How Scientific Translation Services Aid Oceanography

Covering 70% of our planet, the ocean is responsible for over 50% of oxygen production and 90% of excess heat absorption. According to the UN, the ocean is home to most of the earth’s biodiversity. Yet, humans often take more from the ocean than they can replenish. Statistics show that 90% of big fish populations are already exhausted and more than 50% of coral reefs are destroyed. With this year’s theme being “Awaken New Depths“ for World Oceans Day, the UN is emphasizing the urgent need to change humanity’s relationship with the ocean. Over the years there have been great ocean explorers and scientists who have greatly influenced our understanding of the ocean’s unknown depths. Read on to learn more about how scientific translation services and localization services help contribute to the spread of knowledge around the globe and fuel further insights into how the ocean functions as an ecosystem:

Aqua-Lung and Scientific Translation Services

One invention that forever changed underwater exploration was the “Aqua-Lung“. Created by Jean Cousteau and Emile Gagnan in 1943, the “Aqua-Lung“ was the first fully-automated compressed-air oxygen tank that allowed divers to breathe for long periods underwater and explore depths beyond 100 feet. This invention paved the way for open-circuit scuba technology that’s still used today in the diving world.

It’s important to mention Cousteau’s ship, Calypso, which he used as a mobile laboratory for field research. He later shared his observations from his underwater expeditions with the public through books, films, and photographs, which through the help of French translation services, led to Cousteau’s rise as an internationally-renowned oceanographer

Deep Sea Cameras and Scientific Translation Services

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), only 5% of our oceans have been explored. One of the main reasons why  is the fact that much of the ocean lies in total darkness. However, recent discoveries have shown that ocean realms that look pitch black to human eyes are actually filled with hundreds of fish species that glow in colorful hues. Researchers have developed a camera that filters certain wavelengths and combine them with artificial blue light to increase the florescent colors of these fish to allow for scientific observation.

Scientific Discoveries and Translation Services

There’s no question that Cousteau’s inventions and recent developments in ocean science have been groundbreaking. However, sharing these inventions and ideas requires the support of life science translation services. Professional translators working with science-related materials are linguistic and subject-matter experts that have complete command of the concepts and terminology featured in science literature. Additionally, when working with scientific texts, translators must keep up with the latest trends in the industry and remain in constant dialogue with the authors for which they translate. Clear communication between scientific authors and translators can help clarify any questions or struggles the translator might have. To ensure the final result is in accordance with relevant quality requirements, translations need to be reviewed several times before publication. While this can be a time-consuming process, these publications need to be accurate in order to advance scientific understanding around the world.