marineholmen Source: uib.no
Director of Marine Research Sissel Rogne and Rector Dag Rune Olsen at the University of Bergen will host the opening of the Marine Laboratory by Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Monday, May 30.
– Our vision is that the Norwegian Marine Laboratory will stimulate innovative research and development collaboration and contribute to the development of the maritime city of Bergen as a marine powerhouse both nationally and internationally, says Dag Rune Olsen.
– With the Norwegian Ocean Laboratory, we are bringing together the technology environment for ocean research in one place. Today, technology development is faster than ever, especially in underwater technology. It is important to build up shared expertise and make the best possible use of resources, says Rolf Birger Pedersen.
He is a professor at the Center for Geobiology at the University of Bergen (UiB), and initiated the Norwegian Ocean Laboratory together with researcher Olav Rune Godø at the Institute of Marine Research. The Norwegian Defence Research Institute is the third partner in the collaboration, where ocean observations are central to all actors.
Marine research and subsea technology
Ole Arne Godø points out that Bergen has large and leading marine research environments.
– The region also has world-class underwater technology environments. With the decline in the petroleum industry, there is now a lot of available cutting-edge expertise that we hope we can take advantage of here, says Godø
The initiators behind the Norwegian Sea Laboratory want to gather the best forces within maritime, marine and subsea environments – from both academia and industry – into a creative laboratory to further develop knowledge and technological solutions.
Provides new knowledge
New technology and new methods are important for acquiring new knowledge, and for driving research and industrial development forward. At the same time, the increasing use of underwater technology and remotely operated underwater vehicles requires a high level of expertise, both for operation, maintenance and new technology development.
In the large warehouse on Marineholmen, equipment such as remotely and autonomously operated underwater vehicles, anchored rigs and gliders, buoys and underwater observation platforms are developed, maintained and repaired.
This technology provides new knowledge that is important for, among other things, closely monitoring climate change in the ocean, monitoring how increased temperatures affect marine life, and calculating the effects of possible oil spills in vulnerable areas. The equipment can also be used to explore new deep-sea areas with completely new species, such as the undersea volcanoes along the North Atlantic Ridge.
Driving force for civil engineering studies
The marine laboratory will also provide space for students.
– The ocean laboratory will be a meeting place for the next generation of ocean scientists and marine technologists, and contribute to synergies between different fields and disciplines. It will be a driving force in the establishment of a civil engineering study program aimed at marine observation technology, says Rolf Birger Pedersen.
Norwegian Ocean Laboratory:
Behind the Norwegian Marine Laboratory are the Institute of Marine Research, the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Defence Research Institute.
The marine laboratory is funded through a number of infrastructure projects from the Research Council.
Industrial partners include Statoil, Metas, Argus, Aanderaa Data Instruments, Kongsberg Maritime and GCE Subsea.
The Norwegian Marine Laboratory is located on Marineholmen, at Thormøhlens gate 41.
The official opening will take place on Monday, May 30th at 2 p.m.
Vision:
The Norwegian Marine Laboratory will become the Bergen Tradition's instrument for continuing the marine research heritage through joint coordinated efforts in marine technology development and marine research.
Goal:
The Norwegian Marine Laboratory will become a powerhouse for marine observation methodology by establishing a joint arena for academia, government and industry. The Marine Laboratory will be an informal magnet that attracts cutting-edge expertise within research and industry, thereby becoming a creativity lab for innovation without top-heavy organization.
