Research Night brings the sea closer to citizens

The Observation and Coastal Prediction System of the Balearic Islands (ICTS SOCIB) celebrates this Friday, September 26th, in the port of Palma, a new edition of their open door journey in the Research Night.

Citizens will be able to carry out guided visits to the B/O SOCIB Oceanic Vessel –a floating lab with advanced technology for scientific campaigns in the Balearic sea and the occidental Mediterranean–, where they will get to collect and analyze key data for the marine ecosystems study and the oceanic phenomenon ecosystems. The journey will be completed with a free informative activities program for the whole public: “Cañas con científic@s de la ICTS SOCIB”, the photography exhibition “SOCIB: Investigamos el mar, compartimos futuro” and the children space “SOCIB Kids”, with the participative workshop “¿Qué oceanógraf@ quieres ser?”.

“Research Night allows us to share oceanic culture with very diverse publics, from kids to experts or people curious about the sea. Opening the B/O SOCIB and our activities for the citizens is a way of showing that marine science is not something far away, but an open and accessible knowledge that connects us all with the future of the Mediterranean”, has pointed out Llúcia Ribot, technician of the service of Corporative Strategy, Communication and Knowledge Transference.

In “Cañas con científic@s de la ICTS SOCIB”, the investigating team treats, in a close and participatory format, topics such as climate change, coastal observation, marine heat waves detection, the use of technologies such as gliders or lagrangian platforms, and the high frequency radar. “This is one of the most stimulating dates of the year for SOCIB. We feel immensely thankful for sharing our work directly with the citizens. Seeing the genuine interest and the enthusiasm of the public for the science and role in the protection of the Mediterranean confirms to us that the investigation is a collective effort and moves us to keep doing what we love”, adds Emma Reyes, responsible of the Scientific Area and participant in this activity. 

The “SOCIB: Investigamos el mar, compartimos futuro” exposition offers a visual sight to the scientific and technological work of the ICTS SOCIB, highlighting the contribution to the ocean’s knowledge, to the sustainable management of the marine and coastal environment and to the boost of oceanic culture. On their behalf, the children space “SOCIB Kids” suggests the workshop “¿Qué oceanógraf@ quieres ser?”, designed for kids between 5 to 11 years old, where through game, coloring sheets and crafts, the interest for oceanography is boosted educationally.

The session forms part of the 2025 Balearic Islands Research Night, sponsored by the Balearic Government through Education and College Councillor. The program also includes small talks, experiments and workshops organized by investigating staff of the public organisms of research of the Balearic Islands and the UIB. The event is settled in the European Researchers’ Night, initiative of the European Commission that is celebrated simultaneously in over 300 European cities to bring science and innovation to citizens.