The Chilean Academy of Sciences is starting a new version of its traditional meetings “Wednesdays at The Academy” on May 3, this time dealing with the theme "The Year of the Oceans" and covering topics such as marine biodiversity, coastal areas and the importance of their preservation.

The invitation to the 2017 version of this series of talks was extended by Dr. María Teresa Ruiz, president of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa, director of the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO), who is also giving the first talk on May 3, entitled “Exploring the Marine Microcosm and the World’s Oldest Inhabitants”. These meetings are being organized in the context of the project “2017, Year of the Oceans”, designated by the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT) and aimed at encouraging research into and protection of Chilean territorial waters.

There are four talks scheduled for the month of May, beginning with Prof. Osvaldo Ulloa’s, which will be followed by National Prize for Science laureate Bernabé Santelices’ “Ecological and Economic Importance of Marine Algae” on May 10; University of Los Lagos Professor Alejandro Buschman’s “Sustainable Aquaculture Development in Chile” on May 24; and, to end this month’s series, Catholic University Professor Juan Carlos Castilla’s “And the Sea that Tranquilly Bathes your Shores” on May 31. This is a free lecture series open to the general public held at the Chilean Academy of Sciences, Almirante Montt 454, on Wednesdays at 6.30 pm. Those interested in taking part should sign up on the Academy website: http://www.academiadeciencias.cl/inscripciones/.

The series “Wednesdays at the Academy” is organized every year by the Chilean Academy of Sciences, its main aim being science dissemination. The current version will continue until July 5 with more talks on the oceans, to be confirmed.