SCAR – Conference 2024 – Benthos distribution and ocean literacy
The SCAR Conference is an internationally recognized event in the Antarctic scientific community, organized by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. This time, for the SCAR 2024 in Pucón-Chile were 1,500 participants from 57 different countries. Pucón was a nice location with a fantastic view of the Villarica Volcano and a lake to walk around.
I had the opportunity to represent ECOMARES, IDEA (CONICET), and CONICET Córdoba through a couple of presentations in which I shared the research done in collaboration of scientists from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Alfred Wegener Institute and Instituto Antártico Argentino:
🌊 In a session on Antarctic Benthos, I showed models of benthic fauna distribution and their potential co-occurrence in areas of moderate and high glacial influence, through the talk entitled “Zoobenthic distribution in the area of an Antarctic fjord under glacial retreat”
🌊 The second presentation: “Once upon a time… in the waters of the Antarctic Ocean, a story was written for ocean literacy”, focused on using science-based stories to promote learning about the ocean, Antarctica and science in children. This was in collaboration with OUAT Group and Comunica al Natural. With different workshops, we saw that it is a useful tool for education and motivation of scientific knowledge more enthusiastically.
🌊Also, as part of collaborating on various posters, I presented a poster on the distribution of macroalgae and an estimate of carbon sequestration in the Potter Cove fjord.
Participating in this conference and the Business CoastCarb Meeting was a great opportunity to share my research with other scientists. Also, to reinforce the network by participating in a couple of Workshops such as “Essential Variables for Antarctic” & “APECS”, as well as Sessions Talks about biodiversity, marine protected areas, genomics, remote sensing and public engagement.
