Bringing ocean science to shore

Last summer, GRID-Arendal joined forces with leading research institutions around the Skagerrak to take science out of the lab and onto the sea.

The Skagerrak Science and Solutions Sail – an initiative rooted in the Centre for Coastal Research (CCR) – brought together researchers, students, and communicators from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to explore the state of the Skagerrak and engage coastal communities along the way.

The sail was endorsed as an official UN Ocean Decade activity, recognising its contribution to the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Several fjord and marine areas connected to the Skagerrak are currently in poor environmental condition. Addressing this requires more than scientific data. It requires public understanding, political will and broad societal engagement.

Knowledge is the foundation of good ocean governance. But knowledge must be shared, translated, and made accessible to inspire action.

GRID-Arendal’s involvement in the Skagerrak Science and Solutions Sail centered on ensuring that the science taking place on board would reach far beyond the deck. From the start, we worked to develop a coordinated social media strategy that would allow the project to communicate clearly, consistently, and with impact throughout the journey.

Ahead of departure, we brought together the selected crew of communicators, early career researchers and aspiring storytellers for a dedicated workshop. The aim was to align expectations, clarify roles, and equip everyone with practical tools for sharing the voyage in real time. We introduced a structured social media plan and collaborative systems to make content sharing smooth and efficient during the sail.

The workshop also focused on storytelling from the field: how to recognise moments that resonate, how to frame scientific observations in ways that are accurate yet accessible, and how to translate complex ecological findings into narratives that engage broader audiences. Participants received hands-on guidance in producing short-form, vertical videos, capturing life on board and communicating research highlights in dynamic, visual formats.

The goal was simple: to equip scientists and students with the tools to communicate with impact, whether sharing a breakthrough finding, documenting marine mammal observations, or capturing everyday life on board.

Throughout the voyage, the team conducted marine observations, including systematic recordings of marine mammals and seabirds, while also engaging directly with local communities in Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish ports. Public events in each harbour highlighted both local environmental challenges and the broader dynamics of the Skagerrak system.

For GRID-Arendal, this was science communication in action: real-time storytelling grounded in research, connecting coastal ecosystems to people’s everyday lives.

Three GRID-Arendal colleagues (Remco Lameijer, Olivia Rempel, Edward Hinkle) had the opportunity to join different legs of the sail, bringing both communication expertise and deep environmental knowledge to the voyage.

On board, they played an active role in documenting and communicating the voyage as it unfolded. From the deck, they supported daily storytelling by capturing key moments, conversations and scientific activities, ensuring that the experience at sea was shared in real time with audiences on shore. They produced social media content throughout the journey, including photos, short videos and reels, highlighting everything from marine observations to life on board.

In each port, the Skagerrak Sail hosted events designed to increase ocean literacy among both children and adults. These gatherings explored local environmental challenges, sustainable solutions and what individuals and communities can do to protect nearby fjords and coastal waters. The initiative supports long-term societal transformation toward sustainable ocean use, strengthening the knowledge base for fisheries, aquaculture, recreation and conservation.

By linking research institutions, national parks, funding partners, and coastal communities, the project demonstrates how collaboration across sectors and borders is essential for restoring ocean health.

The Skagerrak Science and Solutions Sail shows that marine science cannot remain confined to academic journals. If we are to reverse environmental decline in the Skagerrak and beyond, science must be visible, understandable and relevant. GRID-Arendal’s contribution to the sail was rooted in our core mission: transforming environmental knowledge into action.

By equipping researchers with communication tools, strengthening the project’s outreach strategy, and amplifying its messages through national and international platforms, including the UN Ocean Decade, we helped ensure that the sail did more than collect data. It sparked conversations.

And ultimately, lasting ocean stewardship begins there.

The Skagerrak Science and Solutions Sail – an initiative rooted in the Centre for Coastal Research (CCR) – brought together researchers, students and communicators from Norway, Sweden and Denmark to explore the state of the Skagerrak and engage coastal communities along the way. The project is a collaboration between the University of Agder, the Institute of Marine Research, Agder County Council, NIVA, GRID-Arendal, the University of Oslo (UiO), NMBU, the University of Gothenburg, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

The sail was endorsed as an official UN Ocean Decade activity, recognising its contribution to the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.