Marie-Claire Chaineux

The Healing Sea: A Sustainable Coastal Ocean Resource: Thalassotherapy

Abstract Thalassotherapy is perhaps less an alternative medicine than a treatment for specific ailments. It has witnessed ups and downs. A centuries-old, if not millennia-old, approach, it has gained many adepts in the medical profession and left many a patient delighted with its results. Thalassotherapy has many aspects in common with thermalism that, similarly, gained its lettres de noblesse over the centuries. This paper examines the roles that thalassotherapy has played and currently plays and surveys the European centers that have gained a solid reputation for thalassotherapy. It concomitantly considers its parallel therapy—thermalism—and takes a look at other related alternative or complementary treatments. The economic impact of thalassotherapy and its related activities has increased.

Strategies in environmental education

The causes of environmental changes, including climate, are neither fully understood nor identified, nor do scientists agree about their nature. Yet, their impact is such that action cannot be delayed. This involves spreading public awareness through environmental education and sensitization. Hence a need to reach, to educate the poorly informed public at large. With the classroom as the base, “town meetings” and eco‐tourism may constitute potentially useful approaches towards that goal.

Belgica's Antarctic Toponymic Legacy

Abstract It might be argued that this paper does not sensu stricto contribute to “polar science.” It, however, rekindles aspects of its history and of that of both oceanography and cartography. Obviously the interest for the polar regions was keen in the 19th century and elicited financial support. The paper may lift anew the veil that has somewhat dimmed the light that should shine on polar science achievements of Belgian explorers and scientists. Knowledge of the names of geographic features in the Antarctic is probably less widespread, and yet, there are many Belgian names on and near the southernmost continent. Most names were given by the head of the first-ever Antarctic expedition to spend a winter on the southernmost continent. Belgian Royal Navy Lieutenant Adrien de Gerlache de Gomerys expedition in the Antarctic brought back a wealth of scientific information. His trip ended precisely 111 years ago, and has been—literally—carved in stone as the Belgica is indeed one of the 20 oceanographic vessels Prince Albert I of Monaco selected to be represented on the façade of the Musée Océanographique de Monaco.

Nothing New Under the Sun or Every Little Bit Helps Tidal Power: Status & Perspectives

The paper, in its first part, looks back to the past, but a distant part, of which some tide mills “survived”. But these relicts of bygone times might very prove that the future may include their revival. From tourist oddities they became working musea, and after having provided mechanical energy for three thousand years may well be electricity providers for isolated areas.