EDUCATION
OCEANIC
For us, education is about creating opportunities to experience the love of the ocean.
We recognize that humanity is nature: we are part of a living and complex network where every action resonates with the balance of the planet. Therefore, we develop educational proposals born from a deep understanding of our interdependence with the environment, inviting us to reconnect with the earth and the ocean through empathy, creativity, and collaboration.
We believe that strengthening our adaptive capacity by learning from natural rhythms and cycles is essential to facing the challenges of a changing world and building together a more just and sustainable present and future for all life.
From this perspective, we promote ocean culture as a way to reconnect with our blue home, fostering cetacean conservation, the regeneration of marine ecosystems, and the weaving of conscious connections between communities and the sea. Thus, every resource and material we share is an invitation to act responsibly and with hope, cultivating an awareness that embraces the diversity and beauty of life in all its forms.
TEACHING MATERIALS
RESILIENCE
COMMUNITY
The most transcendental experiences are those capable of transforming us and our way of seeing, doing, and being in the world. Every living being grows in a context, and its growth will be more powerful the stronger the network that supports it.
We recognize ourselves as part of a great web of life, whose strength lies in the connection between its parts. That is why we understand the environmental crisis as a social crisis, and therefore believe that to regenerate the health of the earth, our task is to relearn how to care for ourselves and cooperate, seeking to replicate nature's wisest forms of interaction.
In 2023, we had the opportunity to promote ocean culture on a regional scale through integrative and transformative learning experiences committed to the good life. In collaboration with the NGO Tras las huellas del venado (Trasting the Deer's Footsteps), we coordinated the "Uniendo Mares" (Uniting Seas) initiative, which sought to foster intercultural exchange between Uruguay and Argentina to enhance and value diversity in its social dimension. We generated proposals to learn about the place by sharing with its people, practicing listening and engaging in the encounter, with the aim of understanding that environmental care is also caring for ourselves, our memories, and our possible futures.
TRAVELING OCEANIC SENSORY EXPERIENCE
In our quest to take action for a healthy ocean and a viable future, we see a deep disconnect between society and the ocean, despite its importance in shaping the climate and its vital role in maintaining local biodiversity.
In the digital age, information overload is overwhelming and even counterproductive: data is no longer capable of transforming us. In today's world, driven by speed and productivity, there is a growing need for spaces that allow people to slow down, reconnect with nature, and find themselves in the serene rhythms of the ocean.
In light of this, we are committed to creating opportunities to experience a love for the sea: feeling the depth of the ocean, understanding the immensity that transcends borders, being amazed by the diversity of its creatures, and nurturing curiosity to discover its mysteries.
GEODETIC DOME
4 meters in diameter by 3 meters in height.
OCEAN DATA
Relevant information, scientific data and empirical knowledge of coastal communities.
SENSORY EXPERIENCE
Elements that can be touched, smelled, and seen with fresh eyes. The exhibition encourages the use of the body's senses to activate memory.
We understand the need to be present and active as an organization in society, as well as to be part of networks that support their members in causes for the common good. We believe in healthy synergies and collaborations, with the goal of achieving common goals, and we seek to value different initiatives in this regard.
At the national level, OCC is a member of the Uruguayan Network of Environmental NGOs and has actively advocated for marine conservation, ocean culture, and the interconnectivity of nature, building bridges between environmental initiatives in the territory and the sea. In 2024, we were elected to chair the board of directors of this second-level organization, a commitment we made with the intention of supporting the regeneration of this group and highlighting the importance of the ocean and marine biodiversity, contributing our perspective to participatory processes and adding depth and richness.
The National Environmental Education Network (ReNEA) is another collaborative space—bringing together government and educational institutions and civil society organizations—where we are participating because we believe in its potential for the paradigm shift needed for humanity. With various actors working together to implement the National Environmental Education Plan, it is the ideal place to foster a nature-centered culture with an oceanic perspective, as well as balanced interspecies coexistence, through educational projects and practices that promote fundamental conservation values such as empathy, compassion, and ethics.
ALLIANCES
NATIONALS
AND REGIONAL
Maintaining regional ties and participating in networks strengthens our projects and enhances the reach of our action for the ocean and biodiversity. Thanks to the collaboration through the Latin American Ocean Education Network RELATO, we were able to co-coordinate with Trás las huellas del venado (Behind the Tracks of the Deer) on the community resilience and regional exchange project "Uniendo Mares" (Uniting Seas), integrating communities and educational initiatives in Argentina and Uruguay, fostering ocean awareness across borders.
Regional collaboration as a member of the Steering Group of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence allows us to share knowledge and experiences, strengthening our strategies and approaches. It also fosters synergies, maximizing resources and leveraging efforts for marine conservation. It also gives greater weight to our voices in advocating for policies and regulations aimed at protecting shared and connected ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. For us, regional collaboration is key to building a viable future for life on the planet.
SENSITIVE EXPERIENCE
Taking action for a healthy Earth is a dialogue in search of our own healing. The health of the planet is our health, which is why we seek strategies to promote the creation of Human Protected Areas: every body is a territory to be nurtured with empathy, acceptance, strength, and resilience.
OCC redefines its work through the creation of Sensitive Experiences: activities and proposals that combine the creative power of art and the profound knowledge of marine sciences. In collaboration with various institutions, civil society organizations, government agencies, and entrepreneurs, we create immersive, sensorial, and inclusive activities.
The proposals include:
Audiovisuals of aerial images of cetaceans
Underwater audiovisuals
360-degree audiovisuals of the seabed
Immersive sound experiences
Reading of stories and poetry
Invitations to artists
Scientific exhibitions with a sensitive perspective
Learning from the body is recovering instinctive memory to live in synchrony with the rhythms of the Earth.
PHOTO-ID AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH
During 2008, 2009, and 2010, OCC conducted aerial photography campaigns in partnership with the Uruguayan Navy and with the collaboration of volunteers who participated in the campaigns. However, those records could not be fully analyzed and incorporated into an updated photo-ID catalog due to the complexity of the analysis process and the lack of trained personnel for the task. In 2023, we resumed the research project, recovering historical records, generating new records, and generating an open photo-ID catalog through artificial intelligence processing using the FlukeBook platform.
Furthermore, the progress achieved is only the beginning of a line of research that requires commitment and funding to sustain itself over the long term, through the creation of working alliances with local and regional researchers linked to the same Southern Right Whale population.
At OCC, we are firmly committed to the use of artificial intelligence tools and open data as a means of democratizing science. By making these resources accessible to researchers, enthusiasts, and interested communities, we not only expand participation in knowledge generation but also foster transparency and global collaboration. Democratizing science through access to advanced technological platforms and tools represents a key commitment in our mission to advance marine research in an inclusive and sustainable manner.