Canadian Geographic Dives Deep into Ocean Literacy
C
anadian Geographic opened its summer exhibition entitled: PRESSURE-James Cameron into the Abyss, at its headquarters at 50 Sussex Drive. The exhibition features Oscar award winning James Cameron's submersible known as the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, which he solo piloted to the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean in 2012.
Bringing James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGER to Ottawa for our summer exhibition was a major feat. Cameron first dreamt of deep-sea exploration when he was 14 years old. We want to inspire visitors this summer to learn from his ingenuity, and find ways to protect the streams, riverways, and Ocean that surrounds Canada, said John Geiger, CEO Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
When James Cameron descended 11,000 metres below the surface, to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, it was a record-breaking scientific study that was like the Wright brother's first flight and the initial ascent of Everest. It was an honour to be part of his team. We are excited to be able to share his submersible with visitors to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society this summer, said Dr. Joe MacInnis, physician-scientist who served as a medical advisor on Cameron's last three deep sea expeditions.
The immersive exhibition will open to the public during Ocean Week on June 5th and continue throughout the summer until September 1, 2023.
PRESSURE will show visitors the physical water pressure Cameron faced during his journey to the deepest known point in the ocean, and the dire environmental pressures facing the global ocean through overfishing, pollution and climate change. The goal of PRESSURE is to inspire and to educate visitors about the fragility of the ocean environment and the need to protect it.
Enhancing the visitor experience at 50 Sussex Drive is an interactive giant floor map entitled The Ocean, Freshwater and Us, in the main gallery which will allow visitors to experience an ocean environment through augmented reality. The floor map is a major initiative of the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC) supported by Canadian Geographic, to raise Canadians' awareness of the ocean coastline and issues of conservation and sustainable development. The creative and educational team that created the floor map includes Canadian Geographic, COLC, and Ocean School (a project of the National Film Board of Canada and Dalhousie University). There are currently twenty maps in circulation across the country, providing students, teachers and communities the opportunity to explore and engage with Canada's marine protected areas. The maps can be booked through Canadian Geographic's website.
The exhibition was made possible through the generous support and collaboration of many partners including Avatar Alliance Foundation, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, Ocean Week Canada, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Rolex and META. Canadian Geographic would also like to thank the Canadian Government and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
✔️ Canadian Geographic Dives Deep into Ocean Literacy
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