June 19-20, 2020
If human cognitive memory can be defined as the faculty of the mind by which experience is encoded, stored, and retrieved, and ultimately used to shape future outcomes, then the ocean’s capacity for memory may have much to teach us for the future.
What do cognition and genomics bring to Ocean Memory? Cognition brings perspectives on memory mechanisms, and the history of dealing with and observing the ‘black box’ of the mind, figuring out ways to study the intangible. Genomics brings different perspectives on mechanisms of memory, and frameworks for considering organisms and their environments. Both bring new ideas of scale, time, and process. What does Ocean Memory bring to cognition and genomics? We hope it brings new analogies and models, new questions, and new takes on old questions.
Over two half-day virtual sessions, a select group of 28 accomplished professionals from diverse backgrounds explored the emerging concept of ocean memory and its connection to cognition and genomics. At the beginning of this seminar each participant had two minutes to present a question related to cognition and genomics. Those lightning talks are presented below.
Following the lightning talks, the questions were sorted and grouped into four over arching themes. On the second day, participants joined breakout groups of their choice to delve deeper into one theme. Each group engaged in a productive, free-flowing exchange of ideas during this creative work period, and the entire group reconvened to share what emerged from their conversations. Following the workshop, participants had the opportunity to submit applications for funding to explore their ideas further.
