ISPRA to the Rome Science Festival
Between 9 and 11 April, colleagues from ISPRA, the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, brought marine reforestation to the Rome Science Festival held at the Auditorium Ennio Morricone. This edition of the festival was dedicated to all kinds of bodies, not only human but also animals and plants.
For three days, ISPRA’s researchers held a workshop entitled ‘Different Bodies One Future’ and explored environmental communication and the importance of a healthy marine ecosystem for our health with a few middle school classes. Our bodies are interconnected with our environment and protecting nature means protecting our own wellbeing.
Let's celebrate the 2025 Day of the Sea in Varazze!
On Friday 11 April, the fourth edition of the Day of the Sea was held in Varazze, organised by the Varazze-Celle di Varazze Comprehensive Institute with the Menkab Association and with the support of the municipal administration. The Day of the Sea is a national event held since 2018, dedicated to schools of all levels to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the sea.
Three classes of the Blue Section of the middle school and the three fifth-grade classes of the primary school of the Institute met with sea professionals such as biologists and divers from Menkab, operators of the Protected Marine Area Isola di Bergeggi or Coast Guard officers, and figures such as members of local nautical associations, fishermen and Red Cross volunteers.
The staff of the Isola di Bergeggi MPA talked about the role of macroalgae forests in the marine ecosystem and the importance of our restoration activities where Cystoseira s.l. are disappearing.
REEForest meets international schools
At the Marine Protected Area Isola di Bergeggi, director Davide Virzi presented our project to the students of the Deledda International School. Thirty-four students and four teachers attended, including two from Finland.
As always, it is a privilege to talk to young people about marine restoration. We hope we have sparked a lot of curiosity and that they will spread the word about the importance of marine forests for our life on land!
Meeting with university students
Last spring, Filomena Cerciello, one of our collaborators, graduated with a thesis on the environmental accounting of Cystoseira forests.
This year, she participated in the event ‘Biology for Sustainability: New Opportunities and Challenges for the Biologists of Today and Tomorrow’ at the University of Naples ‘Parthenope’. During her speech, she talked about her educational background: a part was dedicated to her thesis and her collaboration with the REEForest project. Filomena won a research grant after graduation and we are glad to have worked with her!
Aspiring marine biologists in Trieste
On Friday, March 21st the Shoreline team welcomed the students of the Master’s programme in Marine Biology from the University of Bologna.
The students attended a lecture and a short field activity. Shoreline colleagues talked about the various phases of the REEForest project and the importance of marine restoration. Students were intrigued and asked questions on the criteria by which we choose the species to be restored.
It is always a pleasure to meet passionate students!
