Two Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres profiled in global online series
International spotlight on iCRAG and MaREI’s research efforts to better understand our oceans and seas
Stunning scenic surroundings of Cork, Dún Laoghaire and Sligo featured
Monday, July 1st 2024: Two Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centres have been profiled in a new global online video series that seeks to discover hidden connections between humans and the ocean.
The ‘Blue Horizons’ series, presented by the World Ocean Council and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, has just been launched and features 18 video shorts from around the world.
The Embrace Of The Sea, filmed in Inchydoney, Clonakilty and Ringaskiddy, is a striking, six-minute deep-dive focusing on the coastal erosion-related research being undertaken by MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, led by University College Cork. Centered around the personal perspectives of avid swimmer and well-known Clonakilty hotelier, Dena O’Donovan, the video evocatively shows how communities come together to challenge the changing conditions.
Dr Jimmy Murphy, lead of the Lir National Ocean Test Facility (Lir NOTF) at UCC and MaREI Co-PI, commented: "There is now the capability to manage our coastline on an informed basis, such that we can understand its behaviour and be more proactive in terms of addressing erosion and climate change challenges. A reason that we need to protect beaches is to preserve them for the benefit of the local communities. So, it critical that such communities also play their part in ensuring that good practices are adopted that will minimise damage to the beach and dunes caused by human activities.”
The Secret Sounds Of The Sea, filmed in Sligo and Dún Laoghaire, is a soothing, six-minute sonic tonic focusing on research by iCRAG SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences on how sound connects us with the ocean.
Prof. Chris Bean, Professor of Geophysics at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) and iCRAG Co-PI, remarked: “By studying how sounds move through the ocean floor and on to land, we can help build up a picture of ocean function. With over 70% of our planet covered by the sea, and as the largest single source of oxygen for our planet, monitoring and understanding our ocean health is crucial to the sustainable management of this life-giving resource. Seismology delivers new insight into activity in the ocean and ocean state, which we endeavour to capture in this film.”
Dr Siobhan Roche, Director of Science for the Economy at Science Foundation Ireland, said: “This prestigious video series is reaching and resonating with a global audience, and showcases some of Ireland’s marine-focused research endeavours in a stunningly-filmed way. SFI is proud to have supported the series, and we congratulate MaREI and iCRAG on their involvement.”