The fourth edition of the SEA BEYOND educational module, titled “Poles to Tropics: One Planet, One Future”, will start in February and guide students on a journey from polar extremes to tropical wonders, shining a spotlight on two ecosystems that are pivotal for the planet’s future: glaciers and coral reefs.

The new cycle stems from two initiatives supported by SEA BEYOND, developed respectively with Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari and Coral Gardeners. Each partner contributes deep expertise on these extraordinary ecosystems, bringing original content, first-hand testimonies and interactive tools into classrooms. Students are invited to explore today’s major environmental challenges through a global and interdisciplinary lens, experiencing the value of scientific research, international cooperation and engagement for the ocean and the planet.

The teaching resources are the result of joint work between the IOC and the partners’ research groups. The Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari team, led by Professor Carlo Barbante, Professor of Paleoclimatology at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Senior Associate at CNR-ISP, has developed materials on glaciers as natural archives of climate and environmental memory. Scientists from Coral Gardeners – the non-profit organisation founded by Titouan Bernicot and dedicated to reef restoration – have contributed content on coral reefs, illustrating conservation and restoration practices.

Starting from 23 February 2026, the new cycle will involve secondary schools around the world selected through an international call. Together with their teachers, students will co-create a project to transform acquired knowledge into an initiative with tangible impact. The cycle will conclude in June with a competition. In line with SEA BEYOND’s approach, all educational materials will be made available on the Ocean Literacy Portal and shared with the international Blue School network to extend access and use.

 In 2026, the “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” expands with a renewed program of outdoor activities, confirming the continuity and effectiveness of the educational path initiated in recent years. Building on the success of the latest editions, the new cycle will involve around 50 children from the Scuola dell’Infanzia Sant’Elena, divided into two age groups (ages 3-4 and 5-6), including some return participants from last year. The program features visits to several islands in the Venetian lagoon, including Sant’Erasmo and San Servolo – home to the SEA BEYOND Ocean Literacy Centre, opened in April 2025 – where children will deepen their understanding of the lagoon ecosystem through sensory workshops and immersive experiences in direct contact with nature.

In parallel, a new collaboration takes shape with Accademia dei Bambini at Fondazione Prada. The partnership will enable co-design of workshops and learning paths hosted at the Fondazione’s spaces in Milan, offering engaging, multidisciplinary experiences that connect creativity, science and nature. The first appointment is scheduled for the last weekend of June, followed by a series of workshops from mid-September to mid-November for children aged 2 to 10, with the aim of fostering immersive, inclusive learning inspired by discovery.

Secondary schools can register for the fourth cycle of the SEA BEYOND educational module until 13 February 2026 via: forms.office.com/e/BHjwRJFFzz.
Registration is open to individual classes or entire schools.

For information on the workshops developed in collaboration with Accademia dei Bambini: www.fondazioneprada.org/accademia-dei-bambini/

Reopening to the general public on 27 January 2026, the SEA BEYOND Ocean Literacy Centre will be accessible every Tuesday and Friday, featuring guided tours in Italian and English. Visitors can browse the full calendar of activities and book their experience via the dedicated website: www.oceanliteracycentre.org

SEA BEYOND is a project by Prada Group conducted in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO since 2019 to raise awareness of sustainability and ocean preservation, contributing to the progress of ocean education on a global scale through a series of training initiatives for younger generations. Since its debut, the educational program has shared the principles of ocean literacy with more than 35,000 students around the world. Moreover, the “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” project – outdoor education activities for preschool children in Venice – was launched in 2023 to create links between kids and the lagoon ecosystem. While the main focus remains education, SEA BEYOND has recently extended its scope to new areas of focus: support for scientific research, community engagement activities and policy advocacy dedicated to the ocean. The commitment was further reinforced in 2025 with the launch of the SEA BEYOND – Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Connecting People and Ocean, designed to mobilize financial resources from a broad coalition of partners to help restore the relationship between humanity and the ocean. As of July 2023, 1% of the proceeds from the Prada Re-Nylon for SEA BEYOND Collection benefit SEA BEYOND. The list of products in this Collection is available at www.prada.com. Through SEA BEYOND, Prada Group has also trained its more than 14,000 employees worldwide on ocean literacy principles via VR educational content and the AWorld app, the official platform selected by the United Nations to live more sustainably.

Prada Group is socially engaged to contribute to the sustainable development of communities and stimulate cultural debate in all its forms of expression. The Group partners with recognized players and international entities to develop educational and training programs, promote talent, support scientific research, foster women’s empowerment, and promote local culture and artistic heritage. Prada Group operates in the luxury sector through the Prada, Miu, Church’s, Car Shoe, Versace, Marchesi 1824 and Luna Rossa brands.
www.pradagroup.com

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts, and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science, tsunami warning, and ocean literacy. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress and the basis of peace and sustainable development. The IOC is the entity in charge of coordinating the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (The Ocean Decade).