Seagrass documentary & Poster premiere

In a half-day event, the premiere of the documentary 'Seagrass: The Hidden Life Beneath our Shores' will be celebrated, alongside the launch of a seagrass poster by Dr Liam Morrison.
 
The event will take place at the University of Galway on 9 June, from 13:00 to 16:30, and is open to all members of the public.
 
Dr Liam Morrison will present his seagrass research, while the director and producer of the documentary, Órla Coutin Fitzsimons, will share insights into the making of the film and the researchers and communities featured in it. An Irish botanist specialising in algae will also contribute a keynote address. The programme will continue with a screening of the documentary, followed by an open discussion.
 
The film follows researchers from the National University of Ireland, Galway, including their work within the European CLIMAREST project, as they map, study and restore seagrass meadows along Ireland's west coast. Their research offers new insight into how these fragile ecosystems can be protected and why their preservation matters for the future of the planet. Seagrass restoration highlights that healthy ecosystems cannot thrive in linear economic systems based on extraction and waste.
 
Seagrass meadows are among the most valuable and most overlooked natural assets on Earth. They store carbon at rates that rival terrestrial forests, support marine biodiversity, stabilise coastlines and underpin the livelihoods of fishing communities — yet they have long been absent from mainstream conversations about investing in nature. This event makes the case that blue ecosystems deserve the same attention and financial commitment as forests or wetlands, and that restoring them is not only an ecological imperative but an economic one. Supporting seagrass is a concrete, measurable investment in nature with returns that extend far beyond the shoreline.
 
Participants will gain insight into the conservation of Ireland's blue forests, with opportunities to discuss, exchange ideas and connect with others interested in marine ecosystem restoration, nature-positive finance and environmental protection.