Taking advantage of the internationality of the team, we release the stories in several languages. Would you like to listen to some sneak peeks of the stories in Volume I?
Taking advantage of the internationality of the team, we release the stories in several languages. Would you like to listen to some sneak peeks of the stories in Volume I?
Illustration: Callum
Pamela Rossel
Pamela Rossel
Lucas, our common ancestor in the deep sea volcanos
Lucas, our common ancestor in the deep sea volcanos
In my story you meet a funny little creature called Lucas. He lives in a place where most people think life can’t exist. The story explains how important this little creature is to life as we know it.
In my story you meet a funny little creature called Lucas. He lives in a place where most people think life can’t exist. The story explains how important this little creature is to life as we know it.
English
Deborah Tangunan
Deborah Tangunan
Forams are fantastic! But what if they are made out of plastic?
Forams are fantastic! But what if they are made out of plastic?
In my story, the ambitious micro-fish Gigi and the equally inquisitive sea turtle Thibault are close friends. On one of their adventures in the sea they discover a group of peculiar sea creatures. Professor Fina, a teacher in an underwater school for marine animals, helps them to analyze the sea creatures. This story tells us what the future might bring for foraminifera, a group of microscopic marine organisms. There will be a time when our oceans will have so much plastic litter that even the smallest organisms have to use them as shells.
In my story, the ambitious micro-fish Gigi and the equally inquisitive sea turtle Thibault are close friends. On one of their adventures in the sea they discover a group of peculiar sea creatures. Professor Fina, a teacher in an underwater school for marine animals, helps them to analyze the sea creatures. This story tells us what the future might bring for foraminifera, a group of microscopic marine organisms. There will be a time when our oceans will have so much plastic litter that even the smallest organisms have to use them as shells.
English (above) Filipino (below))
Illustration: Deborah Tangunan and Jay Nogot
Illustration: Annette Leenheer
Leonardo Tamborrino
Leonardo Tamborrino
Lophelina
Lophelina
My story is about a young coral girl named Lophelina. She had to move away from her father Pertusa because she couldn’t live in Corallia – a magnificent city build by the corals with the help of their algae friends. Since she was a child she had to live in the deep ocean with the grumpy auntie Madrepora. One day Lophelina, tired and frustrated, asks to go to Corallia to see the wonderful city and finally meet her father. Unfortunately, aunt Madrepora has to tell her the truth: Corallia no longer exists…
My story is about a young coral girl named Lophelina. She had to move away from her father Pertusa because she couldn’t live in Corallia – a magnificent city build by the corals with the help of their algae friends. Since she was a child she had to live in the deep ocean with the grumpy auntie Madrepora. One day Lophelina, tired and frustrated, asks to go to Corallia to see the wonderful city and finally meet her father. Unfortunately, aunt Madrepora has to tell her the truth: Corallia no longer exists…
English
Italiano
Illustration: Annette Leenheer
Denise Müller-Dum
Denise Müller-Dum
The life cycle
The life cycle
This story describes the scientist Fazial’s research trip into the jungle. His companion, a simple boat driver, brings him to a new scientific question that captures him enough to make him return years later to explore it. With his story I try to convey the fascination for this landscape.
This story describes the scientist Fazial’s research trip into the jungle. His companion, a simple boat driver, brings him to a new scientific question that captures him enough to make him return years later to explore it. With his story I try to convey the fascination for this landscape.
English (above) Deutsch (below)
Haozhuang Wang
Haozhuang Wang
SWIM! It's trawling!!!
SWIM! It's trawling!!!
I started to study cold-water corals (CWC) as my PhD project started in 2015. The more I learned about CWC, the more I became intrigued by these creatures. In comparison to tropical corals, CWCs are not well known to the public and our knowledge about them in the scientific community is also limited. Despite this, they are already under threat by human activities, especially by deep-sea trawling. Every time I see pictures of reefs, either damaged or covered by garbage, I have a strong urge to tell people that we need to protect these deep-sea creatures. So eventually, this short story came out.
I started to study cold-water corals (CWC) as my PhD project started in 2015. The more I learned about CWC, the more I became intrigued by these creatures. In comparison to tropical corals, CWCs are not well known to the public and our knowledge about them in the scientific community is also limited. Despite this, they are already under threat by human activities, especially by deep-sea trawling. Every time I see pictures of reefs, either damaged or covered by garbage, I have a strong urge to tell people that we need to protect these deep-sea creatures. So eventually, this short story came out.
