Panaji: The old GMC complex in Panaji has been transformed into an immersive underwater world where children can discover phytoplankton through glow-in-the-dark artworks, sensory environments, storytelling and hands-on activities.Titled ‘Phytoplankton World: The Unseen Heroes of Marine Life’, the installation was created by Children’s Art Studio at Museum of Goa, with support from Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).Visitors move through an imagined underwater environment featuring seaweed-like forms, marine ecosystems and enlarged, luminous representations inspired by phytoplankton seen under a microscope.CCP mayor Rohit Monserrate said the installation was intended to encourage people to appreciate even the smallest forms of life. “Through an installation like Phytoplankton World, we want people to look closely at these tiny organisms and understand how fundamental they are to the food systems and ecological systems that sustain us,” he said.Museum of Goa director Sharada Kerkar said, “Creating educational experiences rooted in wonder allows children to empathise with worlds beyond their everyday lives–places, systems and beings they may not otherwise encounter.”The team used glow-in-the-dark materials, tactile surfaces and recycled materials to create the underwater setting. Discarded material collected from beaches was also transformed into artworks.
