The Crown Princess Victoria gets ashore on Askö, from the research vessel R/V Electra af Askö. Photo: Jenny Rosen.

The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was among the invited guests, together with representatives from the Wallenberg foundation and Nottbeck foundation, and the university presidents Astrid Söderbergh Widding and Sari Lindblom. The University of Helsinki marine station Tvärminne Zoological Station and researchers affiliated to the Askö Laboratory also participated in the celebrations.

During the celebrations 13-14 of June, the guests were treated a special Askö cake, with an areal view over the laboratory. And the celebrations included speeches on the history of the laboratory, held by one of the Askö pioneers, professor emeritus Björn Ganning, and by one of the former directors of the laboratory, professor emeritus Lena Kautsky.

The Askö Laboratory turned sixty in 2021 and we could finally hold the celebrations, after a postponement due to the pandemic.

The award "Östersjöakutens pris 2022" was presented by the Crown Princess Victoria, to the researchers Johan Eklöf and Malin Jonell. The price motivation was stated by professor emeritus Lena Kautsky. Photo: Jenny Rosen.

Award ceremony and signing of a strategic partnership

The Crown Princess Victoria presented a Baltic Sea prize (Östersjöakutens pris 2022) to the researchers Johan Eklöf and Malin Jonell, for their outstanding research on the Baltic Sea.

During the anniversary, the presidents of Stockholm University and the University of Helsinki also signed an agreement of strategic partnership between the universities.

Read more about the partnership, which includes the new research centre CoastClim

Outdoor research exhibition

The research vessel R/V Electra af Askö as well as marine robotics, research on coast and climate, research into the ocean biosphere, environmental monitoring and policy and decision support were exhibited throughout the celebrations.

Read more about the anniversary in our Swedish article

Text: Jenny Rosen

Scientific Director of the Baltic Sea Centre, Christoph Humborg and the Crown Princess Victoria take part when the researcher Florian Roth demonstrates how coast and climate are connected. Photo: Jenny Rosen.