Journal

Our Plastic Oceans: Children merge marine science and art to talk microplastics . What do children think of the future? This is the story of Our Plastic Oceans Notebook Collection, and we're really, really excited about the work the children created for this project. The pupils of year 6 and 7 of Taynuilt Primary, joined by pupils from year 6 and 7 from Kilchrenan Primary, collaborated with Crùbag and scientists at the Scottish Association for Marine Science(SAMS) as a collective effort of art, marine science education, and action that aims at bringing awareness to the imminent issue of microplastic pollution. Inspired by the often unseen beauty of our oceans, Crùbag elevates marine science into art, whilst aiming to engage and educate. However, in this instance, the unseen is not a thing of beauty but rather an issue to make visible.

Every third breath we take has oxygen produced from phytoplankton photosynthesis.

If good things come in small packages then the microscopic world is a very exciting parcel indeed. We are surrounded by micro-organisms. Life started billions of years ago with microbes and there have been microscopic wars waged and pacts created ever since, driven by the need to adapt to a changing environment. There are microscopic organisms that support larger organisms like the beautiful relationship between algae and coral polyps and those that seek to exploit like the infection of algae by pathogens. All of this is for survival.

Discover the inspiration behind the Flora Collection. Algae are a large and diverse collection of organisms living almost everywhere on the planet where there is water. They range from microscopic individual organisms invisible to the naked eye, to the more familiar coastal seaweed. Like plants, algae have the ability to photosynthesise, or put simply, make energy from the sun.

This is the story behind the Gachon Collection. Algae, or seaweed, play a vital role in marine ecology, providing shelter and food for marine life, think kelp forests, and also in human life, both as a source of food and animal feed. Seaweed is currently being cultivated on a test site off the Isle of Kerrera, Scotland for a multitude of uses including food, fertiliser and cosmetics. We are yet to identify how cultivated seaweed will interact with native populations. Therefore, understanding algae – what makes them thrive and what makes them vulnerable to disease-causing pathogens and parasites – are an increasingly important area of scientific research.

This first blog entry is dedicated to a very special member of our Ocean Tribe: the award-winning British wildlife photographer Richard Shucksmith. Richard's cinematic and emotionally charged images take you to a journey of discovery, self-reflection and marvel. He surprises the viewer with unique snapshots of precious moments in nature, not shying away from its rawness and its fragility but also showing the majestic beauty and diversity of our beautiful planet.