FREE SCHOOL EXHIBIT
Inspire your students and support the Great Barrier Reef by hosting the Ocean Sentinels Exhibit at your school for free!
Background
The Ocean Sentinels is a captivating series of underwater sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor, which blend human figures and marine elements to symbolise the fusion of art and science.
Each sculpture showcases a renowned marine scientist or conservationist, highlighting their significant contributions to reef protection. With their surfaces intentionally designed to attract marine life, the sculptures are expected to transform over time as corals, sponges, and hydroids colonise them, mirroring the reef's dynamic nature.
By integrating indigenous cultures and traditions, these sculptures serve as an educational gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, underscoring its historical significance and the vital role played by leading marine science institutions.
Read the full artist description of the Ocean Sentinels by Jason deCaires Taylor.
AS Seen in the news
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinel Prof John Charlie Veron]()
Prof John Charlie Veron
The 'Godfather of Coral' discovered and described 20% of all coral species on the planet and is currently working on an ambitious mission to collect and preserve 400 species of coral in a biobank.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinels Peter Harrison]()
Prof Peter Harrison
Witnessed the first recorded mass coral spawning event at Geoffrey Bay on Magnetic Island and pioneered a revolutionary technique known as 'coral IVF' that is used to revitalise damaged reefs.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinel Katharina Fabricius]()
Dr Katharina Fabricius
Coral ecologist leading the Coral Reef Ecology and Monitoring team at AIMS with a focus on ocean acidification, water quality, climate change, and their impacts on reef health.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinels David Vaughan]()
Dr David Vaughan
Works on increasing aquaculture production while preserving marine ecosystem health and started Plant a Million Corals initiative, aimed at revitalising coral populations globally.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinels Richard Braley]()
Dr Richard Braley
'The Giant Clam Man' dedicated his life's work to studying giant clams and established the Aquasearch Aquarium on Magnetic Island.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinel Sir Maurice Yonge]()
Sir Charles Maurice Yonge
Renowned marine zoologist who lead the Great Barrier Reef Expedition in the 1920s that opened up the scientific world to the marvels of the reef and laid the groundwork for modern coral reef biology.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinel Jayme Marshall]()
Jayme Marshall
A Wulgurukaba and Yunbenen woman, who represents the next generation of Indigenous leaders, highlighting the crucial role played by Traditional Owners in safeguarding the future of the Great Barrier Reef.
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![MOUA Ocean Sentinels Molly Steer]()
Molly Steer
A young activist who took action against plastic straws at the age of nine and embarked on the ‘Straw No More’ mission to eliminate single-use plastic straws from schools across Australia.
“[MOUA is] a living piece of art that communicates to the people how important research is, how important coral reefs are, and how all these aspects – art, science, humanity – can come together to protect the reef.”
Dr Katharina Fabricius, Ocean Sentinel
The EXHIBIT
The Ocean Sentinels exhibit we offer Australian schools free of charge, consists of the following artwork and supporting materials:
ARTWORK
Eight 3D printed copies of the Ocean Sentinels each about 65 cm heigh
With the option to light the sculptures up from the inside all mounted on
Easily assembled wooden pedestals each 110 cm high and supported by
Two 200 x 120 cm pull-up banners with supporting information all linking to
Dedicated website pages for each Ocean Sentinel as well as
A range of supporting promotional and educational materials.
Note: The 3D printed sculptures look amazing and are very special but they are plastic copies of the original artwork only and students are welcome to touch them! There’s nothing here that a bit of super glue or some white marker cannot fix so don’t worry too much about potential damage or things like insurance.
SUPPORTING Materials
Photos, Posters, Maps & More (approved for public use)
Student Introduction Suggestion (Word DOCX incl. relevant links)
COMING SOON John Brewer Reef Fish & Corals
COMING SOON Indigenous Stories
COMING SOON Collective Climate Action
GBRMPA educational materials for school students:
Reef Beat Series and Be a Marine Biologist for a Day material
PAST VENUES
Fort Street High School, Petersham, NSW, CURRENT
Bondi Pavillion, Bondi Beach, NSW, March 2024
PROTECT THE REEF
Learn why the Great Barrier Reef should be protected, why it is in danger and what we can all do to hep protect it for future generations.
LOGISTICS
The Ocean Sentinels exhibit is offered to all Australian schools and their students entirely free of charge under the following conditions:
The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) will provide all artwork and supporting materials to the hosting school completely free of charge as long as
The hosting school shares the costs for shipping the exhibition material to and from the school (approx. $500-1,000 within the same state and $1,000-$1,500 interstate one way) and back to MOUA in Townsville (or to the next hosting school somewhere in Australia) with MOUA (or the next hosting school) and
The hosting school provides storage for the exhibition material for a reasonable amount of time until everything can be shipped to the next school (packed down everything fits into the back of a small van or two large 4WDs so about one corner somewhere stacked high under the ceiling).
Schools are free to charge an entry fee for the exhibit or ask for donations, however if doing so we kindly ask that a portion of the raised funds is forwarded to MOUA, the Museum of Underwater Art Ltd (ABN 30 624 327 224), a registered Australian charity (DGR 1/4), to help support this program and our mission.
And of course, all participating schools and their students are invited to snorkel or dive the actual Museum of Underwater Art on the Great Barrier Reef off Townsville at any time and we will do our best to make it your most memorable school excursion yet (QLD schools are eligible for subsidies)!