The Mind Museum and the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), with the support from the U.S. government, today launched “A Glass of the Sea: An Exhibition on the Coral Triangle.”

The exhibition features the astounding biodiversity of the Coral Triangle, particularly the Verde Island Passage which is dubbed as the world’s "center of the center of marine biodiversity."

“The U.S. government is pleased to be part of this exhibit which aims to showcase the wealth of the Philippines’ biodiversity and more importantly, to raise awareness on the need to conserve the Coral Triangle to support marine resources and the coastal communities that depend on them,” U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria D. Steele said. “Strengthened natural resources and environmental management contributes to our shared goal of broad-based and resilient growth in the Philippines”.

The exhibition features stunning underwater footage taken from the expeditions conducted by the CAS in the Coral Triangle area. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about fascinating marine creatures and learn how to care for marine life through interactive games and art sculptures.

This project is supported by USAID under the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in (Science) Research or PEER Science Grant. The grant enabled local researcher and curator of the Mind Museum Maribel Garcia to partner with U.S.-based researcher Dr. Terrence Gosliner of the CAS to work together on achieving ecosystem resilience.

“The U.S. government is pleased to play a role in developing opportunities to enhance international collaboration among researchers. Surely with the best minds in the Philippines and in the U.S. working together, many of the country’s development problems can be addressed,” Director Steele said.

The Mind Museum will be bringing A Glass of the Sea to other parts of the country in the next two years.

Located in Bonifacio Global City, the Mind Museum is a non-stock, non-profit science museum of the Bonifacio Art Foundation. The institution opened in 2012 and won the international THEA award in 2014 for its thematic threads, design and execution.