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4 Ways To Get People To Care About The Ocean
4 Ways To Get People To Care About The Ocean
IDEAS.TED.COM
SCIENCE
This probably sounds obvious, but its worth saying again: The oceans are a gorgeous, rich
and diverse ecosystem that have inspired and supported humanity for millennia. But the
oceans are also choked with plastic and becoming more acidic by the day. People are
overfishing, which threatens the survival of fish species and also the survival of humans
who live in coastal towns who depend on fish for food.
Sadly, even though people created these problems in the oceans, people usually dont want
to hear about them. And so, while aboard a floating TED conference in the Pacific Ocean
last month, a group of ocean scientists and activists brainstormed ways to make the seas
sound as amazing as they are. Read on for new tools, studies and discoveries that could
spark positive curiosity and empathy.
https://ideas.ted.com/4-ways-to-get-people-to-care-about-the-ocean/ 1/11
10/12/2017 4 ways to get people to care about the ocean |
Theres been a revolution in the past decade in how we see the underwater world, thanks to
advanced mapping software and new underwater robots, cameras and tools. Three new
projects (among many) to explore: First, to survey the oceans geography, Google Earth
partnered with The XL Catlin Seaview Survey to develop stunning undersea footage from
across the planet. Second, TED Fellow David Lang co-founded OpenROV, a company whose
underwater robots let anyone explore the oceans. All of a sudden, asking an interesting
question no longer requires a research grant and university affiliation, he wrote recently.
That has huge implications for the process of discovery. Third, new Autodesk software
tools can create highly detailed 3D models of coral, allowing scientists to measure and
monitor them over time. These digital 3D models help scientists provide evidence of growth
trends and illustrate theories about the impact of ocean acidification and other changes
caused by human activity.
Trident, the worlds first open source, low-cost underwater robot. GIF courtesy
of OpenROV.
https://ideas.ted.com/4-ways-to-get-people-to-care-about-the-ocean/ 4/11
10/12/2017 4 ways to get people to care about the ocean |
made of cement thats hospitable to ocean life, so that his art becomes serendipitously
integrated with its environment. Fish, lobsters and algae turn his pieces into homes. TED
Fellow Colleen Flanigan has a similar idea. She welds rippling, metal sculptures that, when
placed underwater, run low-voltage electricity that pulls minerals in and forms a base on
which corals flourish. Corals on these sculptures can grow two to six times faster than wild
corals, she said in an interview. In another project, diver Hannah Fraser and
cinematographer Shawn Heinrichs worked together to create a live-action video of Fraser
dancing underwater with tiger sharks. After the video went viral, it led to support for an
online petition against shark slaughter.
The impact of humanity on the oceans is vast, and no single solution will do. But hopefully,
sharing the wonders of our oceans will help us harness our collective ingenuity and create
the wide variety of solutions we need.
https://ideas.ted.com/4-ways-to-get-people-to-care-about-the-ocean/ 5/11
10/12/2017 4 ways to get people to care about the ocean |
Barton Seaver Colleen Flanigan coral David Gruber David Lang fishing industry
Hannah Fraser hope spots Jason deCaires Taylor marine life Mission Blue oceans
OpenROV seafood Shawn Heinrichs sustainable seafood Sylvia Earle TED Prize
XL Catlin Seaview Survey
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