60th anniversary for the Askö Laboratory
The first Swedish marine laboratory in the Baltic Sea has celebrated its 60th anniversary, with an award ceremony, speeches and an outdoor exhibition of the important research that is conducted at the laboratory. During the anniversary, the two university presidents of Stockholm University and the University of Helsinki, Astrid Söderbergh Widding and Sari Lindblom, signed an agreement of strategic partnership.
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.
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
Last updated: June 21, 2022
Source: Östersjöcentrum