UiB-USP Climate Workshop fosters knowledge and information sharing

 

The two-day Climate Workshop, part of the One Ocean Expedition, allowed researchers, staff and students from universities working on the ocean, climate, and earth system sciences to share knowledge, interact, and build new collaborations.

The Climate Workshop was another collaborative partnership between the University of Bergen (UiB) and The University of the South Pacific (USP), funded by the Norwegian Reseach School on Changing Climates in the Coupled Earth System (CHESS).

The workshop was held at the USP Lower Campus from 27 – 28 June with a total of 28 presenters, 14 from each university, presenting on the workshop’s five broad themes: oceanography, atmosphere, cryosphere and sea level biogeochemistry and ecology, and mitigation and adaptation.

This research-based workshop benefited both institutions by sharing knowledge and expertise, which may be unique to each university while building collaborations on shared interests.

During his opening remarks, USP Director of Research, Professor Sushil Kumar, welcomed everyone to the workshop and thanked UiB and its delegation, Professor Thomas Spengler (Director of the Norwegian Research School CHESS) and Professor Edvard Hviding (UiB N-POC Coordinator), for initiating and providing the support.

He said the workshop allowed research staff and students (Masters and PhD) of the two universities to discuss and learn about climate change related topics, sustainable development, and several other crucial areas.

“This workshop was an ideal opportunity for the researchers from both the universities working on climate and earth system sciences to build new collaborations and networks,” he added.

“One Ocean Expedition and this climate workshop are relevant to the Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarship programme (N-POC). It is a joint programme of USP and UiB, funded by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation for over five years, starting from this year.”

Professor Kumar added that 25 PhD students would be awarded fully funded scholarships under this programme.

Professor Thomas Spengler said they were excited to be part of the workshop.

“I am very grateful. We represent quite a blend of people from various disciplines within the research school CHESS,” he said.

“We have 260 scientists at the Bjerkens Centre for Climate Research, which makes our centre sizable. We have employees from 39 countries, including Fiji. Therefore, the connections matter, and we place a lot of emphasis on the carbon cycle and the risks posed by Climate Change. We also place a lot of emphasis on the ocean,” he said.

“We conduct extensive research on these topics. We have many PhD students joining us today, which I’m particularly excited about. Additionally, it involves connecting the future generation of scientists and determining what we all need to learn.”

“We organise many meetings and ensure that our PhDs get all the necessary training during their PhD. The school has around 150 PhD students and about 100 faculty members, making it a large school. As a result, it is also very diverse.

He said, “I am thrilled that the school could contribute to this workshop and participate in the One Ocean Expedition with many USP students over the next three weeks.”

The workshop has been organised and facilitated by the USP N-POC Team at the Research Office.

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