16.00-16.30: Baltic Seminar
Baltic Bridge - Bridging gaps in Baltic Sea science
In the joint project Baltic Bridge, researchers at Helsinki University and Stockholm University combine their Baltic Sea expertise in coastal zone research and modelling. A strategic partnership decided by the universities have given this collaboration a formal status and it creates new links between researchers, development of infrastructure and joint course activities as well as new communicative opportunities.
Making biodiversity research matter - from the bucket to the real world
Baltic Sea Centre's Visiting Professor Alf Norkko presented the benthic ecology team members, research facilities and current activites at Tvärminne Zoological Field station. Being the Baltic Sea's largest field station, Tvärminne offers infrastructure that enable many approaches to explore the seafloor biodiversity and it's role in nutrient transformation and ecosystem functions. The benthic ecology team at Tvärminne is specially prominent in process research, scientific synthesis and modelling of the coastal zone, which is combined with the management oriented modelling, synthesis and communication at the Baltic Sea Centre.
The Baltic Bridge was initiated 2014 and have ongoing projects such as FunkVeg and Grow Dense Make Sense?.
- The collaboration will be intensified in 2017 with a new tenure track position and the Baltic Sea Centre's Christoph Humborg and Bo Gustafsson performing part time research at Tvärminne, Alf Norkko announced.
Presentation of R/V Electras first scientific cruise
The research vessel Electra comprise an essential part in the Baltic Bridge infrastructure and Scientific leader Christoph Humborg reported from the premiere field work in the Stockholm Archipelago in March.
- The main purpose of the cruise was to see if we can find active cable bacteria, and if so, to demonstrate their impact on sedimentary P and N cycling in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea, said Christoph Humborg.
No active bacteria was found during this cruise but the team was pleased to have tested Electra during real sampling conditions, and looks forward to future expeditions.
As an end note of the seminar, Christoph Humborg and Alf Norkko encouraged the audience to join the Baltic Bar and the discussions on further Baltic Bridge-collaborations. You can find more information about the Baltic Bridge here.
About Baltic Seminar
Baltic Seminar is a seminar series aiming to promote current marine issues related to Stockholm University and strengthen its marine research community. All university employees and students are welcome, as well as affiliated who work with marine science.
