"WALK ON THE TRACKS OF THE SEA" is the new initiative of Participatory Science (Citizen Science) born from an idea of CNR-ISMAR researchers Francesca Alvisi and Silvia Merlino, in collaboration with researchers from other CNR institutes (IRBIM of Ancona, ICCOM and IPFC of Pisa), the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the Communication and Public Relations Unit of the CNR.
The aim is to promote a better knowledge of marine issues (Ocean Literacy) among citizens, teachers and students by proposing "online" citizen science initiatives that can take place without the need to "physically" take the field.
Due to the restrictions in recent months due to the health emergency caused by COVID-19, it has not been possible to organize public events and field activities on the occasion of World Oceans Day (WOD). Therefore, it was decided to start from experiences and results of scientific dissemination projects already acquired or still in progress, enclosing them in a single framework that favors their dissemination and participation and which acts as a starting point for the creation of future projects in this area.
Among them are:
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"Walking on the traces of the sea...", collaboration between the CNR-ISMAR and the Trekking Italia Association, which offers guided walking tours to discover the traces of the sea even where they appear to be absent, illustrating the 7 fundamental principles of Ocean Literacy and the marine themes of ISMAR
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"SeaCleaner", collaboration between CNR-ISMAR, INGV, CNR-ICCOM, CNR-IPFC, which combines research, participatory science and education to raise awareness among citizens and students on the problem of increasing pollution from anthropogenic waste, in particular plastics in the marine environment
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"WaterWeWaste" collaboration between CNR-ISMAR and the Salesian Institute of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca in Bologna, aimed at deepening the knowledge of young people on the water cycle, the importance of the use and consumption of water resources, their relationship with human impact and climate,
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"Typical in Blu Festival", collaboration between CNR-IRBIM and the Municipality of Ancona, the Chamber of Commerce, local administrations and fishermen's associations of Ancona, in which the theme of fish resources is tackled from different points of view.
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Currently on the "Walking on the trail of the sea" website, a platform resulting from the experiences gained during the implementation of these 4 projects, there are short anonymous questionnaires addressed to citizens and aimed at investigating their behavior and attitudes during the emergency of recent months.
After the first phase of this action aimed at Italian citizens, the second phase, of an international nature, will start on 8 June (World Ocean Day), which involves various partners including Argentina, the USA and China.
The questionnaires, currently translated into 4 languages (English, Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese), also have the purpose of probing, during isolation, some aspects of the daily life of citizens also of other countries such as the consumption of water, fresh fish, as well as the use and disposal of plastic material, in order to collect data and information relating to their environmental awareness, their perception and purchasing choices in this particular period and to detect any changes in lifestyles and habits of the population of various parts of the world and compare them with what happens in Italy.
"Walking in the footsteps of the sea" can be reached at the link: