#distributed design #coastal resilience #sustainable design #marine conservation
Island Ocean Fusion Camp: Where Science Meets Creativity for Coastal Resilience
KCV / Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland is continuing its mission to address coastal resilience, social innovation, and community engagement through a new, exciting initiative—the Island Ocean Fusion Camp. Building on the momentum of past events, this camp is set to bring together scientists, designers, artists, and creators from across Europe to explore and create solutions centered around sustainability, marine ecosystems, and the power of distributed design.
Reflecting on Past Success
In April 2024, Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar hosted the North Atlantic Youth Blue Innovation Camp—an inspiring bootcamp that brought together talented young individuals passionate about the ocean and its future. During this camp, participants collaborated to tackle challenges related to blue innovation, harnessing Fab Lab resources and mentorship to develop creative projects addressing real-world environmental issues. This successful event built upon previous triumphs, such as earlier distributed design bootcamps focusing on coastal communities and the innovative involvement of the Matey Seafood Festival. These earlier events showcased the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating local cultural elements into the design process, and engaging the community in solutions at the intersection of science and creativity.
Collectively, these initiatives have not only fostered a dedicated community focused on sustainable innovation but also paved the way for future projects like the Island Ocean Fusion Camp. Each step forward continues to emphasize creativity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to understanding and preserving our coastal environments.
Introducing Island Ocean Fusion Camp
This vibrant journey of discovery and innovation continues in February 2025 with the upcoming Island Ocean Fusion Camp. Once again taking place at KCV / Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar, the camp will serve as a hub of creativity and scientific inquiry. An exciting mix of participants, including scientists specializing in marine biology, ornithology, and ichthyology, will collaborate with creatives—product designers, visual artists, musicians, digital fabricators, and more. Their shared goal? To delve into the vital role the ocean plays in local wildlife habitats and coastal communities while finding sustainable design solutions that address these important issues.
Embracing Distributed Design Principles
The Island Ocean Fusion Camp will emphasize distributed design principles, encouraging participants to create open-source projects that can be shared and adapted globally. By promoting these collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches, the camp aims to raise awareness about marine conservation, local ecology, and sustainability in a way that resonates beyond the Vestmannaeyjar community.
Open Call for Participants
Are you a scientist passionate about the marine world or a creative eager to use your talents to foster sustainable solutions? You’re invited to apply to the Island Ocean Fusion Camp!
-
Rolling Open Call for Submissions: November 15, 2024, to January 20, 2025.
-
We encourage early applications, as the selection process will be ongoing during this period.
Who Can Apply?
-
Scientists: Researchers in marine biology, ornithology, ichthyology, or related fields.
-
Creatives: Product designers, food designers, visual artists, musicians, digital artists, and other creative professionals.
-
Criteria: Participants should have a passion for sustainability and a willingness to collaborate across disciplines. This opportunity is open to residents of EU countries or those participating in the Creative Europe Programme, ideally within the first 5 years of their career.
Elevate Your Creative Journey
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to expand your horizons, collaborate on inspiring creative work, and contribute to meaningful change in coastal communities. The Island Ocean Fusion Camp promises to be a transformative experience where scientific insight meets creative innovation to tackle some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Ready to join us?
Submit your application through our open call form on https://fablab.is/iofc/ before January 20, 2025. Take the leap and be part of this exciting journey toward a more sustainable future for our oceans and coastal communities.
