Ambassador Natividad Graces Opening of Ocean Futures Exhibit at Futurium 

 

Futurium’s first special exhibition dedicated to the world’s oceans and their future under the UN Ocean Decade opened to the public on 14 November 2025.  The exhibition features an impressive large-scale installation by internationally-renowned Filipino artist Leeroy New, created in collaboration with The Mind Museum in Manila.

At the opening ceremony, Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad delivered a keynote message highlighting the importance of international cooperation for the Philippines and small island developing states in protecting the oceans,  preserving marine biodiversity, and in combating climate change. 

“Small countries like ours suffer the most, yet contribute the least to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.  The Philippines accounts for only three-tenths of one percent, while the small island developing states account for less than one percent of global emissions.  

“Governments are now in Belem for COP30 to review progress on climate targets.  While we have achieved progress, we need to do more, we need to do it faster, and we need to do it together.  International cooperation and assistance in providing the most vulnerable access to finance and the best available science for anticipatory evidence-based and sustained action to combat climate change is key,” said Ambassador Natividad.    

The keynote kicked off a discussion on visions of the future of the oceans, and strategies, resources and options for action by panelists Dr. Stefan Brandt, Director of the Futurium, Dr. Effrosyni Chelioti of the German Federal Ministry of Research Technology and Space and Dr. Ute Wilhelmsen of the Marine Research Alliance.  

Dancers in sea creature costumes fashioned from plastic bottles brought New’s walk-through installation to life and transformed the space into a mysterious underwater world. 

At the heart of “Ocean Futures” are the stories of a Filipino and a German fishing family—personal narratives of life with the sea, filled with hopes, concerns, dreams, and wishes for the ocean’s future. These stories are interwoven with scientific and societal insights on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable fisheries.

The exhibition runs until August 2025.  Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge. 

Dive in and explore the oceans of tomorrow!