The Institut de Ciències del Mar set out to create an interactive experience that would bring the excitement of ocean science to life for students and ICM visitors.
In partnership with Lobelia, the interactive installation sought to strengthen ICM’s ability to communicate oceanographic data in engaging and accessible ways across diverse audiences.
Using datasets from NASA’s Science on a Sphere (SoS), the team curated a striking visual experience, enabling visualisations of complex ocean data to be projected onto a large sphere.
SoS datasets capture the evolving marine environment using satellite and in-situ data. Some offer near real-time insights, such as sea surface temperature and coral bleaching alerts, while others, like sea surface salinity, reveal daily, global patterns unfolding across the world’s oceans over specific time periods.
Over twenty datasets are available for selection and viewing on the sphere, some of which were adapted by Lobelia specifically for this installation.
Selected datasets are paired with stories, putting data in the context of real world topics that fall along ICM research lines.
Stories explore the unseen power of phytoplankton, trace the movement of ocean currents, examine the realities of ocean acidification, and reveal how both scientists and the public study the ocean.
A unique interactive interface was designed for the user to browse the catalogue of available datasets and stories.
The interface has a strong visual approach displayed in an interactive touch screen as part of the immersive installation experience.
The platform is also accessible online.
The work forms part of of ICM’s broader OCEAN-AGORA initiative, which aims to foster transformative connections between science and society, deepening understanding of the ocean’s value today and for the future.
Want to learn more on the Science on a Sphere project?
Lobelia can provide you with satellite and climate knowledge and data visualization. Contact us to know more.