Key Facts
• Osaka-Kansai Expo features Saudi Arabia Pavilion themed on ‘Sustainable Oceans’.
• Pavilion showcases white artificial corals created using 3D printers during the Expo.
• Artificial corals are made with ‘calcium carbonate photopolymer ink’, durable and non-toxic.
• Coral reefs globally are declining due to climate change impacts.
• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia researches coral reef restoration.
• Live coral fragments are transplanted onto artificial corals for cultivation and ocean reintroduction.
• Artificial corals from the Expo will be used to restore coral reefs near Okinawa, Japan.
• Initiative symbolizes collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Japan for future ocean conservation.
Summary
At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion highlights ‘Sustainable Oceans’ with a display of artificial corals created using 3D printing technology. These corals, made from durable and non-toxic calcium carbonate photopolymer ink, address the global decline of coral reefs caused by climate change. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has been pioneering research to restore coral reefs by transplanting live coral fragments onto artificial structures for ocean reintroduction. The artificial corals produced during the Expo will be gifted to Japan to aid in restoring coral reefs near Okinawa. This initiative underscores the collaborative efforts of Saudi Arabia and Japan in promoting marine conservation and building a sustainable future for the world’s oceans.
