Last week, alongside the British Embassy in the Kingdom of Denmark, the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) opened up its world-class research vessel RRS James Cook to the Greenlandic public and science community whilst on a logistical stop in Nuuk.
Approximately 160 members of the public were welcomed onboard by Captain James Gwinnell and his crew to explore the vessel, learn about life at sea and the role of the ship in researching some of Earth’s most challenging environments. Local people of all ages engaged with NOC scientists and representatives from the Royal College of Art along the ship tour to learn about the ocean science happening around Greenland and why it matters to society.
The event also opened up the opportunity for collaborative discussions between NOC, the British Embassy in Copenhagen, the Greenlandic science community and the Government of Greenland. A round table of representatives exchanged ideas on how best to take forward UK-Greenland science collaboration.
During a visit to the Greenland Institute for Natural Resources, researchers from both countries explored new collaborative opportunities for tackling challenging marine science problems. A good example of how people coming together quickly highlighted synergies and complementing capabilities, including specific ideas for novel uses of NOC platforms to address key Greenlandic research priorities.
In Nuuk, the RRS James Cook also conducted a day of joint search and rescue training with the Danish Navy, contributing an important contribution to maintaining Arctic maritime safety.
It’s been a busy time for NOC’s research vessels in the Arctic region. Earlier this month 10 ambassadors to Iceland and 25 senior diplomats from the diplomatic community in Reykjavik were hosted onboard RRS Discovery, organised and supported by the British Embassy and British Ambassador to Iceland, Bryony Mathew.
Welcomed by RRS Discovery Captain Stewart Mackay and the British Ambassador, the ambassadors had a tour of key areas of the vessel, facilitating important discussions on the latest research happening in the surrounding ocean.
With changes in the Arctic environment already affecting our planet including the UK, through sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity, opportunities for collaborative discussions to tackle challenging marine science problems in the Arctic are more important than ever.
Next stop Reykjavik
RRS James Cook has now embarked on an ambitious expedition from Greenland to Reykjavik, kicking off a year of intensive study that will bring a new understanding of how much carbon is stored by the biological carbon pump in the Labrador Sea, a key region of carbon storage in the North Atlantic. As part of this mission, the ship will return to Nuuk in the summer of 2025. The return visit will provide a great opportunity for UK-Greenlandic collaboration, building on ideas and connections made during this visit.
The biological carbon pump stores large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the deep ocean. Without this process, scientists think atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations could be 50% higher than they are even now.
NOC scientists are deploying autonomous technologies including Argo Floats, underwater gliders and imaging systems to gather crucial data that will be used to inform climate models, improving our understanding of how the world will respond to climate change. Representatives from the UK’s Royal College of Art are also onboard during the sailing to test the performance of their time-lapse cameras at sea.
Our engagement in the region shows that there is great interest from local communities and Arctic science ecosystems in engaging. Using our vessels as a platform to discuss the role of the ocean in all of our lives is a great example of impactful science diplomacy and public engagement, paving the way for closer collaboration with our Arctic neighbours.