Oceanthon: Ocean&Climate Edition is the second edition of the digital hackathon entirely dedicated to innovation in the marine sector organized on the occasion of the first year of the United Nations Decade of Marine Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and in the framework of the twenty-sixth Pre-Conference of the Parties (Pre-COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Organized by the Office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC) and with the support of Hack for Italy.

The challenge:

The main theme of the 2021 Oceanthon was Ocean&Climate, and participants addressed the increasingly important challenge related to the climate crisis, with the aim of finding interdisciplinary solutions to address the effects of global change on society and the environment. In this hackathon the focus was on new, unconventional and cutting-edge solutions to address the challenges of the ocean and climate.

This second edition was dedicated to the entire Mediterranean area, for this reason it was held in English and the invitation was open to both individuals and teams formed by all the coastal states of the Mediterranean.

The winning team and the project that received the honorable mention were awarded by the Madrina dell’Oceano, Caterina Balivo, with the presence of Davide Villa representing E.ON, a partner company, during the Ocean&Climate Village at the Triennale di Milano.

The winning project

In the end, only one winning team was proclaimed BlueSails, but at the Oceanthon the whole ocean won. The jury was won over by the BlueSails intuition of Margaux Antonia Huth and Jendrik Dedow on the development of a network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean. With more Marine Protected Areas the sea would have time to regenerate and recover excellent health: the loss of biodiversity would slow down, it would absorb carbon dioxide more easily and it would guarantee us to maintain healthier food resources every day. The BlueSails project works in this direction, planning a network of stakeholders involved in a lively and active community day after day, able to take action online and offline for our ocean. Thus, BlueSails founds a group that shares interests and actions from every part of the globe, sends stimuli, ideas, content and contributes to the well-being of all: just like our one great ocean does every day.

Honorable Mention

Special mention for the project Revitalisation Platform by Laura Cannarozzi, Francesca Vittorini and Andrea Tabocchini which combines science and architecture, offering a solution to marine and environmental degradation, and at the same time raising awareness in society on the importance of water quality.

Media Kit

Download the official Oceanthon Media Kit: find ready-to-use images, videos and social media content that you can share with your friends, peers and colleagues on your social media profile to spread the word about the competition and to communicate your participation in Oceanthon 2021.