Our research focuses on the following research topics

while at the same time addressing the three main ocean challenges: Global Change, Hazards and Resources.

R01 Our common future ocean

How can sustainability of the uncertain future ocean be conceptualized in a way that can be widely agreed upon and that guides responsible decision-making?

R02 Ocean governance

How can rules of environmental liability law be implemented in the international setting and which revisions are required to sovereign rights in exclusive economic zones (EEZs)?

R03 Ocean resources

How can ocean resources be exploited in a sustainable or low impact manner by an appropriate balance between ocean use and ocean protection?

R04 Ocean Innovation

How can ocean biological substances and material be used to support technological innovations for a range of applications benefitting human society?

R05 Ocean sinks

What is the future role of marine carbon sequestration techniques to mitigate climate change?

R06 Dangerous ocean

How can we cope with ocean hazards and prepare for coastal change?

R07 Ocean interfaces

How do micro-scale processes at ocean interfaces affect fluxes of climate-relevant substances?

R08 Evolving ocean

Whether and how rapid evolutionary change will affect species interactions, ecosystem and biogeochemical processes?

R09 Ocean controls

How does the ocean control climate and environment at transitions of warming?

R11 Predicted ocean

How can ocean predictions be improved on regional scales?

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The Cluster research aims to connect Ocean System Understanding – Ocean Prediction and Scenarios – Sustainable Ocean Management and Governance, while still addressing the three main ocean challenges: Global Change, Hazards and Resources.

Scientific progress is required in basic ocean system understanding. This will in turn enable us to better interpret past and ongoing changes and develop science-based predictions and scenarios. Based on this scientific information the prospects of sustainable management and governance of the oceans can be assessed. The development and assessment of science-based sustainable governance options poses specific requirements. These include accuracy, timeliness and quality of ocean information, predictions and scenarios and basic understanding. This process then allows to prioritise more basic marine science.

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