Our vast ocean holds memories in countless forms: in physical systems, in ecological interdependence, in human stories.
Consider
That the great water masses of the ocean carry the memory of their interaction with the atmosphere when they were at the surface, which determines how currents flow in the future
That marine microbes carry the genetically encoded memory of life’s origins, nearly four billion years ago under different oceanic conditions, preparing them for future changes
That coral reef ecosystems are better prepared to survive the next warming event if their components together carry the memory of the past one and the adaptations that saved them
That middens of oyster shells which have survived thousands of years carry the memory of indigenous practices, knowledge of the ocean, and what the ocean will bring next
That the ocean carries the elemental memory of the millions of lives lost during the Middle Passage
We all know the meaning of human memory, and its loss, but realizing that the ocean has memory can bring a new awareness to the profound nature of our ocean as a dynamic and resilient living system, and how it influences our lives. How can we learn from the ocean’s memories so that we may better prepare for our collective future? And how can we bring that awareness to everyone?
The interfaces between the arts, sciences, and humanities, with their varied ways of researching and learning, are dynamic spaces in which to explore the concept of ocean memory, leading to powerful transdisciplinary outcomes.
Since 2017, the Ocean Memory Project has brought together a broad range of scientists, artists, and other creative practitioners and knowledge-generators in a transdisciplinary initiative that investigates how the ocean encodes, retains, and expresses memory across biological, chemical, and environmental systems.
Emerging from a National Academies Keck Futures Initiative, this project fosters collaboration through in-person and virtual workshops, creative projects, seed grants and immersive experiences.
Our strength lies in the diversity of perspectives that shape how we understand the world. The Ocean Memory Project is a growing collaborative network of over 120 researchers spanning disciplines across the sciences, the arts and the humanities and multiple ways of knowing. As we bring the ocean’s memories into our collective awareness, this dynamic community fosters new ways of thinking, researching, and making, aiming for a sea change in how we address the challenges of the Anthropocene.
Workshops are often followed by a funding opportunity to support collaborative research across disciplines and cultures to further explore ocean memory. Learn about past and ongoing projects.
You can support Ocean Memory research and the continuation of this transdisciplinary project with a tax deductible gift through Shunpike, our fiscal sponsor.
Your generous gift will support artists, scientists, humanists, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore the intersection of ocean and memory.
