Raising awareness of ocean acidification through the Planet Ocean Exhibition

Planet Ocean is an exhibition at the Box, Plymouth’s award-winning museum, art gallery and archive, running from March 16th 2024- April 27th 2025. Collections from The Box including natural history, art, social history, human history, paper and media archives as well as loan content from contemporary artists, ocean science organisations and community groups in the South West tell the story of how Plymouth’s identity as an Ocean City gives a unique opportunity to address climate change.

Planet Ocean explores the concept that we are all part of one connected ocean, and that local work taking place to research and protect Plymouth Sound has a wider impact on ocean health throughout the world. We shine a light on some of the key problems facing the ocean today and the positive work taking place to tackle them. The exhibition is a call to action, asking visitors to imagine how they can be a part of solutions. Working with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, we have raised awareness of ocean acidification as one of the ocean’s biggest challenges. Collections and moving image displays explain how ocean chemistry is changing and the impact it has upon marine life. Text labels explain work carried out by local Plymouth Marine Laboratory scientists that has a positive impact on a global scale.

Through this exhibition and a year long accompanying events programme, The Box is committed to exploring issues such as ocean acidification with diverse audiences. We aim to illustrate how science translates to action, the very real biological impacts of ocean acidification through museum marine specimens, and how people can be part of the solution by strengthening a sense of connectedness to the ocean. We also aim to connect with wider audiences through the medium of contemporary art, drawing links between art and science that bring new perspectives to ocean challenges.

Planet Ocean meets The Box’s Vision, Mission and Values by exploring the pressing issues of our age, thriving through collaboration, igniting imagination and inspiring change.