In celebration of South Africa’s Marine Month, the NRF-SAEON team – working in collaboration with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB) – hosted an energising and educational community workshop at the Addo Community Hall in October.  Addo is a small town in the Eastern Cape province. Its closest coastline is about 45 kilometres (30 minutes) away.

The Marine Month event brought together local residents, scientists and ocean enthusiasts for a day of hands-on learning, reflection and conversation about our shared marine heritage.

The workshop opened with a creative group activity designed to spark curiosity and connection. Each group received a marine-themed photograph and was invited to reflect on what the image communicated to them. What followed were rich and meaningful discussions about the ocean, marine life and the community’s personal and cultural ties to the sea. Groups later shared their insights with the room, creating a vibrant platform for mutual learning between community members and the SAEON and SAIAB teams.

The second half of the event shifted into interactive science engagement. Participants observed plankton samples under microscopes, discovering the microscopic organisms that underpin entire marine ecosystems. A wave tank demonstration helped demystify the science of ocean movement, while SAIAB’s digital display on aquatic biodiversity offered a captivating look into the richness – and vulnerability – of underwater life.

The Marine Month celebration at Addo Community Hall proved both inspiring and informative. It strengthened environmental awareness, nurtured curiosity and reinforced the value of collaboration between scientists and the communities they serve.

Most importantly, it reminded all in attendance that safeguarding our oceans is a shared responsibility, one that ensures healthy marine ecosystems for generations to come.