ocean conservation. While the toolkit is not ready yet, you can download the presentation HERE

Authors: NOAA National MPA Center and OCTO #tools&methodologies