Art, Science, and Storytelling Unite on First Day of OceanX Summit

On October 1, OceanX launched the innaugural OceanX Summit in Singapore. This landmark event brings leaders across science, philanthropy, education, and media together for boundary-pushing discussions about innovative approaches that can support the ocean’s health. Day 1 set the stage for how immersive educational tools and strategies are essential to connecting people with the ocean and inspiring the next generation of leaders

A Call to Reimagine Our Ocean Future 

Mark Dalio, OceanX Co-CEO and Founder, opened the Summit with a powerful invitation to reimagine humanity’s relationship with the ocean through the lenses of exploration, science, and storytelling. 

He emphasized Southeast Asia’s critical role as a hub for ocean innovation and collaboration, while underscoring the importance of empowering young people to lead in unconventional roles that are not always associated with ocean progress. 

“You could be a storyteller, a game designer, or even an engineer,” he said. “We want to equip the new generation to make a difference to the oceans, no matter their backgrounds.” 

Art Meets Science: The Digital Artist Residency Program 

A highlight of the first day was the announcement of the OceanX and Pioneer Works Residency Program, an initiative that bridges art and science to foster creativity and new forms of ocean engagement.  

Through the residency, OceanX will provide data, tools, and scientific support, while Pioneer Works offers space, visibility, and networks. The chosen resident will work with both organizations to translate scientific data into innovative artistic outputs that can both inspire and educate viewers and participants. As noted by Dr. Lim TM, Executive Director of OceanX Education, OceanX believes “the ocean is the greatest classroom on planet Earth, and we want to be able to bring this to everyone.”  

Together, this partnership fosters dialogue between art and science and cultivates relationships where both disciplines affirm their value to a sustainable, bluer future. 

Reimagining Conservation Storytelling 

Leading creatives and storytellers joined a panel to discuss how bold new storytelling formats can transform public understanding of the ocean. Exploring the power of immersive media, data-driven art, and more, they emphasized that storytelling grounded in science and amplified through multimedia can turn complex issues into accessible narratives, foster empathy and responsibility, and inspire global action. “The real crisis isn’t just climate change or AI, it’s a crisis of imagination, creativity, innovation, and collaboration,” said Dustin Yellin, Artist and Founder at Pioneer Works. Converging complex science with immersive art styles can help us understand and engage with the ocean, making it meaningful to everyone. 

By designing participatory experiences and leveraging cross-disciplinary technologies, the arts can bridge gaps, mobilize communities, and drive measurable ocean impact. 

Immersive Frontiers — XR & Gaming in Ocean Education 

From immersive world-building to extended reality (XR), innovative storytelling is reshaping how we experience and understand the ocean. In this panel, leaders in film, digital media, and science communication explored how multimedia can engage, move, and inspire global action. 

This year, OceanX Education introduced Hackathons, a program on board the OceanXplorer that brings diverse professional together to concept new ways for people to learn about the ocean and its needs. “Hackathons bring educators, creatives, and scientists into one space — sparking something engaging and imaginative yet grounded in actual ocean science,” said panel moderator Kay Vasey, Chief Connecting Officer at MeshMinds. The program's structure prioritizes collaboration across fields to find ocean education and science solutions, translating data into engaging worlds or developing analysis tools that revolutionize how scientists can understand their research.  

The Power of Imagination 

In its first day, the OceanX Summit underscored that science alone cannot secure a sustainable ocean future – it must be paired with education, creativity, and collaboration to reach a broader audience who understands what the ocean needs and get involved in building solutions. Accompanying guests on the OceanXplorer’s main deck are the very projects that were developed at sea during OceanX Education Hackathon programs, and pull guests into a new reality where ocean data is brought to life. 

The next generation is emerging as powerful leaders, using storytelling and technology to drive change. “Games are the best way to learn everything. What is a game? There’s a goal, there’s a challenge, there’s some stress. So you’re going to be a little worried you might not make it through, and then when you do — that learning stays with you because of the emotional reaction it triggers,”  said Michael Thompson, Programme Head of DigiPen Insitute of Technology Singapore. OceanX is bringing science alive. Immersive media can move people from passive awareness to active stewardship by making learning intuitive and providing experiences that connect with people’s emotions.

“All humans play. We learn through play — and games let us do things you can’t do in the real world,” said Andreas Suika, Game Designer and Creative Technologist. He stressed that providing immersive spaces to learn through cross-disciplinary collaboration between science, art, and technology opens new ways to inspire curiosity and responsibility. Together, these forces are helping humanity reimagine its relationship with the ocean and the planet.