The Mlab in a different context: Journal Club

🌊📚 MLab at the Museum Journal Club: Exploring Rafting and Species Dispersal 🪵🌍

This week, the MLab team joined a fascinating Journal Club session at the museum, diving into the topic:
"Towards a More Nuanced Understanding of Long-Distance Rafting: Case Studies from the Southern Ocean."

The discussion focused on the crucial — and often overlooked — role of rafting in species dispersal across vast oceanic distances. Using natural "rafts" like kelp, driftwood, and even plastic debris, organisms can travel thousands of kilometers, crossing ecological boundaries and shaping biodiversity in remote regions like the Southern Ocean. 🐚🪸🌊

We explored compelling case studies that challenge traditional views of ocean connectivity, emphasizing the complex ecological and evolutionary implications of this process — especially in the context of climate change and human impact.

In parallel, participants also took part in a beautiful hands-on contact lumens print workshop, using sunlight and photosensitive paper to create striking images of natural materials. 🌞📸 This creative session offered a poetic reflection on time, light, and nature — tying art and science together in a unique way.

It was an inspiring afternoon of knowledge exchange, creativity, and curiosity, reminding us how science can travel — just like species — in unexpected and transformative ways.

A big thank you to the organizers for making this event both intellectually and artistically enriching! ✨🔬🖼️