Project 3 Research – Nora Frederick – Sculpture 2

2. Clarify Topic

In this project I want to investigate the difference between space and ocean exploration. Many scientists believe that we know more about space than we know about our oceans. More than 80 percent of the ocean remains unseen and unexplored. This means that humans have seen and mapped more of Mars and the moon than we have of the ocean. This goes against everything that seems logical. Most people have been to the ocean and space remains this mystical thing that only astronauts (and the insanely wealthy) can explore. How can we have the technology to send people into a vacuum but not to the ocean?

The ocean covers 71 percent of the planet. With less than 80 percent of that ocean mapped, it seems like we know very little about the planet we live on. The deepest trenches in the ocean are deep enough that if Everest was put at the ocean floor it would not break the surface of the water. The amount of pressure that a vessel would have to withstand to travel that deep is hard to imagine. There is also no light at this depth. The vastness of the ocean means that scientists have no idea how many animals could be living in these deep trenches. To me it feels like these ocean creatures that could exist are as mystical as the possibility of aliens.

This sort of paradox between space and the ocean has always perplexed me. I grew up around water, visiting the beach and sailing every summer. The ocean is a large part of my life. Despite constantly being surrounded by the ocean I always have been a little wary of it. The fact that you can jump in and not know what’s below you is always a little unsettling.