The Mariano Gago Ecsite Awards celebrate the innovative and impactful work of Ecsite community members. As we count down to the 2024 Mariano Gago Ecsite Awards, this series aims to shed a light on some of the Highly Commended projects and exhibitions submitted for the 2023 Awards.

Spotlight on Highly Commended 2023 – Tiny Sea Creatures, Big Cures

by CÚRAM SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway and Galway Atlantaquaria

If you would like to read the article with pictures of the exhibition, click here.

Located in Galway, an Irish coastal city by the Atlantic Ocean, the collaboration between CÚRAM SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway and Galway Atlantaquaria to develop ‘Tiny Sea Creatures, Big Cures’ is nothing short of innovative. This project was nominated for the 2023 Mariano Gago Ecsite ‘Responsible & Responsive’ Award and was recognised as a Highly Commended submission due to its collaborative nature. The two organisations originally developed the exhibition to teach ‘ocean literacy’ and show the benefits of using marine resources for pharmaceuticals and medical applications, however it grew into much more.

Some of the projects born from the exhibition included a children’s documentary about the exhibition promoted for Science Week 2021, STEAM collaborations with inner-city primary schools and artists and Seashore Workshops just to name a few!

The evaluation results proved that the exhibition was able to engage its audience of all ages and to promote its message of the importance of marine biodiversity in discovering potential cures for illnesses and the projects surrounding the exhibition promoted community building.

If you would like to learn more about the 2024 Mariano Gago Ecsite Awards and how to submit, please click here. Submissions close 12 February 2024 and winners of the Ecsite Excellence in Science Engagement Award receive a certificate, trophy and one free entry to the 2024 Ecsite Conference.