Today, the Carbon to Sea Initiative and Röst Marine Research Center (Röst) are announcing a Joint Learning Opportunity (JLO) to partner with outside scientists in order to increase the breadth of ocean climate research in Hvalfjörður, Iceland.

Field research for ocean-based carbon removal is the next important step to develop the science the world needs to make informed decisions about its climate future. This Joint Learning Opportunity builds on two years of research and preparation to establish an ocean climate science research center in Iceland, helping to advance our understanding of the field. This flexible funding mechanism will invite stakeholders from the  philanthropic, public, private, and academic sectors to collaborate, accelerate learning, and reduce the logistical and financial hurdles that scientific research programs sometimes face.

The additional funding and logistical support provided by the JLO will give new research teams the opportunity to participate in oCDR research in Iceland, thereby increasing its scientific rigor. This will be the second JLO that Carbon to Sea has funded, following the success of the program last year in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Interested parties should register for our informational webinar (Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 3:00-4:00 GMT) to learn more and submit their applications by the extended deadline of March 24th.

“Since last summer, [C]Worthy has worked closely with Röst, Carbon to Sea, and other partners in Iceland to map the dynamics of the fjord and develop a high-fidelity modeling system. Building on that important foundational work, we’re excited to engage with new researchers in Hvalfjörður later this year,” said Dr. David Ho, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of [C]Worthy. “The findings from this closely monitored and environmentally responsible field research will help us take a big step forward in our collective understanding of how OAE works in real-world conditions and determine the potential climate impact of OAE.”

“Through our partnerships in Halifax, we’ve seen how the joint learning model accelerates learning by bringing together top researchers with additional resources,” said Dr. Antonius Gagern, Executive Director of the Carbon to Sea Initiative. “Climate change is wreaking havoc on the health of our oceans and more needs to be done to advance new solutions, alongside emissions reductions. The work [C]Worthy and Röst are leading in Hvalfjörður is already contributing valuable data required to evaluate desirability and feasibility of OAE, while setting a high bar for rigorous observation. We look forward to seeing how this newest opportunity will help unlock further collaboration and increase the speed by which the field can tackle the core research questions.”

Iceland’s outsized contributions to climate innovation and the distinctive physical characteristics of their fjords make it uniquely suitable for ocean research. This Joint Learning Opportunity hopes to not only advance scientific & technical capabilities but also engage local communities about important climate topics and what they’d like to learn from this research. 

“This joint learning opportunity will bring in diverse scientific perspectives and increase transparency in the field of ocean-climate research,” said Salome Hallfreðsdóttir, CEO of Röst Marine Research Center. “By supporting open, data-driven research and collaboration, we can accelerate learning and provide the best possible information for decision-makers to assess the potential of ocean-based carbon removal. We also hope this initiative fosters greater public engagement and dialogue around ocean research in Iceland.”

NOTE: Research design is subject to feedback from stakeholders, details may evolve.