Research Across Disciplines – With the Sea as a Meeting Place

When The Tall Ships Races arrived at the Port of Aarhus in June, it was not only the towering masts and majestic sailing ships that drew crowds to the waterfront.

On board Aarhus University's research vessel AURORA, the historic schooner Brita Leth, and in the event tent on the quay, the Know Your Sea project invited children, young people and other curious visitors to explore the sea, marine research and life beneath the surface.

Researchers, students and science communicators from the Department of Ecoscience, the Department of Biology and the Department of Geoscience were strongly represented throughout the programme. They were joined by partners including the City of Aarhus, the East Jutland Marine Partnership, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, and a range of maritime and marine organisations.

"What makes The Tall Ships Races so special is that they allow us to bring together many different disciplines and partners around a shared interest in the sea. When researchers, students, ships, schools, municipalities and organisations work together, we can create experiences that none of us could achieve on our own," says Marianne Knudsen from the Know Your Sea project at the Department of Biology, Aarhus University.

Four Intensive Days at the Harbour

The event featured four packed days of school activities, open-ship visits, conversations with researchers, laughter, food tastings, marine creatures, questions, ships and, above all, a great deal of curiosity about the sea.

During the daytime, school classes boarded Brita Leth and AURORA to learn about the marine environment, biodiversity, ships and maritime opportunities.

Outside school hours, other visitors had the opportunity to discover life beneath the surface, meet Aarhus University researchers and ask questions about everything from marine plants and animals to climate change, biodiversity, the marine environment and the future use of our seas.

During the event "Ask Aarhus University", five enthusiastic researchers answered the audience's quirky and thought-provoking questions on the deck of AURORA, demonstrating just how entertaining and accessible fundamental research can be.

As part of the programme, the Know Your Sea project also launched its brand-new cookbook, Eat the Sea, making it easier and more inspiring to include sustainable seafood in everyday cooking.

"We moved marine research out of laboratories, offices and lecture halls and onto the decks, quays and harbour. That is a central part of the project's mission: bringing knowledge from campus to curious citizens," says Marianne Knudsen.