Summary
Ocean health is an urgent issue, and the focus of the most recent actions of the United Nations. The ART4SEA project aims to contribute to the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) by combining art, creativity, science and technology to raise public awareness towards greater respect for the marine environment. During the development of the project, 24 artists were selected through an open call responding to three categories (physical art, digital art and underwater art) and were subsequently trained by scientists from the ICM and CEAB on ocean functioning, ocean literacy and marine conservation, as well as by experts from other fields on sustainable practices in art and digital technologies. Their preparation was completed with participation in one of the three residencies developed on 3 small Mediterranean islands: Ústica in Italy, Alonissos in Greece and Gozo in Malta, where the artists were inspired by the majestic natural environments, ancient maritime traditions and interaction with local communities to create digital and physical art designs. In 2025, their artworks were presented on the respective islands, and 3D Research has transformed to a virtual exhibition with the digitization of the physical and underwater works. During the talk, the project itself and its development will be presented by members of 3D Research and the ICM, as well as some artists will explain their experience and present their work.
Brief biography
Emilia Brandi collaborates with 3D Research as Project Manager, supporting the company’s artistic vision and creative development. She is a graduate in dramatic arts with over 25 years of experience as an actress, director, and theatre educator. She also holds a degree with honours in Foreign Languages and Literatures, specialising in postcolonial studies.
Gloria Morabito works at 3D Research, engaged in the design and development of immersive XR applications for industrial and cultural heritage contexts. She holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and has oriented her professional path towards immersive technologies and human–machine interaction, with a strong focus on user experience and real-world usage scenarios.
Macarena Marambio is a veterinarian, and has been working in the Department of Biology and Oceanography of the ICM for 15 years, with experience in research on gelatinous zooplankton, various marine conservation issues and citizen science. She has been part of several European and national projects, mainly focused on the study of jellyfish and the development of tools to mitigate their impacts, climate change, marine citizen science and the transfer of ocean literacy.