People

C2B2 – Co-Creating Better Blue

Baltic Sea, Citizen Science, Data, Environmental management, Innovation, People, Sweden, Workshop / January 18, 2023

In December 2022 came the news that Mistra (the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research) will fund the new programme C2B2 – Co-Creating Better Blue. The consortium behind C2B2 include many actors from the network around SCOOT and Ocean Data Factory Sweden. The programme C2B2 is initially funded for 4 years.

The maritime domain and the blue economy are in an exciting and transformative period, not least manifested by the rapid expansion of offshore installations. Both challenges and opportunities abound… C2B2 identifies co-creation as the most important tool for sustainability in human activities at sea. 38 maritime actors from industry, academia, public sector and civil society will start working together in C2B2, and the programme will be open for more to join. Feel free to contact C2B2 programme director Torsten Linders.

I want to know more about C2B2

Mistra’s expectations are clear:

Sustainable blue economy and governance should be at the center of the research program. An ecosystem-based approach should be the basis for and constitute an essential part of the understanding, management and governance of existing and potential future human activities, primarily outside coastal areas. Methods and instruments that can minimize conflicts and identify synergy effects are of particular importance in this context, for example marine spatial planning. Industrial operations at sea can be of great importance for the development of a sustainable blue economy, provided that the operations are planned and conducted in a sustainable manner. Not least new innovative companies could have a role in this transition.

Central to the C2B2 approach is the LivingLabs co-creation methodology, applied to the development of three demonstration cases to trigger transformative changes towards participatory ocean governance, involving relevant sectors and actors in Sweden’s three marine basins (Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Proper, Kattegatt-Skagerrak).

We have to start thinking differently about the marine environment, and we have to do it together!
Uta Wehn, Associate Professor at IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Scientific Director of C2B2 and leader of WP4 Co-creation of participatory ocean governance in LivingLabs

The programme C2B2 has been designed under the leadership of Uta Wehn during her time as Adlerbert visiting professor in marine citizen science at the University of Gothenburg. The programme is built around three pillars:

  1. Open ecosystems & climate science,
  2. Open, data-driven
    innovation & emerging technologies,
  3. Ocean governance & adaptive management.

Uta Wehn will be the Scientific Director and leader of WP4 Co-creation of participatory ocean governance in LivingLabs.

We have so many important actors already in the programme, spanning the relevant sectors. This means we have a real chance of making a difference for the sustainable blue economy.
Mikael Lind, Senior Research Advisor at RISE Leader of WP2 Open, data-driven innovation & emerging technologies

Maritime Cluster annual conference 8 December

ASV, Citizen Science, People, Platform, SP SeaCat, Sweden / January 10, 2023

December 8 it is the time for the annual conference of Maritime Cluster of West Sweden. This year we highlight some of the most discussed sustainable trends right now: Offshore wind power, sailing cargo vessels and citizen science. SCOOT is co-hosting the event together with Region Västra Götaland, University of Gothenburg, Chalmers, RISE, SMTF, Ocean Data Factory Sweden and SSPA. The conference language is mainly Swedish. 

Preliminary Programme

08.30 – 09.00 Registration and coffee

Block I

09.00 – 10.00 Offshore wind power
• Overview and current status – including the permit process
• The state of technology in offshore wind power

10.00 – 10.30 Morning coffee

10.30 – 11.00 Offshore wind power (continued)
• The actor perspective – an actor on the international market
• The political perspective

11.00 – 12.00 Wind propulsion
• Overview and current status
• Technology overview of wind-assisted and wind-driven ships, with examples from ships in operation
• The supplier perspective of system solutions for wind propulsion
• An example of a concept for a wind-powered ship
• The cargo owner’s perspective on wind-powered ships

12.00 – 13.00 Mingle lunch

Block II

13.00 – 14.00 Maritime citizen science
• What is marine citizen science? Current examples from Ocean Data Factory Sweden.
• Test here and now! Deployment of an autonomous measuring sensor with the help of a surface-moving robot.
• Where does this lead? How do we build knowledge about the sea?
• What knowledge about the sea do we need?

