Experiments, games, crafts, drawings, challenges… Any of these alternatives can be used to get closer to marine science and gain knowledge about the oceans. This is what the people who came to A Laxe shopping centre to the science fair organised by the University of Vigo’s Marine Research Centre (CIM) as part of the Divulgando Ciencia Singular (Disseminating Singular Science) programme found out this Friday.
As it was impossible to carry out this activity in the street, as planned, due to bad weather, the stalls were moved to the first floor of the A Laxe shopping centre. There, researchers from the CIM explained to both adults and children the work carried out in the laboratories, the scientific advances made and the challenges that still lie ahead in terms of knowledge of the marine environment and the future of the seas and oceans.
The aim of this type of initiative is, on the one hand, to raise awareness of marine science and the work of the CIM’s research staff and, on the other, to generate scientific vocations in the children who take part in these activities with their families. Thus, the people who came to this scientific fair were able to learn about different lines of work related to biodiversity, climate change, fishing, palaeontology and genetics.
Embark with the CIM
The CIM’s open days will continue on November 5th with a second activity, ‘Embárcate co CIM’, an informative outing along the estuary in which participants, with prior registration, will be able to board a classroom boat to sail between the Laxe dock and the island of Toralla. During the trip, a series of observation activities will be carried out, sediment and marine organism samples will be taken and explanations will be given by various researchers from the CIM. Once on the Island, there will be a guided visit to the Toralla Marine Science Station, the main scientific infrastructure of the Marine Research Centre. There, and with the help of the technical staff, they will get to know the research laboratories, the auxiliary culture rooms, the mesocosm facilities and the pump room, and they will witness different experiments by the CIM scientific staff. Three shifts are planned for this activity (09.00-12.00, 12.15-15.15 and 16.00-19.00) with 40 places available in each one. Those interested should go to the CIM website to register. The procedure is automatic through a web form and by rigorous order of entry until all places are taken.
The research activity of the CIM is supported by the Xunta de Galicia and the European Union, through its co-financing under the Galicia ERDF Operational Programme 2014-2020.
Source: DUVI