Ocean Research and International Scientific Collaboration

The Workshop on Ocean Research and International Scientific Collaboration took place on Tuesday, September 23. The aim of the workshop was to create an open forum for dialogue on key challenges and domestic research capacity related to the ocean, to strengthen scientific collaboration, and to support the efforts of Icelandic actors in applying for international competitive funding.

The workshop was organized by the University of Akureyri, the University of Iceland, the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network, and Rannís, and was the second in a series of four workshops under the project A Stronger Position for Arctic Research in Iceland. The workshop series aimed to promote dialogue and coordination within the domestic research environment on Arctic issues and was funded by the university cooperation fund of the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education.

08:30 Arrival and coffee

08:40 Opening words

Tom Barry, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Akureyri, Ríkey Þöll Jóhannesdóttir, Project Manager, Centre for Arctic Studies, University of Iceland

08:45 Challenges and contributions of research

Halldór Björnsson, Group leader, weather and climate at the Icelandic Meteorological Office

09:00 Arctic Marine Cooperation and the Arctic Council

Kári Fannar Lárusson, Programme Manager, CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna), a working group of the Arctic Council

09:15 The role of the Arctic in marine research in Iceland

Anna Heiða Ólafsdóttir, Fisheries Scientist at the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute and Chair of the Marine Science Working Group of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)

09:30 Research planning: from ICARP IV to IPY-5

Federica Eyja Scarpa, Communications Manager, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Johanna Maria Franke, Project Officer, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)

09:45 Opportunities in international funding programs for ocean and Arctic projects

Egill Þór Níelsson, Kolbrún Bjargmundardóttir, and Björg María Oddsdóttir, Specialists, Research and Innovation Division, Rannís (The Icelandic Centre for Research)

10:00 Coffee break

10:10 Introduction to the working group process

10:15 First round of working group discussions:
Climate change, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable use of marine resources

11:30 Presentation of results from the first working group session

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Presentations of university projects on Ocean Research

Anna Guðrún Edvardsdóttir, Hólar University
Catherine Chambers, University Centre of the Westfjords
Marianne Helene Rasmussen, Research Centre of the University of Iceland in Húsavík
Steingrímur Jónsson, University of Akureyri

14:00 Second round of working group discussions:
Pollution in the Arctic and the health of Iceland’s marine environment

15:00 Closing remarks

Tom Barry, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Akureyri,

15:10 – 16:00 Light refreshments – networking session