Daria Ezgeta Balić | Blue-connect

Project title: Reconnect science with the blue society

The main objective of Blue-connect is to reconnect science with society by bringing research and researchers closer to the public, boosting public recognition of science and research education, and building trust and understanding of science and its impact on the blue society in the region.

Lead Partner: University of Split

How do marine scientists explore the oceans? What does newborn fish look like? How long can bivalves live? How small is zooplankton? How can we determine the age of bivalves? What do bivalves eat? What is microplastics? Who eats who in the sea? Can zooplankton swim? How do fish look under the microscope? This and many other questions scientists from the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries answered during the main European Researchers' Night event held on September 30, 2022, in the Split city centre. We brought our research closer to a wider audience through experiments, analysis of samples under a microscope, various quizzes and short interactive games.

The importance of the oceans for a healthy planet is well known. Still, we are witnessing how our irresponsible behaviour negatively affects ocean health every day. Therefore through the activity, “What if there were no oceans? “ I wanted to ask young people how they imagine our planet without the oceans. The goal of the activity was to encourage students from the School of Fine Arts, Split, to think and express their vision of our planet without oceans. The students and the professor prepared paintings and sculptures on the mentioned topic. The exhibition was held in the Split University Gallery. During the exhibition opening, students talked about their experience and vision of the planet without oceans.

I also actively participate in the science popularisation in the framework “Researcher’s in school” part of the Blue connect project. In the last couple of months, I held workshops and lectures for around 300 elementary and high school students. Furthermore, the second edition of the educational picture book, made in collaboration with kindergarten "Rusulica", was published and distributed during the research night and workshops. The educational picture book can be downloaded here.