14.30 – 15.00 Maritime Cluster in West Sweden: The future?
• Information, discussion and input from the participants about wishes for the cluster’s future development.

15.00 – 15.30 Afternoon coffee

SCOOT and Seacat at ‘Open Ship’ in Stockholm

ASV, Demo, People, Platform, R/V Skagerak, Research vessel, SP SeaCat / June 25, 2022

Nice weather and an even better crowd! What more can one ask for when it is ‘Open Ship’? University of Gothenburg’s research vessel R/V Skagerak joined the event in Stockholm 9 – 11 June. SCOOT was very happy that Skagerak’s ship manager Louise Newman invited us to show the experimental autonomous platform Seacat on the aft-deck. This highlights the importance the university places on innovation and of being in the technological forefront of ocean observations.

The event allowed visitors to see the state-of-the-art  in ocean observation methods and technologies. On 8 June the event prestarted with groups of high-school students, on 9 June came crown princess Victoria, on 10 June came a long row of specially invited guests and decision makers, and on 11 June the general public was invited (fully booked quite early).

In addition to R/V Skagerak the event featured two more of Sweden’s research vessels, namely R/V Svea (used extensively by SCOOT partner SMHI and by SLU Aqua) and S/V Ocean Surveyor (used by Geologiacl Survey of Sweden).

Seacat is mobilised onto R/V Skagerak in Gothenburg, prior to the departure for 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat is mobilised onto R/V Skagerak in Gothenburg, prior to the departure for 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022.
Three Swedish research vessels participated in 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022: R/V Skagerak (left), S/V Ocean Surveyor (right) and R/V Svea (back).
Three Swedish research vessels participated in 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022: R/V Skagerak (left), S/V Ocean Surveyor (right) and R/V Svea (back).
Crown princess Victoria visits 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022. At the aft deck of R/V Skagerak this small ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) is shown.
Crown princess Victoria visits 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022. At the aft deck of R/V Skagerak this small ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) is shown.
Specially invited guests are guided onboard R/V Skagerak during 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022. Visitors were shown autonomous platforms, including the Sailbuoy and the Seacat.
Specially invited guests are guided onboard R/V Skagerak during 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022. Visitors were shown autonomous platforms, including the Sailbuoy and the Seacat.
Visitors from the general public are guided onboard R/V Skagerak during 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022. Visitors were shown autonomous platforms, including the Sailbuoy and the Seacat.
Visitors from the general public are guided onboard R/V Skagerak during 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022. Visitors were shown autonomous platforms, including the Sailbuoy and the Seacat.
Seacat shown to visitors at the aft deck of R/V Skagerak during Open Sip in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat shown to visitors at the aft deck of R/V Skagerak during Open Sip in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat shown to visitors at the aft deck of R/V Skagerak during Open Sip in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat shown to visitors at the aft deck of R/V Skagerak during Open Sip in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat on display at the aft deck of R/V Skagerak during Open Sip in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat on display at the aft deck of R/V Skagerak during Open Sip in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat safely returns to Chalmers Revere Lab after 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022.
Seacat safely returns to Chalmers Revere Lab after 'Open Ship' in Stockholm in June 2022.
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More about 'Open Ship' in Stockholm 9 - 11 June, 2022

New actors, new ideas, new sensors!

Citizen Science, Innovation, People, Sensors / December 21, 2021

We must get more players into the water, more actors into doing technology for ocean measurements… That is why we started SCOOT and that is why we:

  1. Put resources in the hands of entrepreneurs.
  2. Connect entrepreneurs with new partners from industry, academia and the public sector.

Let us give you a small example of how it can work:

A new sensor for ocean currents
from Deepoid AB

  • Anna Willstrand Wranne, leader of SMHI’s marine technology group, tells about an interesting company, Deepoid AB, delivering an acoustic modem to SMHI.
  • SCOOT’s coordinator contacts Anders Brodin from Deepoid, who says they are working on a new type of logging sensor for ocean currents.
  • SCOOT’s coordinator also contacts oceanography professor Göran Broström, who think this sounds interesting and writes to Anders at Deepoid.
  • A joint discussion about scope, technical solutions, ambition, time line and funding ensues. (This time without external funders.)
  • A new innovation project takes off: Deepoid shall develop, manufacture and deliver 10 current loggers to the University of Gothenburg. The technology is based on position sensing of a pendulum, with minimal weight and minimal power consumption.

