DocuScience: Dead Zones

The documentary was made by artist Suzette Bousema, who, in collaboration with scientists, visualizes invisible environmental problems. In this film she shows how our way of life on land is inextricably linked to life in the sea. During this DocuScience event, marine microbiologist Detmer Sipkema will introduce the film, and after the screening Suzette Bousema will join for a post-screening discussion.

• Organised by: Wageningen University & Research
• Date: Tue 10 February 2026, from 17:00 till 18:30
• Duration: Walk in at 16:45
• Venue: Omnia

Following her multimedia art project Dead Zones, artist Suzette Bousema made a documentary together with the scientists she collaborated with. The documentary shows how our activities on land create oxygen-depleted areas in the sea. Excess nutrients—originating, for example, from the use of fertilizers and the keeping of large numbers of livestock in agriculture—enter ditches via groundwater and ultimately flow through inland waters toward the sea. There, they fuel massive microalgal blooms, which are eventually broken down by bacteria. This process consumes oxygen, which in extreme cases results in there being no oxygen left for other life. This can have disastrous consequences for marine life. The documentary addresses our inability to feel connected to these kinds of invisible environmental problems and shows how these dead zones can be made visible through collaboration with scientists. Can these dead zones be reversed? And what role could seaweed play? During this DocuScience event, microbiologist Detmer Sipkema introduces the film in relation to his own research. After the screening, Suzette Bousema will join for a discussion, with space for audience participation and questions.

Suzette Bousema is an artist who visualizes contemporary environmental problems in collaboration with scientists. She is interested in so-called “ecological hyperobjects”: environmental problems that are not directly visible and are too large, too small, or too abstract to grasp. In her practice, she explores how art can contribute to understanding and to our sense of connection with these issues. The media she uses range from photography to woven tapestries, from scent to installations, and from printmaking techniques to seaweed. Her work was recently shown at Museum Arnhem, CODA Apeldoorn, VU ArtScience Gallery, and Warming Up Festival. The documentary has previously been screened at a.o. Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam, Film by the Sea Festival, Texel Nature Film Festival Soeterd, Museon Omniversum, Utrecht University, and NIOZ.

Detmer Sipkema is a marine microbiologist (WU) and conducts research on symbiosis in the marine environment. It has become obvious that symbiosis appears to be the rule rather than the exception for aquatic life. He studies which advantages symbiotic microorganisms offer their eukaryotic hosts (sponges, oysters, finfish and seaweed) that make them more competitive, more flexible in coping with a changing environment and allow colonization of environmental niches that would otherwise be out of reach.

Good to know, the documentary is Dutch spoken and English subtitled.

De documentary will be shown in Omnia and admission is free of charge. The program will begin at 17:00, with the room opening at 16:45. You can register via the button below. After the program, you are welcome to talk while enjoying the DocuDinner.

Exclusively for DocuScience, restaurant Novum, in Omnia, offers a DocuDinner.  DocuDinner starts after DocuScience has ended around 18:30. For €28.50, you can enjoy a shared dining experience with various dishes to share, including a drink. A reservation is required and can be done by e-mailing welkom@restaurantnovum.nl or by reserving via the website www.restaurantnovum.nl. Please mention DocuScience.

DocuScience is a program in Omnia, where employees of Wageningen Campus share insights into the inspiring work happening at Campus. We will explore new perspectives through provocative documentaries that encourage conversation. Everyone working at Wageningen Campus is welcome, so bring your colleagues!

• https://suzettebousema.nl/Dead-zones-documentary

Detmer Sipkema

• E-mail: Detmer.sipkema@wur.nl
• Bluesky: @detmersipkema.bsky.social
• Website: www.microbialifeaquatic.wordpress.com