#MAREMonday 46

On 06.04.2026 we present the 46th session of our online lecture series with a contribution of

Nada Kamel Nofal
(Alexandria Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage, Alexandria University)

Bahar UNESCO Club: Connecting the Public to Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

The Bahar Project is an educational awareness initiative designed to promote appreciation for the importance of maritime and underwater cultural heritage among young people in Egypt and the Arab region, particularly those aged 6 to 15.

The project employs innovative educational approaches that combine interactive activities with modern technology. Launched in 2019 by the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage at Alexandria University, the project is supported by the Honor Frost Foundation (UK) and the UNESCO Chair for Underwater Cultural Heritage. Later, the UNESCO Club “Bahar” was established at the Centre to broaden the project’s scope and expand its activities to a wider audience.

The project adopted a modern cultural outreach strategy widely used in international initiatives: linking the project’s identity to a distinctive character or mascot. Thus, the character “Bahar” was created, with a defined personality and a consistent color palette to establish a strong visual identity for the project. The character “Bahar” serves as the project’s ambassador and spokesperson, embodying its values and objectives. Designed as a researcher in underwater cultural heritage, Bahar engages in a range of activities that raise awareness about this field. He is also a nature enthusiast, dedicated to protecting the marine environment through awareness campaigns and educational programs that highlight the dangers of marine pollution, particularly from plastic waste.