Discover the Deep

Studio MB were commissioned by Dynamic Earth to design their brand new gallery, Discover The Deep, which introduces audiences to the core principles of marine science including Edinburgh's own Charles Wyville Thomson, whose exploration of Scotland's marine environments in the 19th century launched the modern science of oceanography. One of the major hurdles to public understanding of the oceans is their lack of accessibility – and part of our design challenge was to offer the visitor an exciting opportunity to overcome this. As lead designer, Studio MB created three distinct sequential spaces with visitor interaction at the heart of our creative response.

Starting below the deck of a 19th century research ship, the visitor learns of HMS Challenger and her pioneering expeditions in deep sea exploration, replete with a re-imagined specimens cabinet – this 4 metre wide interactive AV wall illuminates, revealing the creatures discovered by Challenger as it plumbed new depths across the oceans. Visitors also get the hands-on experience as they use sifting and winch handle interactives to reveal how specimens were dredged, and how sea temperatures and sea depths were recorded. All of this was set against the backdrops of nautical charts and framed imagery which plot Challenger’s voyages across the globe giving an insight into what life was like onboard and onshore during these expeditions.

Moving through this space, the visitor breaks out into the huge dive zone, an immersive 17 metre wide x 6 metre high interactive that transports visitors to Scotland’s unique cold-water reefs. Five separate control stations allow users to be taken from the surface of the ocean down to the depths where they use an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to seek out the surprisingly colourful sponge gardens and animal species that can be found in the cold dark waters to the north and west of Scotland.

When the visitor resurfaces, they move into the final science zone where they meet the marine experts of today. With the aid of interactives ranging from headsets playing audio soundscapes recorded in the deep ocean; microscopes studying microplastics and their eco-impact; an ROV Pilot simulator game; and a multi-user ‘Deep Oceans Threat’ touchscreen interactive, the audience discovers the equipment and techniques currently being employed to explore this massive environment so deeply connected to the health and wellbeing of us all.