Thalassa Movement (TM) is an environmental education project aimed at promoting scientific knowledge and behaviors that support the conservation of marine ecosystems through movement practices.

The TM project’s methodology is based on a theoretical framework that integrates the theory of Embodied Cognition (Varela), the theory of perception (Merleau-Ponty), and the concept of mimesis (Scaramuzzo), recognizing the lived body as the primary channel for experiencing the world.

The TM experiential workshops (1 hour in duration) are structured in three phases: (1) activation of prior knowledge through natural specimens, images/videos, vocalizations, and environmental audio recordings; (2) observation of the motor behaviors of marine organisms in natural habitats and analytical breakdown of motor patterns (postures, points of contact, weight shifts, individual and collective dynamics, rhythmicity); (3) bodily experimentation through a motor alphabet, in which participants replicate, imitate, and reflect on specific motor elements.

The evaluation design includes qualitative and semi-structured pre- and post-workshop questionnaires aimed at measuring cognitive (understanding of biological concepts), affective (empathy toward the marine world), and behavioral (intention to adopt pro-environmental practices) variables, supplemented by an ethnographic survey featuring brief autobiographies on the human-sea relationship.

Preliminary results show an improvement in the understanding of biological concepts. TM serves as a replicable model for environmental education, offering a detailed methodological protocol that can be adapted to different audience contexts.