We’re excited to share that Barba AS is a key contributor to the new European educational initiative Visual Storytelling for Ocean Education (ViSOE), funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme. This three-year, €400,000 project aims to transform ocean literacy across Europe by developing an immersive digital learning tool for teacher training and classroom use. The platform will combine cutting-edge storytelling with scientific insight to bring the ocean—and especially the Arctic—closer to students everywhere.
Led by the University of Iceland, and project lead Marianne Helene Rasmussen, ViSOE brings together an incredible consortium of partners, including Aarhus University (Denmark), the University of Stavanger (Norway), and STEM Ísland (Iceland). Together, they offer deep expertise in marine science, education, digital learning, and outreach. Barba has worked with Marianne on numerous occasions, including past Arctic expeditions and education initiatives, making this collaboration both well-established and highly impactful.
Our role in the project is to provide visual and scientific content gathered during Orca Odyssey 2024/25 and other Arctic expeditions. These stories, moments, and encounters will form the core of the ViSOE platform, allowing students to experience the Arctic through the lens of explorers, scientists, and storytellers.
To further elevate the quality and reach of the material, we’re teaming up with Black Whale, a production company known for powerful, immersive storytelling focused on the ocean. Together, we’ll turn raw expedition footage into engaging, curriculum-aligned resources designed to inspire and educate.
ViSOE is an exciting milestone for us. It allows us to use our unique access to the Arctic to help foster a deeper connection between young people and the ocean—and to support the development of a more ocean-literate, environmentally aware generation.
“This initiative is an exciting milestone for Barba,” said Director Andreas B. Heide. “It allows us to use our unique access to the Arctic to support the development of a more ocean-literate and environmentally engaged society.”
The ViSOE platform will launch in 2026 and be freely available in multiple languages.
Funding Acknowledgment:
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement No. 2024-1-ISO-KA220-HED-000251092.
Storyteller and schoolteacher Sally Earthrowl during a live talk to a school class, with a pod of fin whales in the background.
One of seven educational talks held during the Orca Odyssey 2024/25 expedition.
