Fantaseas project: Incorporating inspiring ocean science in the popular media

Abstract

One of the goals of the UN Oceans Decade is “an inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean in relation to human well-being and sustainable development.” The UN Ocean Decade also calls for promoting diversity in ocean science, engaging multiple stakeholders, including industries and the wider public, as well as promoting ocean science literacy. The FANTASeas project aims to do this. One major source of inspiration for the general public for millennia has been art and literature. Over the past century, key sources of public inspiration when it comes to science include science fiction and fantasy in books, movies, TV shows, comics and, recently, computer games. Most famously, the TV show Star Trek inspired a generation of space scientists. The idea behind this project is to promote and facilitate the production of popular artistic and literary projects that incorporate ocean science to enhance both ocean literacy and to create more inspirational ocean-related projects. It is proposed that a series of international workshops be organized to connect ocean scientists with novelists, writers, and designers from the: (a) computer gaming; (b) tabletop gaming; (c) TV and movie; and (d) comic and graphic novel industries.