Sea and Life

Abstract

“It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose,

 should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life.

But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist;

the threat is rather to life itself.”

Rachel Carson, The Sea around Us (1951)

The present situation of the sea needs to be considered in a systemic view, connecting not only the environmental aspects with each other, but also relating those with economic and political decisions. There is a need for a world model, and to create consciousness in the population about the importance of the sea; therefore, the importance of including these topics into the educational curriculum, starting from the youngest of the society.

The Grupo Mar (in English “Sea Group”) is a research, development and action association, integrated by academics and professionals interested in a systemic approach to the topics related with the sea and its coasts.

It is composed by the following institutions:

•          Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA)

•          Grupo Argentino de Estudio de Sistemas Integrados (GESI)

•          Colegio Atlántico del Sur de Mar del Plata (CADS)

•          Fundación EcoConciencia

•          Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Regional La Plata (UTN-FRLP)

•          Academia del Mar (ACMAR)

•          Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas (FCE-UNPSJB)

On June 8th, 2018 – World Oceans Day – the Grupo Mar presented a participatory project at the Puerto Madryn Regional Headquarters of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), the host institution of the event.

With focus on the Patagonian coastal communities, the presentation was developed through an interdisciplinary panel and associated conferences. By using this approach, the presentation started showing several aspects of the sea issues, followed by a substantial exchange of ideas conducted to mobilize the interest and sensitivity of the participants, with the goal of reaching through them, a broader community. The purpose was achieved thanks to the participant's (mostly professionals, academics and students) involvement and their request to provide continuity to the discussions through a dialogue forum such as the one described in this paper.