Fano Marine Center inaugurates Biodiversity Gateway and Alienlab

The Biodiversity Gateway and Alienlab have been inaugurated at the Fano Marine Center in Italy. This initiative is part of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), a project coordinated by the National Research Council (CNR) to connect scientific research with the public.

Alienlab serves as an immersive laboratory designed to educate the public on marine invasive species and the impact of rising sea temperatures in the Mediterranean. Using 3D viewers and interactive pop-ups, visitors can explore how tropical and Indo-Pacific species, such as the blue crab and lionfish, are displacing indigenous marine life due to warming waters.

The Fano site acts as a key node in a national infrastructure that includes locations in Venice, Palermo, Rome, Naples, and Lecce. The project also includes new laboratory spaces made possible through construction work by the University of Bologna.