Strengthening trans-Atlantic ties

Research infrastructure and large-scale scientific projects, aspects of ocean monitoring as well as work on ocean health and ocean-based approaches to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere were at the focus of a visit of a delegation of Dalhousie University from Nova Scotia, Canada, at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. The meeting was part of a longer visit in Kiel and networking activities with partner research centres and universities in Germany.

Dr. Matt Hebb, Vice-President of Government Relations and Economic Development at Dalhousie University, and his colleagues, Professor Dr. Julie LaRoche, Canada Research Chair in Marine Biogeochemistry and Microbial Genomics and Associate Scientific Director of the Transforming Climate Action (TCA) research programme at the Ocean Frontier Institute, Professor Dr. Katja Fennel, Chair of the Department of Oceanography and Dr. Jennifer Morawiecki, Director of Global Research Engagement, took a tour of the GEOMAR Technology and Logistics Centre as well as the new building before discussing common research interests with GEOMAR scientists.

Dalhousie University and GEOMAR look back on a long-standing cooperation in research and education. Currently, the two institutions are working together in the “Transforming Climate Action: Addressing the Missing Ocean” programme supported by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). They also share a history of joint expeditions in the North Atlantic and Labrador Sea. In the future, Dalhousie University might become involved more deeply in ocean health research as well as the Future of Tropical Upwelling Regions in the Atlantic Ocean (FUTURO) campaign in the upwelling region off West Africa.

“We are delighted to be able to discuss common research questions and explore options for future collaborations with our esteemed partners from Dalhousie University during their visit at GEOMAR”, says GEOMAR director Professor Dr. Katja Matthes. “Our past activities are a great basis to build on, and our conversations revealed a high potential to join forces and jointly tackle scientific and societal challenges. We look very much forward to continuing our trans-Atlantic cooperation and agreed on a regular exchange in the future.”