Posted 24 April 2012
Wonders of the Oceans in Meeting House Square to mark Dublin City of Science
Almost three quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, but less than 5% of the oceans have been explored by scientists and oceanographers.
Using the latest technologies, the French film OCÉANS visually chronicles the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of the oceans, and explores places that have never before been seen.
Picturd far right: Image from French film OCÉANS, Meduses dorees (c) Richard Herrmann
To mark the beginning of the UCD Imagine Science Film Festival, a project developed to bring science to the public through film and digital media during Dublin City of Science 2012, over 300 people attended a free public screening of OCÉANS at Meeting House Square in Dublin.
Free public screening of French film OCÉANS in Meeting House Square, Dublin, as part of the UCD Imagine Science Film Festival
The 139 minute documentary, OCÉANS, Directed by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud, gives viewers an unprecedented look at the lives of elusive deepwater creatures.
Before the screening there was a panel discussion with the Director Jacques Cluzaud (Winged Migration) and OCÉANS Scientific Advisor, Dr François Sarano, the panel was Chaired by writer & broadcaster Leo Enright with Irish scientists Professor Chris Bean and Professor Frederic Dias from the UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, and Charlotte O’Kelly from TechWorks Marine.
The screening was supported by the French Embassy in Ireland in partnership with Veolia Environnement and the UCD Earth Institute.
“The UCD Imagine Science Film Festival gives the public a unique way to access current thought-provoking scientific issues in an informal and accessible way,” said Professor Des Fitzgerald, Vice-President for Research at UCD.
“Our objective for the festival is to connect science, research and culture using cinema as the channel for expression.”
“As an Island nation we appreciate the importance of our coastal and marine resources,” said Prof Chris Bean, Director of the UCD Earth Institute.
“Screening this incredible film OCÉANS is an exciting way of exploring the world’s oceans while giving us the opportunity to draw attention to the sea that surrounds this island and the research and innovative marine technologies being developed here that will contribute to our future marine culture.”
Pictured (l-R) Prof Chris Bean, UCD Earth Institute, Jacques Cluzaud, Oceans Director, Mr Pierre Eymery, Veolia Environnement, H.E. Emmanuelle D'Achon, French Ambassador to Ireland, Leo Enright, Writer & Broadcaster, Dr Francois Sarano, Oceans Scientific Advisor and Charlotte O'Kelly, MD Techworks Marine and Frederic Dias, UCD School of Mathematical Science.
“The French Embassy fully supports Dublin as the European City of Science in 2012. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the best of French and Irish R&D with a large audience, as well as showcasing the cooperation between our two countries, both endowed with large maritime borders. The screening of OCÉANS is a unique event in downtown Dublin, linking together science, technology and art,” said the French Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Emmanuelle d’Achon who attended the event.
“Veolia Environnement committed to support Jacques Perrin from the outset of the project in 2004. The partnership was born from the association of the project’s goals of educating and stimulating eco-citizenship and Veolia’s determination to be the standard bearer of environmental values,” said Pierre Eymery, Managing Director of Veolia’s water company in Ireland.
For more information on UCD Imagine Science Film Festival:
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
