Idea Night – Ocean or oceans?

The new edition of the Night of Ideas, this year entirely dedicated to seas and oceans, returns to Palazzo Farnese on May 14.

Ocean or oceans? They cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, make up 99 percent of the volume of the biosphere, produce half of the oxygen we breathe, absorb one-third of the CO₂ and are at the center of 80 percent of world trade.

The United Nations has proclaimed the decade 2020-2030 as the “ Decade of Marine Sciences for Sustainable Development.” In June, the third United Nations Conference on Oceans, jointly organized by France and Costa Rica to support the implementation of Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, dedicated to safeguarding the marine environment, will open in Nice.

But what do we really know about the ocean, besides its immensity? We know that without it, life on Earth would be impossible. Yet although it is threatened by pollution, acidification and rising sea levels, its fundamental role in regulating the global climate is still poorly understood. Can the ocean, a key player in climate change, also offer the solutions? How do we balance its protection with the sustainable use of its resources?

The Night of Ideas will give voice to oceanographers, navigators, scientists, writers, artists and representatives of the fishing world to reflect on these questions. Between politics, geopolitics, environmental and international law, we will explore complex ecosystems, spaces of interconnectedness, and sources of inspiration for poets and creatives.

An ocean to be heard through the sounds of marine forests, to be traveled through the small islands of the Mediterranean, to be perceived through the richness of its biodiversity. The ocean is at the center of humanity. It is or should be a fundamental commitment of civil societies. Through performances and art installations, literary encounters, panel discussions, and screenings this unprecedented evening will address topics such as cargo and data traffic, migration, fisheries, biodiversity, underwater archaeology and geology, and even space research.

The Night of Ideas will bring the extraordinary historical and artistic heritage of Palazzo Farnese into dialogue with one of the most essential themes of the contemporary world. An evening of beauty and sharing, of discussion and knowledge, of opening up about the ocean we have in common to look “ toward new routes.”

Palazzo Farnese will be exceptionally open on four levels. It will be possible to freely access all the spaces: from the undergrounds to the Library of the Ecole Française de Rome, from the gardens to the Galleria dei Carracci, the Salone d’Ercole and up to the Sala dei Fasti Farnesiani.

Check out the program for the evening Seas and Oceans. Toward New Routes on May 14 from 6 p.m. to midnight.

To register click HERE