On Sunday  17 January, Dr. Harm van der Geest of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) held a 'Wakker Worden Kinderlezing' (Lecture series for children) at the NEMO science museum in Amsterdam. The lecture revolved around the question what creatures live in the deep sea. The childrens lectures of NEMO are a partnership between NEMO and the University of Amsterdam, aimed at stimulating scientific curiosity of children aged 8-12. IBED scientists play an active role in the lecture series, usually providing several lectures each year. 

In his lecture, Dr. Van der Geest took the children along on an exploration of he deepest part of the Earth's oceans. Or better, the ‘Water's' oceans, as the name ‘Water' would be much more appropriate than ‘Earth' for a planet covered for 70% by water. Before showing the children photo and film material from creatures living at various depth in the oceans, he explained why it is so difficult to travel to the deep sea. With the aid of scuba gear and an experimental setup to blow bubbles at various depths in a water column, the children themselves got the opportunity to experience underwater breathing. And to see why it is not possible to dive too deep using scuba gear, lest you are crushed by the pressure of the water column above you.

A more detailed report and several photo's of the ‘Kinderlezing' can be accessed through the link below.