Initiatives to be discovered in Room Panorama (top floor)
ICOS & BERNARDO projects
Human activities are introducing large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere, thus causing climate change and ocean acidification. With the projects ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observing System) and BERNARDO, VLIZ contributes to closing the gaps in the our understanding of the global carbon cycle by combining data collection, ecosystem modeling, and machine learning techniques. At the Climate Booth, visitors can play with the parameters of a simple ecosystem model in order to fit the model to monitoring data. Once the model behaves properly it can be used to derive exchange fluxes and estimate how the carbon is partitioned among different compartment of the North Sea pelagic ecosystem. In addition, a demonstration experiment is performed at the booth that shows how anthropogenic CO2 is exchanged between air and seawater, resulting in a pH change in the sea. This process is known as ocean acidification.Ecological modelling
Escaperoom on climate (for schools)
Attempt four puzzles from the escape room 'Climate and Ocean', designed by PlaneetZee, for secondary education. Can you crack the code?
Ecological modelling
Dive into a changing ocean! Navigate a virtual seascape, dodging "climate lava" as you witness the impact of rising temperatures and salinity shifts on herring. This interactive projection will captivate visitors in the climate room, while a user-friendly app lets them dive deeper. Test your knowledge with our climate quiz and become a champion for ocean conservation.
Historical landscapes: sediment core + VR game
Now’s your chance to protect a medieval Ostend house from flooding during the epic 1394 storm. Come try out the VR game “Don’t Drown” developed by a group of Howest University of Applied Science - Digital Arts & Entertainment (DAE) students, in connection with the Testerep project, which focuses on 5000 years of coastal evolution. Indeed our coastline wasn’t always where it is now. In the distant past, most of the North Sea was dry land during cold periods when sea level was much lower than today. In order to study these now drowned landscapes shallow cores are taken. The succession of sediment layers, but also plant remains, shells and microscopic algae, tell us more about the natural environment. A sediment core will be on display. The story behind these prehistoric drowned landscapes is also told in a unique animated film. The film shows what our coastal zone and the North Sea must have looked like in the distant and very distant past, which animals lived there and to what extent these landscapes were used by humans.
Polar research
Come learn about the fascinating world of oceanographic polar research and marine robotics! Immerse yourself in the cutting-edge technology that is unraveling the mysteries of our oceans. Here you can learn about the innovative tools and technologies driving our exploration efforts with marine robotics and discover our posters illustrating the vital role that polar research plays in understanding climate change, biodiversity, and oceanic dynamics.
VLIZ Library
Explore a sample of the rich marine book collection stored at VLIZ and marvel at the beautiful diversity housed within the library.
Extra in Room Dactylo (third floor)
Movies
Enjoy the peace and quiet, and a loop of underwater movies.
Green screen
Want to share your attendance on your socials? Come take a picture in front of the VLIZ green screen. Place yourselves on the Simon Stevin, in the VLIZ labs, or ‘under the sea’! We will provide you with multiple options on the spot. And yes, we do have props!