Testing in real environment
and communicating results

Last week SCOOT’s coordinator, together with communicator Maria Holmkvist (Centre for Sea and Society) visited Göran and Anders at classic research station Bornö in Gullmarn. We saw Göran cracking theory, while Anders adjusted some of the loggers. Most of all we saw real environment testing and validating data collection (day and night!), new sensors deployed together with traditional acoustic sensors. Göran had brought his mini-ROV, which allowed for inspection and nice underwater photos of the deployed loggers.

Test av sensorer. Bornö. Fotograf: Maria Holmkvist
Anders Brodin. Test av sensorer. Bornö. Fotograf: Maria Holmkvist
Anders Brodin och Göran Broström på Bornö. Fotograf: Maria Holmkvist
Bornö 2021. Göran Broström, Göteborgs universitet. Fotograf: Maria Holmvksit
Bornö 2021. Göran Broström, Göteborgs universitet. Fotograf: Maria Holmvksit
Test av sensorer. Bornö. Fotograf: Maria Holmkvist
Test av sensorer. Bornö. Fotograf: Torsten Linders
Test av sensorer. Bornö. Fotograf: Torsten Linders
Bornö 2021. Göran Broström, Göteborgs universitet. Fotograf: Maria Holmvksit
Gladius camera snap
Gladius camera snap
Gladius camera snap
brostrom_mini_rov_night
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SCOOT will continue to follow Deepoid AB and this project. Specifically we want to support the next steps: Communicating with more potential users and finding funding for further development, such as including measurements of temperature and light. We believe this robust and easy to deploy sensor is optimal for:

  • Coastal marine research.
  • Monitoring around planned or completed constructions, such as aquaculture.

Thoughts? Contact Deepoid and SCOOT:

I want to know more about Deeopoid and their sensors
I have an idea for a SCOOT innovation project

Ocean Changemaker: Berring Data Collective

Citizen Science, Data, Environmental monitoring, Fishing vessels, Greenland, Innovation, People, Region, Ship of opprtunity / December 21, 2021

We are extremely happy to share that Cooper Van Vranken has been selected as an ‘Ocean Changemaker‘ at the World Ocean Initiative, arranged by The Economist Group. Cooper is the founder of the Berring Data Collective. This is indeed a game-changer in ocean observing: Using fishing vessels to bring in high quality data from ocean regions where data is most desperately needed, including around Greenland. Check it out, it is already live!

Cooper was invited speaker at our online conference Ocean Data for Ocean Health in September. Afterwards he joined us for the follow up breakfast webinar on alternative platforms for ocean sensors. Cooper collaborates closely with Patrick Gorringe who works EMODnet Physics and at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Together they make data collected by fishing vessels available to all users, including ocean and climate researchers, operational forecasters and environmental monitoring agencies. Cooper and co-authors have published their work in Frontier in Marine Science.

Sebastiaan Swart.

“Here for the long run”: SCOOT’s director Sebastiaan Swart’s expanding research at University of Gothenburg

People / January 11, 2021

Great news arrived late last year: SCOOT’s director Sebastiaan Swart was awarded 5 years of the prestigious Wallenberg Academy Fellows Prolongation Grant. “I think this makes it official, I am here in Sweden for the long run”, Seb comments. The original Wallenberg grant in 2015 brought Seb to Sweden from his native South Africa. Without Seb’s arrival in Gothenburg we would not have SCOOT today. We are extremely happy for his continuos engagement for the technologies that make ocean science more than a theoretical guesswork.

Seb leads a rapidly expanding research group, focusing on unsolved questions that make the vast Southern Ocean of importance to the global climate. The title of Seb’s Wallenberg fellowship is:”REDUCING FUTURE GLOBAL CLIMATE UNCERTAINTY: Regulation of the ocean’s heat and carbon by small-scale processes in the Antarctic sea-ice regions”.