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HOW DOES THE OCEAN “We have to find a solution to every obstacle we
ABSORB CO ? encounter using what we have to hand on board.
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Our mast cracked during The Ocean Race. We
The young oceanographer captured the children’s almost gave up, but we attempted the impossible
attention with two science experiments that brought to and fixed it. Then we managed to overtake the entire
life the global phenomenon of CO absorption by the fleet of competitors and win that leg.” Being as close
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ocean and the effects of ocean acidification on marine to the elements as you can get, contending with the
life. One young participant was invited on stage, where unexpected, heading into the unknown and making
they dipped a strip of pH paper into tap water. Another decisions in an environment as unpredictable as the
student blew into the water, introducing CO via their ocean are some of the ways the open sea inspires
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breath, before dipping another piece of pH paper into Team Malizia, and which they share with young people.
it. Everyone observed a change in colour, proving the Taking on the major climate challenge suddenly seems
presence of the gas, one of the main causes of global possible.
warming, and that it decreases the pH levels of water.
The experiment continued by adding acid to the water, DRAW CLIMATE CHANGE FOR ME
to demonstrate how the ocean will be tomorrow if
we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Then it was the turn of final-year pupils from École Saint-
acidic solution was poured onto a piece of chalk, a Charles primary school and second-year students
type of limestone, and the children watched it dissolve. from Collège Charles III high school to show their art
The same happens to the skeletons and shells of projects on the theme of ‘Making climate change
many marine species, including corals, shellfish and visible’. The students made a paper circle symbolising
crustaceans. The experiments brought two very the tonnes of CO accumulated in the atmosphere,
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abstract phenomena affecting the world’s oceans to and the interconnectedness between all the elements
life for the children. of climate change. This was followed by a presentation
on the problems caused by greenhouse gas emissions,
THE OPEN SEA REQUIRES A the consequences of the problems and the potential
CERTAIN STATE OF MIND solutions.

Develop a sports mentality towards the climate At the start of the event, Boris Herrmann had asked
challenge. That is the message to the young generation how many children in the audience wanted to become
from Boris Herrmann, who has already circumnavigated scientists. The answer was three. When he repeated
the world by sea six times. The renowned German his question at the end, a third of the young attendees
skipper emphasised the resilience you have to raised their hands. Curiosity successfully awakened!
demonstrate in offshore racing, especially for the most
difficult race that his team and he are preparing for Since the My Ocean Challenge initiative
again, the Vendée Globe. was launched in 2018, Team Malizia
IN
FIGURES has raised the awareness of more than
75,000 children around the world.