The story portrays the beautiful reef city and the various animal species living among it. One day, a newly born CWC larva, Mandi, and his friend a velvet belly shark happen to witness the whole reef city being destroyed by deep-sea trawling. To learn more about what happened to them after the trawling and how destructive it can be I invite you to read my story.
The story portrays the beautiful reef city and the various animal species living among it. One day, a newly born CWC larva, Mandi, and his friend a velvet belly shark happen to witness the whole reef city being destroyed by deep-sea trawling. To learn more about what happened to them after the trawling and how destructive it can be I invite you to read my story.
Illustration: Peter Marten
普通话
河北
English
אלפבית
English
Illustration: Boaz Balachsan
Hadar Elyashiv
Hadar Elyashiv
Tonight you will be dream about the ocean
Tonight you will be dream about the ocean
What most of us know about the oceans, begins and ends either when we visit the beach, or what the more adventurous among us see when diving down to 40 m depth. Pictures and documentaries of National Geographic and alike help us to get to know a little more of how the deeper parts of oceans look. Still, the oceans are much deeper than most of us will ever reach and hold much more than a camera can catch, whether these are mysterious creatures, unbelievable processes or simply the perception of how deep deep can be.
What most of us know about the oceans, begins and ends either when we visit the beach, or what the more adventurous among us see when diving down to 40 m depth. Pictures and documentaries of National Geographic and alike help us to get to know a little more of how the deeper parts of oceans look. Still, the oceans are much deeper than most of us will ever reach and hold much more than a camera can catch, whether these are mysterious creatures, unbelievable processes or simply the perception of how deep deep can be.
In the poem I wish to give you a little of the feeling that one could feel if there was a possibility to walk over the sea floor—just like climbing a mountain. In the poem, you will discover on the one hand some of the unique creatures that live in the shallow and deeper places. On the other hand, you will find out how human activities also hurt and pollute these, far-from-sight environments. But above all, it is a little fantasy about our oceans.
In the poem I wish to give you a little of the feeling that one could feel if there was a possibility to walk over the sea floor—just like climbing a mountain. In the poem, you will discover on the one hand some of the unique creatures that live in the shallow and deeper places. On the other hand, you will find out how human activities also hurt and pollute these, far-from-sight environments. But above all, it is a little fantasy about our oceans.
Sabrina Hohmann
Sabrina Hohmann
Eddie Earth
Eddie Earth
I decided to join the “Once Upon a Time” project because it poses a great opportunity to convey the topic of climate change to people who are usually not involved in this issue. Kids especially are open and curious for new knowledge when it is communicated in an adequate way. Telling an easy-to-understand story creates a memorable and connectable knowledge, which is essential for generating empathy for an issue. Because our kids are the generation that will have to deal with the consequences of climate change, we should use projects like “Once Upon a Time” to make our kids aware of this challenge.
I decided to join the “Once Upon a Time” project because it poses a great opportunity to convey the topic of climate change to people who are usually not involved in this issue. Kids especially are open and curious for new knowledge when it is communicated in an adequate way. Telling an easy-to-understand story creates a memorable and connectable knowledge, which is essential for generating empathy for an issue. Because our kids are the generation that will have to deal with the consequences of climate change, we should use projects like “Once Upon a Time” to make our kids aware of this challenge.
Illustration: Sabrina Hohmann
Illustration: Peter Marten
Castellano
English
Deutsch
Gema Martínez Méndez
Gema Martínez Méndez
The Bremen Town Musicians set sail
The Bremen Town Musicians set sail
Bremen is only about 10 meters above sea level and therefore threatened by the ongoing sea level rise, which is related to the current human-made global warming. There are many other coastal areas and islands facing flooding in the coming years. In my story the Bremen Town Musicians will learn about these facts.
Bremen is only about 10 meters above sea level and therefore threatened by the ongoing sea level rise, which is related to the current human-made global warming. There are many other coastal areas and islands facing flooding in the coming years. In my story the Bremen Town Musicians will learn about these facts.
