The Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) will begin tomorrow “Sea and Past”, a series of interactive workshops specifically designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias across Galicia, as part of the “Accessible Heritage” initiative.

There will be four workshops, with small audiences and content adapted to the target public, focusing on the biodiversity and ecology of bivalve molluscs and traditional technologies for their exploitation, such as shellfishing and mussel rafts. Participants will connect with memories from the past and receive sensory stimulation, reinforced through traditional sea songs that will guide the sessions.

The workshops were developed in close collaboration with AFAMO, the Association of Relatives of Alzheimer’s Patients of O Morrazo, and Fundación Legar, dedicated to recovering and disseminating Galicia’s musical cultural heritage.

The main objective is to establish a link between participants and their memories through sensory, emotional and cognitive activities. Tactile materials and traditional sea songs will be used to create an experience combining scientific knowledge with emotional connection.

In addition to improving understanding of marine biodiversity and Galician cultural traditions, the workshops seek to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for older people and those facing cognitive diseases.

Working closely with specialised associations and paying individual attention to participants’ needs, we aim to create an environment of care, respect and affection in each workshop.

This project is a joint initiative of the CSIC Scientific Culture Unit in Galicia (Institutional Delegation), the Institute of Heritage Sciences (INCIPIT, Santiago de Compostela) through its Valorisation Unit, and the Institute of Marine Research (IIM, Vigo) through its Scientific Culture Unit.

The workshops will take place on 14 May in Cee, 20 May in Moaña, 10 June in Burela and 12 June in Ribeira.

Project data

This project is funded by FECYT – Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. FECYT code: B-18215. It is part of the project “Annual Coordination of the UCC Network: Accessible Scientific Culture for People with Disabilities at CSIC”, awarded to the CSIC Deputy Vice-Presidency for Scientific Culture and Citizen Science.

Entities involved

The project includes the participation of several entities, including the UCC of the CSIC Delegation in Galicia, responsible for coordination, the UCC+I of IIM-CSIC and the Valorisation Unit of Incipit-CSIC. Collaborating entities include Federación Alzheimer Galicia (FAGAL), AFAMO and other Alzheimer’s and dementia associations in Viveiro, Burela, Fisterra and Soneira, AGADEA, Fundación Legar and Fundación Alfareiras Terra Teruel (with Incipit).