Headed by the CHAM, it has as partners the FCSH, IHC, IEM and IELT. Within its three main lines of action – scientific research, training and higher education, and dissemination – it combines central themes related to marine and underwater archaeology, and marine and environmental history. Its main objective is to address current issues of the history of the oceans and their cultural heritage through a multidisciplinary approach that combines different methodologies of the humanities in a shared and integrated manner. The UNESCO Chair on «The Ocean´s Cultural Heritage» will also enable a network of contacts to be established between institutions, researchers and students, and aims to create effective partnerships between several European Atlantic countries, Africa and America. The Chair currently has partnerships with institutions from different countries including Spain, Ireland, Morocco, Cabo Verde, Brazil and Colombia, as well as with various Portuguese institutions. The objective of this network, headed by the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, is to emphasize the importance of principles like the sharing of knowledge, social solidarity and establishing bases for developing good practices that are consistent with UNESCO’s principles.

Having already been presented in the UNESCO headquarters and before the international peers, a series of activities will now be initiated with the endorsement of the Chair. With the support of a research team from the FCSH centres, these include: the continuation of existing research projects, the creation of post-graduate training in marine archaeology in the African-Iberian-American world, the development of new scientific issues and the preparation of European and international candidacies, organisation seminars that are open to the general public, organisation of scientific conferences about the past of the oceans, their heritage, cultures and environments, and the creation of an educational thematic programme for schools associated to UNESCO.

The UNESCO Chair on «The Ocean´s Cultural Heritage» will contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of marine cultural heritage and of local marine societies; it will increase awareness of its conservation and encourage sustainable exploration activities of the cultural resources of the countries involved. To that end, recognition of the potential and value of these resources is of primary importance, and the active participation of all the interested, involved and local communities, as well the scientific and political communities, is essential.

Organization

Collaboration