Post-Carbon: Carbon as Energy, Life Substance, and Currency

"Blue Carbon and Coastal Ecology", co-hosted by Design Society on June 29 and 30th, invites artists, scientists, urban planners from China and Switzerland to explore blue carbon storage, mangroves, and coral ecosystems in coastal cities like Shenzhen through research visits, workshops, and forums.

The ocean is not only the story of the origin of life but also holds half of the world’s biomass, regulating pH balance and absorbing carbon dioxide. Phytoplankton uses photosynthesis to form organic matter, which is then transferred to the deep sea. As the largest carbon reservoir, the ocean’s carbon storage capacity surpasses that of terrestrial ecosystems. The secrets of marine and wetland/coastal life also involve processes of human occupation, extraction, cultivation, naturalization, and denaturalization.

Invited by Comple-X.NET, we visited the Shenzhen Mangrove Conservation Area, where Associate Professor Zhou Haichao explained the mangrove ecosystem. Dr. Feng introduced deep-sea oil extraction and oceanic low-carbon technologies. Marie Greismar shared insights on coral conservation and cross-disciplinary artistic practices, while Knowbotiq also presented their work on peat bogs in the Scottish Highlands.

Spanning from coastal areas to shallow waters and then to the deep sea, the research visits, workshops, and forums gradually enter an otherworldly realm, exploring the reproduction and extinction of marine life, the accumulation and circulation of matter, as well as urban planning and ocean farm management.

"In participating in this interdisciplinary discussion on "blue carbon and complex issues," I’m sharing from my limited background in ecological research, focusing on the complexity of mangrove coastal wetland ecosystems in terms of their natural characteristics and adaptive management. I strongly agree with the idea that "ecology is a bridge between science and society." This concept also aligns with how art provides an interdisciplinary understanding and representation of natural ecosystems. Both have a complexity and beauty that may be hard to quantify, but can certainly be felt."
--- Zhou HaiChao, Shenzhen University College of Life and Marine Sciences