During WIRE Day, held at Tallinn University, three WIRE pilot projects — two Horizon Mission pilots and one student-led initiative — presented their preliminary findings, all contributing to the Horizon Europe Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.
Célia Quico (Universidade Lusófona) introduced her project Infamous Shipwrecks, which explores how Extended Reality (XR) can enhance ocean literacy by telling engaging stories about historically significant shipwrecks. The research focuses on how immersive storytelling might reach specific audiences and foster greater awareness and understanding of ocean-related issues.
A collaborative project titled "Water as Time", developed by four WIRE partners, was also presented. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together artistic and scientific perspectives to reflect on the impact of time on water, the human relationship with it, and the many narratives it holds. The project will culminate in a series of exhibition works.
Agnes Meng, a PhD student at Lusófona University, shared her research on Immersive viewing, sharing, and reflecting on the river ecosystem preservation through an intangible cultural heritage approach. Her project focuses on a threatened Portuguese river and will result in a short documentary and an immersive installation that brings attention to local ecological and cultural heritage.
These presentations demonstrated the richness and diversity of the WIRE pilots and their strong alignment with the Horizon Mission’s environmental goals. We look forward to following the evolution of these projects and seeing the full results of their innovative research.
