Prada Group and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO have opened Italy’s first Ocean Literacy Center on San Servolo island in Venice, expanding their joint SEA BEYOND initiative focused on ocean education and sustainability. Designed by Carlo Ratti Associati in partnership with UNESCO-IOC, the center invites the public to engage with interactive exhibits that scale perspectives from global systems to individual responsibility in marine conservation.

Set in one of Venice’s historic lagoons, the center was intentionally placed on San Servolo to reflect the coexistence of human and ocean life. It also serves as a lead-in to the Ocean Literacy World Conference scheduled for 2024, reinforcing Venice’s symbolic role in global environmental discourse.

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Inside, visitors progress through three immersive rooms. The first offers a broad global view, featuring 3D visualizations of ocean data such as currents, salinity, and wildlife migration—developed with the CMCC Foundation and CNR. The second focuses on the Venetian Lagoon, with interactive maps, local tidal analysis, and bioacoustic soundscapes. The third emphasizes human impact through multimedia installations that show how daily choices can help restore marine ecosystems.

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Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Prada Group, called the center a milestone in the ongoing collaboration with UNESCO-IOC, saying it’s a space where SEA BEYOND’s motto—“learn, think, act”—can take physical form.