The idea is to offer everyone a space in which to enjoy the marine world that promotes the importance of protecting and respecting the environment.

The Oceanogràfic thus complies with the main aims that led to its construction by the Generalitat Valenciana. These are the creation of a centre from which to disseminate and conduct research into the marine environment and to support the recovery of protected fauna and flora, thus contributing to environmental conservation and the biodiversity of our planet.

The Oceanogràfic encourages research programmes in collaboration with universities and prestigious institutions on both a national and international scale, and at the same time is developing plans for the conservation of Mediterranean species. In order to carry out its research programmes, the oceanographic complex has an Education and Research Building that houses two laboratories for maintenance and work on the conservation of species. It also has special classrooms for the conducting of didactic activities on the marine world.

The lower floor of the building, which is 1,000 metres square, has research installations consisting of a large area of offices and a laboratory of high-technology equipment.

Sea Classrooms

The upper floor houses the educational section, with over 750 metres distributed in five classrooms. The “Pezqueñines” classroom is aimed at children aged between 4 and 7, and takes its name from the agreement signed in December 2003 by the Regulation and Organisation Fund for the Market for Fishing and Marine Products (Fondo de Regulación y Organización del Mercado de los Productos de la Pesca y Cultivos Marinos, FROM) and the City of the Arts and Sciences for the development of the “Pezqueñines” campaign at the Oceanogràfic. Together with a training programme, this initiative aims to make schoolchildren aware of the need for responsible fish consumption so as to avoid eating “pezqueñines” or tiny fish.

The schoolchildren also have the use of two laboratories, where they complete their academic training in a practical and entertaining way, and two classroom workshops, in which standard classes can be alternated with practical interactive experiments. There is also a library, which as well as being ideal for study and reference also provides a venue where both teachers and researchers can hold meetings and debates.

In this way the Valencia Oceanográfico Park has become the top centre for the defence and conservation of marine life, thanks to an educational and research project that is on a par with its architectural and technological design.

The installations of the Oceanogràfic are unique in Europe and allow the development of very interesting research programmes. For this reason it encourages and is to increase research into and the arousing of awareness of Marine Biodiversity.

Research Projects

Outstanding among their activities is the research programme of the Aquarium focused on the study of the "Health of the Seas". That programme has two fundamental aspects: to undertake quality research on marine biodiversity, contributing to its dissemination and raising public awareness of the conservation problems facing many marine species.

To do so, three research lines are developed that, with the "Health of the Seas" as their common denominator, have, on the one hand, biological knowledge applications for the animals acclimatised in the site (reproduction, behaviour or illnesses), and, on the other hand, the conservation of species threatened in their natural habitat, with special reference to those that live in the Mediterranean.

Research into the "Parasites of Marine Species" on the site and the illnesses that they present is undertaken. This is about getting to know and analyse the parasites that different species of fish, turtles and marine mammals carry, their action and transmission paths. To do so, we enjoy the experience of the University of Valencia which has international scientific prestige in this speciality. The results, moreover, have positive benefits for the state of health of the species in the installation and on their maintenance.

An area of enormous interest for the Aquarium is that of the "Studies on marine species' behaviour" that is undertaken with the help of hugely experienced staff from the Autonomous University of Madrid. One of the main behavioural aspects has to do with the bioacoustics of belugas, dolphins and osseous fish.

In 2011, the Oceanogràfic of the City of Arts and Sciences took part for the third year running along with Armed Forces and the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, in a new stage of the research project in the Antarctic on the health status of the phocidae and otariidae populations, i.e. seals, elephant seals or sea lions, with special emphasis in their assessment on the impact that human activity and the influence of latitude may have on transmissible diseases in these populations.

Much more than a leisure option: Education

The main message of the Oceanogràfic’s educational project is clear, namely the conservation of the seas and its inhabitants. During his/her journey through the complex the visitor receives educational messages, and can also handle interactive modules, touch the animals in the contact pool, listen to the calls of marine mammals through hydrophones, and ask questions of the keepers.

The educational project is large enough to reach a multitude of groups of different ages with varied training and interests. The feelings generated by the animal-enclosure complex represent a strong educational message.
Education is based on making the public aware of the need for the conservation of the environment. To this end, two differentiated aspects are proposed within the educational framework: formal education that is conceived and aimed at the school sector, and non formal education that consists of information with bioeducational contents aimed at the general public.

An example of this is provided by the "Oceanogràfic Tuesdays", a cycle of lectures that aims to tackle, among other subjects, awareness of the problems of marine ecosystems and the threats they face in the conservation of their biological diversity. The aim of these talks followed by discussions, which began last December and will continue until July 2005, is to introduce the subject to the general public and make it aware, especially the younger generations, of the main problems faced by marine ecosystems and also of possible solutions. This represents an opportunity to get to know aspects of Spanish coasts and waters, especially those of Valencia, without forgetting the Mediterranean context and that of oceans in general.

The carrying out of specific activities for primary and secondary schoolchildren within the following visiting options:

1. Unguided tour: the teacher leads the school group along the proposed routes.

2. Guided tour: the group is accompanied by an educator who introduces the pupils to the marine world by means of a route on which they will have to solve didactic and interactive tests. There is also the possibility of specific guided tours on various different subjects.

3. Sea classrooms: after a visit the pupils expand in depth the educational themes expounded in areas specially designed for the purpose.

4. Marine theatre: activitat pensada per al nivell infantil i els primers cicles d'Educació Primària en què s’usen tècniques pròpies del teatre i es transmet informació de les ciències de la naturalesa, de manera que els xiquets participen activament en la visita i en la representació teatral..

Specific educational activities for teachers: these are designed to facilitate teachers’ work by helping them to prepare the visit and improve their training.

Specific activities for the general public: these activities are proposed from the point of view of formal education by the following of educational itineraries and the giving of lectures and specialised courses to other sectors of the population apart from children, such as families with children, adults, and university students.

Specific activities for groups needing special education: these are designed to meet the needs of groups of disabled pupils.

Development of non formal education by means of the educational use of exhibitions, the designing of posters and information panels, free talks, shows with animals, etc...