Denis Delestrac made his debut in non-fiction filmmaking in 2001. His latest feature documentary, “Sand Wars” is an epic eco-thriller that takes the audience around the globe to unveil a new gold rush and a disturbing fact: we are running out of sand!
In his talk he explains us where sand comes from and where it ends up. Our perception is that the resource sand will always be available for us but thanks to his investigations we realize that this is not true and that sooner or later we will be running out of sand – and consequently won´t have beaches anymore. See the trailer for Sand Wars on the trailer at the website.
The GEOCOAST project is aimed at development of the online educational resource about Ireland’s coastal and marine environments with particular focus on coastal geology and geomorphology. It is envisaged that this project should contribute towards dissemination and outreach of scientific knowledge to the public through the use of modern day technology including online mapping and videos. GEOCOAST produced a dedicated YouTube Channel: GEOCOAST, based at University College Cork. Also check out their website at the following link.
University of Southampton will be running a MOOC – Massive Open Online Course about ocean science. It is called “Exploring our Oceans.” Further details can be found at the course page on the FutureLearn website.
The first astronauts to leave the Earth’s orbit saw our “blue planet” for the first time. But what lies in the half of our world covered by water more than two miles deep? How are our everyday lives connected to the ocean depths, and what challenges and opportunities does this previously hidden realm hold for our future? In this course you will join scientists exploring the ocean from the deepest undersea vents to the chilly waters of the Poles, going deeper, longer, and more often than ever before – and find how what we now know about the ocean depths is as amazing as the unknown that remains. By taking this course, you will see how the deep ocean is no longer out of reach, and join a global debate about the future of our “blue planet”.
Using art is an essential tool in halting the destruction of threatened species. People only protect what they love—and recognizing this, we can bring the beauty and vulnerability of marine life to mainstream audiences across the globe, fueling a new wave of curiosity and appreciation for the oceans, and inspire the global community to take immediate steps to conserve them.
The INFOMAR programme is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Irish Marine Institute and is the successor to the Irish National Seabed Survey. Covering some 125,000 km² of Ireland’s most productive and commercially valuable inshore waters, INFOMAR will produce integrated mapping products covering the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed.
The 2013 Annual INFOMAR Seminar will take place in the Pavilion on October 09 -10th at University College Limerick, Ireland. The seminar will include an update on Ireland’s national seabed mapping programme including survey operations and coverage, future plans, associated research along with poster sessions. Organised by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute, the seminar is free and open to all, with registration possible at the following link. Examples of research funded by INFOMAR can be found at this link, with INFOMAR data available here.
Professor Markku Rummukainen from Lund University on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
The IPCC is an international scientific organisation that provides research-based information about the causes and consequences of climate change, including both human-influenced and naturally-occurring climate change. It also assesses measures for lessening the severity of climate change and the potential for adapting to its consequences. Its purpose is to inform government policy, but it does not recommend which policies governments should adopt.
The IPCC was formed in 1988 by two bodies: the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. Thousands of scientists from across the world voluntarily contribute to its assessment reports, which are published every six years or so.
September 2013 sees the first phase in the publication of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), which consists of four reports and summaries for policymakers. The first summary from Working Group 1 is released on 27 September with the full report published on 30 September. Subsequent reports from Working Group 2 and Working Group 3 are published in March 2014 and April 2014. Finally, the Synthesis Report, providing an integrated view of climate change drawing upon the individual working group reports, is published in November 2014.
