SOCIB to bring Ocean Observation Closer to the public at the 2026 Research Night

SOCIB will take part on Friday, September 25th, in the 2026 Research Night (Nit de la Recerca de les Illes Balears), offering demonstrations of ocean-observation technologies, citizen science initiatives, activities for children and families, a storytelling session, and a photography exhibition.

How can we find out what is happening beneath the surface of the sea or track the changes taking place on our beaches? The Coastal Observing System of the Balearic Islands (SOCIB) will bring oceanography and its technologies closer to the public next Friday, September 25, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., as part of the 2026 Research Night in the Balearic Islands. The event will take place at the Port Authority square and the Port Center in Palma.

SOCIB will participate in this year's event with a range of activities designed to show how we observe the sea, what technologies we use to study it, and how science and citizen participation can help us better understand the ocean and its changes. The programme includes demonstrations of ocean-observation technologies and citizen science, SOCIB Kids activities, the storytelling session Saltar las olas (Jumping the Waves), and the photography exhibition SOCIB: Investigamos el mar, compartimos futuro (SOCIB: We Study the Sea, We Share the Future).

One of SOCIB's activities will be “How Do We Observe the Sea? Ocean Observation Technologies,” which will allow visitors to discover different ways of observing and studying the ocean. The activity will take place in the scientific activity and exhibition areas. Visitors will be able to learn about some of the technologies SOCIB uses to observe the sea, including underwater gliders and buoys, discover how these instruments work and what data they collect, and learn how the data can be accessed and visualized through SOCIB's multiplatform viewer.

The activity will also include a demonstration of CoastSnap Balears, the citizen science network promoted by SOCIB with the support of the Directorate-General for the Circular Economy, Energy Transition and Climate Change of the Regional Ministry for Enterprise, Self-Employment and Energy of the Government of the Balearic Islands. The initiative monitors how beaches evolve in response to climate change. Through CoastSnap, members of the public can contribute to monitoring changes in beaches by taking photographs from fixed observation points.

SOCIB's programme will also include SOCIB Kids: “What Kind of Oceanographer Do You Want to Be?”, a children and family activity designed to introduce oceanography through games, puzzles, worksheets, and other educational resources. The activity will introduce participants to the different professions involved in studying the sea and encourage curiosity about science and the ocean.

At 8:15 p.m., visitors will also be able to enjoy the storytelling session Saltar las olas (Jumping the Waves), presented by SOCIB. Through the story of a girl and her grandmother, the tale takes audiences on a journey through the past, present, and future of beaches, exploring the effects of climate change on the coastline and showing how science and nature-based solutions can help protect beaches and adapt them to changing conditions. Saltar las olas was produced as part of the LIFE AdaptCalaMillor project (LIFE21 GIC/ES/101074227), co-funded by the European Union's LIFE Programme.

In the exhibition area, visitors will also be able to explore “SOCIB: We Study the Sea, We Share the Future,” a photography exhibition showcasing SOCIB's scientific work in observing and studying the sea. Through a selection of images, the exhibition presents the technologies, people, and research that make it possible to generate knowledge about the ocean and contribute to its conservation. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see some of SOCIB's oceanographic equipment up close, featured as part of the “How Do We Observe the Sea? Ocean Observation Technologies” activity.

The 2026 Research Night in the Balearic Islands, organized by the Directorate-General for Universities, Research and Higher Artistic Education of the Regional Ministry for Education and Universities, is funded through the Sustainable Tourism Tax. The event will bring together research centers and institutions to bring science closer to the public through an extensive programme of activities for all audiences.