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We are grappling with a triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. Ocean science is acutely needed to understand the pressures on and changes to marine biodiversity, which is central to society\u2019s shift towards a more sustainable future. On a global scale, we are beyond safe operating spaces for biosphere integrity \u2013 that is biodiversity and all its dimensions. Locally, the Baltic Sea is in a lamentable state and in the Archipelago Sea we unfortunately still struggle with Finland\u2019s last Eutrophication Hot Spot with particularly severe nutrient loading and algal blooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Centre for Sustainable Ocean Science (SOS) was established at \u00c5bo Akademi University in January 2024, funded by the \u00c5bo Akademi University Foundation. SOS provides transdisciplinary knowledge on wicked problems linked to marine biodiversity and its role in the societal transition to sustainability. A wicked problem is one that is particularly difficult to solve because it involves a large number of factors and different, often conflicting, values and points of view. With the Archipelago Sea and \u00c5land as its case study area, SOS examines how human actions interact with marine biodiversity in creating wicked problems and seeks solutions to these challenges. SOS delivers research that can support policymaking, identify solutions, and guide actions for environmental sustainability, equipping us to address the planetary biodiversity crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Centre is led by Anna T\u00f6rnroos-Remes<\/strong>, Associate Professor of Environmental and Marine Biology. In addition to biology, the inter- and transdisciplinary work in SOS includes chemistry, industrial management, political science, law, and the arts. SOS tackles specific case-studies of wicked problems in the Archipelago Sea, such as mitigating land runoff from agriculture, and offshore wind farm development. SOS also addresses pressing challenges related to marine issues more broadly. This includes, for example, analyzing the path towards holistic marine governance and regulation, balancing the protection and use of marine biodiversity. What\u2019s more, SOS contributes to a paradigm shift for sustainable ocean science by analyzing and developing methods for transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation and art-science collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Centre hosts its official launch on September 10-11. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the event opens at the Sibelius Museum with an introduction to SOS and a talk on sustainable ocean futures by Dr. Rachel Kelly from the Centre for Marine Socioecology in Australia. The day continues with presentations on sustainability transitions and combining artistic and scientific approaches. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the program takes place at \u00c5bo Akademi Univesity\u2019s Arken building. After an interactive workshop for stakeholders, we will hear presentations on the Archipelago Sea UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and artistic research practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n