Dive into the deep sea: 10,000 children discover Utrecht research through theatre

This spring, around 10,000 children and their parents will be introduced to Utrecht’s deep-sea research through a joint program by the Centre for Science communication and Culture (CWC) and Het Filiaal Theatermakers. The program complements the theatre production DIEP, which is touring throughout the Netherlands.

The CWC developed an educational video for primary schools, an inquiry-based activity booklet, and workshops at the University Museum Utrecht – UMU, to teach visitors about the process and importance of deep-sea research. In addition, the remarkable Blaschka sea-creatures from the UMU collection, made from glass, take centre stage in an exhibition at the Stadsschouwburg.

Research in the classroom

Classes attending the Filiaal performance receive an educational video in advance. Oceanographer Erik van Sebille (Utrecht University) and deep-sea biologist Sabine Gollner (NIOZ) show how they conduct research in areas far below the ocean’s surface, and why this research matters.

Continue exploring at home

Visitors to the performances receive a deep-sea activity booklet developed by the CWC. It encourages children to continue exploring after the show by philosophising, designing, and experimenting. They also meet five researchers, each studying the deep sea from their own discipline: geologist Tanja Stratmann, deep-sea biologist Sabine Gollner, historian Erik de Lange, jurist Alex Oude Elferink, and paleoclimatologist Mei Nelissen.

Create your own deep-sea creature at UMU

At UMU, families who enjoy being creative can take part in the workshop Create Your Own Deep-Sea Creature. After a short introduction in the exhibition space Grondig Speuren, participants design their own sea creature together with a workshop leader from Het Filiaal.

More information and dates can be found in UMU’s agenda.

Expositie Blaschka-modellen

In the Escher Foyer of Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, the exhibition Sea Creatures as Glass Pearls presents photographs of Blaschka models from the UMU collection. Father and son Blaschka created these sea creatures in glass because many delicate species are difficult to preserve and display in jars. The models reveal the rich diversity of underwater life and build a bridge between science and art.

More information: Exposition 'Sea Creatures as Glass Pearls'