SEA BEYOND at Prada Possible Conversation in New York

On May 22nd, we marked the International Day for Biological Diversity at a special Prada Possible Conversation at the Broadway Epicenter dedicated to SEA BEYOND, the educational program conducted since 2019 by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in partnership with the Prada Group to raise awareness for sustainability and ocean preservation.

The discussion featured Emmy-nominated photographer and Climate Artist Enzo Barracco in conversation with Francesca Santoro, UNESCO-IOC Senior Program Officer and Meghan Marrero, NMEA (National Marine Educators Association) Blue Schools Committee Chair.

Prada Possible Conversation is a series of talks hosted at Prada Epicenters between thinkers, cultural arbiters, scientists, and fashion figures from across the world. The night was an occasion to discuss the urgency of ocean preservation and environmental stewardship, aimed to inspire audiences to contribute to what is an essential global effort.

Francesca Santoro, UNESCO-IOC Senior Program Officer, said “We are at a critical moment, and we urgently need to take action. Our behavior as human beings needs to move towards a more sustainable path. Education and awareness raising are key in this endeavor and can take different forms: the lens of a camera that captures the beauty and fragility of landscapes and species at risk - threatened by the warming of the ocean, a direct consequence of the climate change - is one of these. Photographers are strong allies as, through their art, they can inspire everyone to contribute to this collective effort.”

Enzo Barracco, Emmy-nominated photographer and Climate Artist, declared: “I believe everyone has a duty to do something for our planet within their own capacity and skill. I do it through photography because photography doesn’t need translation.”

Meghan Marrero, NMEA Blue Schools Committee Chair, said: “Enhancing marine education is integral to the health of our global ocean. Today’s students are tomorrow’s decision makers. We must help these learners build their connection to the ocean and become water stewards to ensure a sustainable ocean future.”

Concurrent with this critical conversation, a selection of images by Enzo Barracco, taken from his books “The Noise of Ice: Antarctica” and “The Skin of Rock Galápagos”, were exhibited.

To further reinforce its commitment to support education and ocean conservation, Prada Group granted a donation to NMEA, an organization whose goal to advance the understanding and protection of marine ecosystems aligns with the SEA BEYOND project. With these funds, 16 schools in the Tristate area will be transformed into “Blue Schools”, institutes that infuse ocean literacy and learning into their curricula and engage students in action projects with the goal of developing and supporting the next generation of stewards for our one ocean. After the exhibition, the photographs will be gifted to the schools, which in September begin their path to become Blue Schools.

Enzo Barracco was named SEA BEYONDer amongst other prominent personalities for his proven commitment to ocean preservation. These are influential leaders who help Prada Group and UNESCO-IOC spread the SEA BEYOND message.

The next step of the collaboration between Enzo Barracco and SEA BEYOND will take shape with a second photographic exhibition, scheduled for early December, 2024 at the Prada Aoyama Epicenter in Tokyo. Barracco will also be launching his latest book on Hawaii’s biodiversity at the event, supported by the project.