Sea Beyond

THE EVENT

Exhibitions

Thematic Talks

Workshops

From October 10 to 19, Prada Rong Zhai – the historic 1918 residence located in the heart of Shanghai – opens its doors for the first time to SEA BEYOND to host a multi-faceted program with a wide range of educational activities for children and adults, aimed at better understanding the relationships among ocean and human beings, and how each influences the other.
The experience unfolds across several rooms, each shaped by Rong Zhai’s distinctive stylistic identity: the original spaces, featuring works of art and antique objects, become the evocative backdrop for this immersive narrative on the ocean.

The appointments with SEA BEYOND

Ballroom – The Ocean&Climate Village

The Ocean & Climate Village - the travelling, immersive, and interactive science exhibition that explores the complex connections between the ocean and the global climate - will welcome guests in the Ballroom, originally dedicated to parties and formal events under a massive stained-glass skylight of sixty-nine panels. The exhibition features a wide range of educational tools, from infographics and photos to interactive installations and tactile experiences, highlighting the ocean’s vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Among those, the UpSeaDown installation , which shows how global warming has expanded the volume of the ocean, and how this trend may continue, on a timeline from 1940 to 2100. Feel the Change, a tactile installation, which allows visitors to touch models of marine ecosystems in both their natural and acidified states. FIO (First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources) and DCC-OCC (UN Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination Amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P.R. China) have supported the adaptation of the contents to the local context.

Fourth floor – The photographic exhibition by Enzo Barracco

A selection of the best shots of Emmy-nominated environmental photographer and climate artist Enzo Baracco will lead visitors to acknowledge through the power of photography how climate change can affect the environment. Pictures have been taken during photographic expeditions in Antarctica, Galapagos, Hawaii and Alaska, which will be premiered on this occasion. As in the past exhibition, Enzo is using photography as universal language to raise awareness of climate change as he usually says, “photography does not need translation”.

THE GARDEN – Outdoor screening of two documentaries

“Kindergarten of the Lagoon”, a short movie recounting the experience of a Venetian school involved in the initiative within the SEA BEYOND project, which offers Preschool children the opportunity to closely understand and love the lagoon ecosystem through outdoor education;
“Deep White Forests”, dedicate to the story of the scientific research project on black coral in the waters of the Egadi Islands in Sicily (Italy) by Giovanni Chimienti, marine biologist, National Geographic Explorer and SEA BEYONDer.

Thematic talks

10 OCTOBER 2025

*Live-streamed on Tencent Channels

11:00 AM -12:00 PM CST | Ocean literacy: global collaboration and domestic approaches

Overview:

This session will focus on the global mission of marine literacy and the role of cross-sector collaboration among international institutions, research bodies, and cultural organizations.

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3:00-4:00 PM CST | Emotions, Storytelling, and Ocean Protection

Overview:

Global influencers join forces to explore the emotional, narrative, and scientific dimensions of ocean conservation.

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5:00-6:00 PM CST | Art & Ocean Memory: Photography’s Role in Climate Awareness

Overview:

The conversation will evolve around the evocative power of visual storytelling in climate communication. The experts will discuss the urgency of ocean preservation and environmental stewardship and how art and culture can be instrumental in furthering science to spread knowledge and raise awareness with the ultimate goal of inspiring audiences to act.

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Educational workshops for children

Workshops dedicated to children ages 9-16, to blend science, art, and ocean awareness into engaging, hands-on experiences. Participants will explore the wonders of marine life while learning about environmental issues like ocean pollution and rising sea levels.
Activities will include exploring the fascinating world of marine life with renowned Japanese ichthyologist, professor and artist SAKANA-KUN.
The educational and cultural content of the overall experience has been developed and contributed by the UCCA Foundation, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.