ISLAND OCEAN FUSION CAMP
ISLAND OCEAN FUSION CAMP
Connecting Creativity, Community, and Ocean Science
In February 2025, Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar hosted the first Island Ocean Fusion Camp, bringing together a diverse group of scientists, artists, designers, musicians, and makers to explore how creativity can help communicate complex ocean issues and inspire public engagement with marine sustainability.
Set in Vestmannaeyjar, a community deeply shaped by its relationship with the sea, the camp provided space for interdisciplinary collaboration, where participants experimented with new ways of translating marine science into meaningful experiences.
WHERE SCIENCE, ART AND COMMUNITY MEET
Participants included marine biologists researching puffins and whales, designers working with biomaterials and sustainable practices, musicians exploring underwater acoustics, illustrators and storytellers, and experts in digital fabrication and open design. Together, they investigated how artistic and technological tools can make ocean knowledge more accessible and relevant to the public—especially to young people.
Working with real data from Vestmannaeyjar—such as whale communication recordings, seabird migration patterns, and local ocean conditions—teams developed a series of prototypes and concepts designed to spark awareness and action. These included:
- Sound-based experiences using hydrophone data
- Data visualizations through printmaking, installations, and digital media
- Community science initiatives to engage residents in data collection
- Educational narratives rooted in the island's culture and natural environment
Each of these projects was created not just to raise awareness but to involve the community in shaping its own future, through better understanding and deeper connection to the surrounding ocean.
A CONCERT BENEATH THE SURFACE
To mark the conclusion of the camp, Town Artist of Vestmannaeyjar, Birgir (Biggi) Nielsen, held a remarkable concert at the local swimming pool in collaboration with Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar and the Distributed Design Platform, supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The performance took place on March 20th at 20:30, and was free and open to the public. Guests could experience the music while floating in the warm pool water or watching from the poolside.
Biggi and his band performed original compositions built around natural sound recordings from Vestmannaeyjar, including whale songs captured by marine biologists from the University of Iceland. The whale sounds were played through underwater speakers, creating an immersive listening experience beneath the surface, while the band performed live above ground accompanied by projected video from local marine research.
The event was both a visual and auditory experience, designed to raise awareness about the importance of ocean ecosystems and the role of research in understanding and protecting them. It served as a powerful closing moment for the camp—blending art, science, and public participation in a uniquely local setting.
IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE FUTURE OF OCEAN AWARENESS
A key aim of the camp was to ensure that its impact would extend beyond the event itself. All ideas and prototypes were handed over to local educators, creatives, and youth groups in Vestmannaeyjar, who will continue to develop them in the coming months.
Island Ocean Fusion Camp is now part of a growing portfolio of projects hosted by Fab Lab Vestmannaeyjar that focus on community-based innovation, combining global collaboration with local action. By building bridges between disciplines and creating new ways to understand the ocean, the camp offers a model for how small island communities can lead the way in creative environmental engagement.
Íslenska