Until August 28, the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) is hosting an open-air exhibition on the Promenade des Anglais, opposite the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen (CUM), with the goal of raising awareness.
Over a few meters, 21 panels have been installed. All describe, inform, and alert. The posters intrigue: runners glance as they pass by, while some walkers take the time to stop and read their contents. A major undertaking, bringing together “oceanographers, marine biologists, chemists, physicists, climatologists, ecologists, robotics engineers, geneticists, bio-informaticians, marine acoustics specialists, cartographers, economists, sociologists…“
Five sections to understand
The exhibition is organized into several distinct sections: raise awareness to mobilize – an ocean of innovation – protect the ocean’s riches – what will the ocean be tomorrow? – explore the ocean today.
Like many events organized during the Year of the Sea in Nice, it aims to educate the general public about the following dangers: “overexploitation of resources, plastic pollution, warming, acidification…“
The CNRS emphasizes that the human species cannot live without the ocean: “If the ocean produces a large part of the oxygen we breathe and regulates the climate, marine resources from fishing and aquaculture are crucial for global food supply […]. Many societies, even non-coastal ones, depend closely on marine biodiversity and derive multiple benefits from a healthy ocean.“
Offering concrete solutions
The goal is not solely to present a bleak picture. Each panel also highlights initiatives and action pathways to reverse the trend. Whether it involves new technologies for monitoring the seabed, coastal ecosystem restoration projects, or sustainable alternatives to resource exploitation, the exhibition underscores the central role of scientific research. The CNRS emphasizes the development of “new biodegradable and innovative polymers“.
A sign of hope is born thanks to technological advancements. Sensors and robotic measurement platforms allow scientists to “better understand the secret of the seas“. “Many were developed at the CNRS […]. Scientists can now monitor a multitude of oceanic parameters: temperature, salinity, but also the concentration of gases, chemical elements, or the presence of marine life…“, one of the panels reads.