The original story was published in its written form in 1819. This inspired me to put these famous characters under two very different climate conditions: The story begins in the year 1816, which is in the very cold period called “The Little Ice Age”, and ends in the year 2116, which is predicted to be warmer than today.
The original story was published in its written form in 1819. This inspired me to put these famous characters under two very different climate conditions: The story begins in the year 1816, which is in the very cold period called “The Little Ice Age”, and ends in the year 2116, which is predicted to be warmer than today.
If you would like to know how they end up in the year 2116 and what they learn about sea level rise, you are more than welcome to read my story! or to listen it read by the Uruguayan radio host Diego Cabral!
If you would like to know how they end up in the year 2116 and what they learn about sea level rise, you are more than welcome to read my story! or to listen it read by the Uruguayan radio host Diego Cabral!
EnFrecuencia: website hosted in Urugüay by Diego Cabral for cultural and scientific outreach (www.enfrecuencia.com.uy)
Iván Hernández Almeida
Iván Hernández Almeida
The plastic island
The plastic island
I have written about the plastic pollution in the oceans from the perspective of a little girl. Environmental education in the early childhood will encourage children to explore nature and to care about it. They will develop positive feelings towards the natural environment. I think this is one of the best approaches against human-made climate change and degradation of the environment.
I have written about the plastic pollution in the oceans from the perspective of a little girl. Environmental education in the early childhood will encourage children to explore nature and to care about it. They will develop positive feelings towards the natural environment. I think this is one of the best approaches against human-made climate change and degradation of the environment.
Aurea, the main character in my story, is a very curious nine year old girl. She is not very happy about all the plastic garbage that is lying on the beach or floating on the sea surface. She is stubborn and forms an initiative: with the support of some adults she raises the concern about plastic pollution in her community. Altogether they work to revert the situation.
Aurea, the main character in my story, is a very curious nine year old girl. She is not very happy about all the plastic garbage that is lying on the beach or floating on the sea surface. She is stubborn and forms an initiative: with the support of some adults she raises the concern about plastic pollution in her community. Altogether they work to revert the situation.
Illustration: Carolina Guarnizo Caro
Vicente Durán Toro
Vicente Durán Toro
Catalina is Inara
Catalina is Inara
The potential of the oceans as source of energy can be beautifully described in a poem.
VicenteSpanish.mp3Castellano
VicenteEnglish.mp3English
Christiane Schmidt
Christiane Schmidt
Climate Ghostbusters
Climate Ghostbusters
OUAT Newspaper 20.07.2099
OUAT Newspaper 20.07.2099
Yesterday, 200 inhabitants of Manhattan died in an attack by the Climate Ghosts. The information provided by the police revealed that the ghosts had stolen the “life energy” from the victims’ wristbands. Subsequently, the people died on the spot since they had no energy left. At the scene of the crime, the police found a sticky liquid, which belonged to the ghosts and indicated that the ghosts killed the victims. Scientists assume that the increasing appearance of the Climate Ghosts is associated with the changing climate.
Yesterday, 200 inhabitants of Manhattan died in an attack by the Climate Ghosts. The information provided by the police revealed that the ghosts had stolen the “life energy” from the victims’ wristbands. Subsequently, the people died on the spot since they had no energy left. At the scene of the crime, the police found a sticky liquid, which belonged to the ghosts and indicated that the ghosts killed the victims. Scientists assume that the increasing appearance of the Climate Ghosts is associated with the changing climate.
Illustration: Annette Leenheer
Christi_English.mp3English
Christi_German.mp3Deutsch
Do you like the illustrations of our stories?
Do you like the illustrations of our stories?
Below you find details about the illustrators
Below you find details about the illustrators
Carolina Guarnizo Caro: carolingka8@gmail.com
Carolina Guarnizo Caro: carolingka8@gmail.com
Sabrina Hohmann: shohmann@marum.de
Sabrina Hohmann: shohmann@marum.de
Bruce McCallum Reid: bruce.reidacr@gmail.com
Bruce McCallum Reid: bruce.reidacr@gmail.com
Jay Nogot: josenogot@gmail.com
Jay Nogot: josenogot@gmail.com
Deborah Tangunan: tangunan@usal.de
Deborah Tangunan: tangunan@usal.de