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Ocean&Climate Village comes to China for second time

Published

Sep 30, 2025

The Ocean&Climate Village, a traveling interactive science exhibition from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, is making its second visit to China, where it will be hosted at Prada Rong Zhai in Shanghai.

The exhibition was previously hosted in Qingdao in October 2023 and has also been showcased in cities like Barcelona, Milan, Venice, and Naples. The exhibition, developed by the IOC, explores the complex connections between the ocean and the global climate, with the goal of promoting a better understanding of the relationship between the ocean and human beings.

The strength of the Ocean&Climate Village is how it connects the global and the local. Francesca Santoro, IOC Senior Programme Officer, commented, “It reminds us that there is just one ocean that unites us all: it has no borders and it sustains all life on Earth”. By celebrating the unique marine ecosystems of each place it visits, the exhibition empowers communities to become stewards of our shared ocean."

Rong Zhai edition

The exhibition will welcome visitors in the ballroom of Prada Rong Zhai, a historic Shanghai residence that has been meticulously restored by the Prada Group. Interactive tools will bring urgent issues to life, including the "UpSeaDown" installation, which shows how global warming has expanded the ocean's volume, and "Feel the Change," which allows visitors to touch models of marine ecosystems in both natural and acidified states. The exhibition's adaptation to the local context was supported by the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (FIO) and the UN Decade Collaborative Centre on the Ocean-Climate Nexus (DCC-OCC).

In a testament to the power of art to raise awareness, the exhibition also features a selection of photographs by environmental photographer Enzo Barracco, offering a visual narrative of extraordinary marine environments.

The educational and cultural content for the event was developed and contributed by the UCCA Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO-IOC. As part of its institutional mission, UCCA Foundation creates art-powered programs to encourage children to explore creative thinking and engage with the world through artistic expression. The event will also feature learning workshops designed for children aged 6-16, blending science, art, and ocean awareness into engaging, hands-on experiences.

Marine Science Cultural Kit

A key part of the initiative is a special program for students from inland areas of China. A group of elementary school students from Guizhou province, who have never seen the sea, will travel to Shanghai to visit the exhibition and experience the seaside for the first time. During their visit, they will be introduced to marine science through hands-on learning.

The commitment to promoting ocean literacy in China will continue after the event. A "Marine Science Cultural Kit" will be distributed to schools in the inland Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, reaching approximately 800 children. The kit includes a booklet introducing the wonders of the ocean, marine-themed art materials, and a jigsaw puzzle of a world map centered on our single, global ocean. Teachers will be provided with materials and guidance to deliver ocean-focused lessons, bringing the spirit of conservation and marine culture to inland areas far from the shore.

Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Prada Group, stated, "We are delighted to host SEA BEYOND at Prada Rong Zhai, where we bring together art and science to inspire a deeper connection with the ocean, with the ultimate goal to spread knowledge and transform it into action".