Useful Arctic Knowledge: Training, Collaboration, and Innovation in ocean observing.

The UAK project aims to strengthen the quality within education, research and innovation in ocean observing technology through partnership between Norway, USA, Canada. To develop excellence in education it is crucial to recruit students to work with scientists and engineers with expertise in acoustic and optical technologies applied in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and in fjords. During 2024 the project has organized a workshop, an introduction course in underwater acoustics, a research school for master and PhD students at Espegrend biological station and participation in two Arctic field campaigns. Both NERSC and UiB have acquired new optical and acoustical instruments to make measurements in the research school and the field campaigns. Xylem AADI organised a 1-day workshop for the Norwegian partners with presentation of instruments and methods in ocean observations. The introduction course in acoustics was held over four days as preparation for the research school and participation in subsequent field campaigns. The course was given by Prof. Lora van Uffelen from University og Rhode Island while she had a 5 month guest visit at NERSC. The research school, which lasted for five days in June, had 25 participants in total, including four from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The research school had focus on practical field work with different instruments and collection of data from the fjord outside Bergen. The students got first hand knowledge about the instruments, how they are used for data collection and experience in planning of the field work. One group of students worked with optical data and another with acoustical data, including training in processing and analysis of the data. On the last day of the research school the students presented preliminary results of their work. In August-September selected students and instructors participated in two research cruises in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean, the first with RV Kronprins Haakon and second with KV Svalbard. The students collected data which will be further used in their PhD and Master theses. Parts of the field work, data collection and training activities were conducted in collaboration with EU HiAOOS and SFI Smart Ocean projects. After completed research school and the Arctic field campaigns, the students contributed to write the report about the UAK activities in 2024.

UAK will expand and deepen long-term collaboration in research and education between Norway, USA and Canada within ocean observing. The project is contribution to the Arctic component of the Ocean Decade. Focus is to provide training in use of ocean observing methods and technologies to observe changes in the ice-ocean environment caused by climate changes or human activities (SDG13). Main focus are observations that can detect, localise, and track changes in the Arctic Ocean environment e.g. ice-ocean parameters, ocean sound and the light in the ocean. These changes will have impact ocean health and marine life (SD14). UAK will organize and facilitate for educational programs, research schools, and mobility grants to train the new generation of scientists within research areas covering oceanography, sea ice, marine optics and underwater acoustics. UAK will facilitate for collaboration between research and industry to foster innovation within observing technologies supporting ocean research in the Arctic, fjords and coastal regions. Shorter and longer visits will be organized between the partners. The project will support joint reports and publications with special attention collaboration between different generations, research, and industry. UAK will organise dedicated open workshops and special sessions on international conferences. UAK is a partnership between Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, University in Bergen – Institute for Physics and Technology, Xylem AADI, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Inspire Environmental, and University of Laval. The project is in support to the education program in Ocean technology at UiB, SFI Smart Ocean, and several research projects e.g. CAATEX and EcoSense.