Successful strategic funding of marine research
A progress report for the strategic research area funding to marine research at Stockholm University is now published. The report concludes that the research group Baltic Sea Fellows, which is financed by the strategic funding, has published 200+ publications and managed to double the funding with external grants.
The strategic research area funding to marine research (HavSU) has been used for increased collaboration between strong marine research areas within Stockholm University and to support ecosystem-based management of the Baltic Sea.
This collaboration and policy support is facilitated by the interdisciplinary network Baltic Sea Fellows, financed by HavSU. The network consists of young Baltic Sea researchers and was formed in 2018. The Baltic Sea Fellows has since then strengthened the environmental Baltic Sea research at Stockholm University.
Read more about the Baltic Sea Fellows
Over 200 publications
The Baltic Sea Fellows has produced 200+ publications and the research conducted by the research group range from projects examining the biogeochemical conditions to research on long term ecosystem and food web changes and how human activities affect the sea. Policy instruments and legislation that regulate the management of marine protected areas, fisheries and pollution are also investigated.
Infrastructural resources made available by the Baltic Sea Science Centre have been of significant use for the Baltic Sea Fellows. Especially the Askö laboratory and the new research vessel R/V Electra af Askö. On board the research vessel the Baltic Sea Fellows conducted international interdisciplinary research, with cruises into the Baltic Sea.
Using the technology provided by R/V Electra, the Baltic Sea Fellows have for example studied fish stocks and their behavior, produced new knowledge about eutrophication and set out to develop informed climate mitigation strategies.
We have already obtained interesting observations of carbon and nutrient cycling through the Baltic Sea Fellows network.
Baltic Sea Fellow Xiaole Sun, quoted in the report.
Doubled the funding with external grants
During the period 2018-2022 the Baltic Sea Fellows have received external grants of 92,3 million SEK. (The strategic research area funding for the period 2017-2020 was 42,25 million SEK and funding from the Baltic Sea Science Centre 7,45 million SEK.) The funding spans from national research councils, to international sources and private foundations.
I am proud of the accomplishments of the Baltic Sea Fellows and look forward to taking our next steps!
Christoph Humborg, scientific director of the Baltic Sea Centre, group manager of the Baltic Sea Fellows.
Text: Jenny Rosen
Strategic Research Area funding to marine research
The Baltic Sea Science Centre is responsible for handling and coordinating the research funds within the Strategic Research Area funding from the Swedish government, to marine research and strategic Baltic Sea research at Stockholm University (HavSU).
With the strategic research area funding 2017-2020, 11 PhD students 10 PostDocs have been supported. In addition, the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre provides part time affiliations of all tenure track positions for the Baltic Sea Fellows, together with policy, communication, modelling and infrastructure facilities.
Policy- and decision support
The Baltic Sea Fellows have provided important contributions to policy and decision support for ecosystem-based management of the Baltic Sea.
Researchers from the network contributed to the Swedish Commission for the Seas, and to the initiative for creating an international panel for chemical pollution, IPCP, they also answered consultations, analysed policy development and produced policy briefs.
Last updated: September 14, 2022
Source: Östersjöcentrum