Talk – «Planet Earth» Pint of Science

Talk — «Planet Earth» by Pint of Science at Café Soul Food, Santa Brígida, Gran Canaria.

Did you know that the ocean can help us slow down climate change, feed more sustainably, or monitor what happens at sea from space? In this session, we will explore its key role through three talks: its function as an ally against climate change, the use of algae for more sustainable aquaculture, and how space technology allows us to detect marine phenomena. An opportunity to get closer to science in a relaxed atmosphere... with something to drink and snack on!

May 18, 2026 — 6:00 PM
Planet Earth

Café Soul Food
Calle Real 7, Santa Brigica 35300, LAS PALMAS – Santa Brígida, Spain

Monitoring the sea from space
Alejandro García Mendoza (Speaker)
Algal blooms, like Trichodesmium, are natural phenomena that cause social alarm and can lead to economic losses. Something similar happens with accidental oil spills, which are less frequent but very damaging. Thanks to the Sentinel missions of the European Copernicus program, it is possible to detect them early. At the ULPGC, we have developed an automatic system that identifies these events and predicts the trajectory of the slicks, allowing for proactive measures. In the talk, we will see how it works with real-life cases.

Algae for more sustainable aquaculture nutrition
Raquel Quirós Pozo (Speaker)
Can algae improve the diet of farmed fish? In this talk, we present a study on the use of the macroalga Caulerpa racemosa as a sustainable ingredient in the diet of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). We evaluate how its inclusion in feed influences the growth, feed efficiency, and health of the fish. The results show its potential as a natural alternative to traditional ingredients, contributing to healthier and more environmentally friendly aquaculture.

The Ocean to the Rescue: Our Climate Ally
Nauzet Hernández Hernández (Speaker)
Climate change is already underway, and although we cannot completely avoid it, we can reduce its effects. Oceans absorb some CO₂, but it's not enough. Therefore, in addition to reducing emissions, it is necessary to remove CO₂ with new technologies (CDR). The talk presents the most promising ocean-based solutions, how they work, and their potential.