Nina and Berry: Using science research and art to deepen children’s and public understanding of our oceans and marine organisms

Foraminifera are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in all of our planet's oceans and seas. They are the most abundant single-celled organisms in the marine environment, and despite their small size, they are essential for understanding the evolution of life and ecosystems on Earth. We would like to introduce the world of foraminifera to children and the general public, who don't know much about them and their important role in Earth's history, in a playful way, where we combine our passion for science and Art. We have created two illustrated mascots called Nina and Berry, which are based on what we now know about foraminifera thanks to micropalaeontology. Nina Floaty is based on a plantonic species that floats in the sea(Neogloboquadrina pachyderma), and Berry Ground is based on a benthic species that lives on the seabed(Melonis barleeanus). They will teach us a better understanding and knowledge of our planet through their stories, which will hopefully make us think about why why foraminiferal assemblages might be important for more symbiotic ways forward together in this changing world