Home

10%

Bringing ocean science to shore

Reflecting on the Skagerrak Science and Solutions Sail

By GRID-Arendal Olivia Rempel

March 22^nd, 2026

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.

Bringing ocean science to shore

Bringing ocean science to shore

Bringing ocean science to shore

Aboard a ship, a man in a red shirt speaks to a group of people gathered around a table displaying ocean science materials. The table holds a model fish, a sound recording device, and printed information sheets. In the background, a cityscape is visible across the water.

This is where GRID-Arendal comes in

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.

A red and white lighthouse stands on a rocky island surrounded by dark blue ocean under a twilight sky.

Sailor climbs rigging on a tall ship, with sails and ropes extending against a blue sky with scattered clouds. Other people stand on the ship's deck below.

Tall ship with masts and rigging sails on rippled blue water, green treeline in background, sunny day.

A group of people pulls a thick rope on the deck of a tall ship. The ship's white hull and rigging are visible, with the ocean in the background. The participants are dressed in casual clothing and appear to be working together.

A man gestures while being photographed on a ship. The man wears a white polo shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap. A person holds up a phone to take a photo. The ship is on the water on a partly cloudy day.

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.

Underwater view of eelgrass with green and brown blades, translucent water. Roots and rhizomes are visible.

A person holds a small sturgeon in a clear plastic container of water. The fish is pale with visible cartilage ridges. Hands with a brown leather watch support the sturgeon in the water.

Man in a baseball cap leans over a clear plastic tub filled with water. He wears a watch and a dark blue polo shirt. The tub sits in the back of a truck. Another person in blue stands to the side.

Scientist wearing blue gloves extracts sample with syringe from filtration device. Lab equipment and supplies are visible on a foil-lined surface.

Several petri dishes with agar of varying colors are arranged on a white surface. Each dish has a label with text including

Close-up of water sample filtration devices. Clear containers with white screw-on tops sit in a black crate. A gridded filter is visible.

View from a sailing ship toward a large ferry. The ferry is white with red and blue accents, and the name

Three GRID-Arendal staff on board

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.

SeaBee research vessel sits on the wooden deck of a ship. The vessel is black and orange with the

Tall ship rigging displays a red banner with

Four people sit at a table with microphones, recording a podcast on a ship. The panel wears casual clothing, and water pitchers sit on the table. Ropes and ship rigging are in the background.

People sit on the deck of a tall ship with sails unfurled on a sunny day. Ropes are strewn across the wooden deck. One person stands near the mast, working with the rigging.

From data to dialogue

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.

Three people stand around a table on a boat, discussing ocean science. A monitor displays

Two people stand at a table on a ship, discussing ocean science. A man in a tan jacket holds papers. A woman in a navy jacket looks at him. The table displays scientific equipment and informational pamphlets. Other people stand in the background.

A man in a baseball cap stands indoors, gesturing towards a computer screen. A laptop, wires, and marine life images sit on the counter. The setting appears to be a research vessel.

People gather on the deck of a tall ship for an ocean science event. A man points to charts on a table while a woman looks on. A child walks by. A banner shows an underwater scene. Rigging is visible above.

A group of people gathers around a table with ocean specimens. A child interacts with a small electronic device. An instructor in a red shirt explains something to a young woman. The scene is on the deck of a ship.

A group of people gather around a table on a ship. A woman leans over the table, examining a fish specimen and a black device with buttons. Others look on and take photos.

Researchers on a ship's deck examine ocean samples. One researcher wearing blue gloves handles jars in a crate, while another records with a phone. Ropes and city buildings are visible in the background.

About the Skagerrak Science and Solutions Sail

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.

© 2026 GRID-Arendal Olivia Rempel

In a year of vanishing ice

The International Year of Glaciers 2025 - From global momentum to mountain realities

From Invisible to Influential

Women Waste Workers Leading Change in Kenya

Strengthening collaboration in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

GRID-Arendal and ICIMOD deepen more than a decade long partnership on climate and mountain sustainability

When words are contested, journalism matters

Inside GRID-Arendal’s UNEA-7 journalism initiative

Sky Patrol: New Momentum in Madagascar’s Fight Against IUU Fishing

By Romain Langeard (GRID-Arendal) and Lalaina Rakotonaivo (WWF Madagascar)

Norway at COP30

Highlighting GRID-Arendal partners' COP30 events

Loading, please hold on.