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Baltic Sea Science Congress 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From August 21-25 <\/strong> in Helsinki, Finland the Baltic Sea Science Congress 2023<\/strong> took place. This congress is one of the most important in the Baltic Sea region, where the latest marine research findings are presented and the state of the Baltic Sea, trends and future research needs are discussed. The congress is part of Finland’s national plan for the UN Decade of Ocean Science. The congress is also included in the program of the Finnish presidency of the Baltic Sea Council (2023-2024). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAstra Labuce<\/strong>, Ineta Liepi\u0146a-Leimane<\/strong> and Anda Ikauniece<\/strong> from LIAE participated in the congress. This year, special attention was given to food chains in the context of Baltic Sea eutrophication and climate change, as well as hydrodynamic and biogeochemical models for future Baltic Sea development forecasting. The Congress also pointed out the importance of “blue carbon”<\/strong> in mitigating climate change and promoting a functioning marine environment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nMost of the presentations and poster papers were devoted to the topic “Healthy and Sustainable Baltic Sea”<\/strong>, and one of the sessions on August 22<\/strong> was led by LIAE Researcher Astra Labuce. Within the framework of this topic Research Assistant Ineta Liepi\u0146a-Leimane presented an exhibition stand about the study on cyanobacteria in the Gulf of Riga (study co-authored by Iveta Jurgensone, Ieva B\u0101rda and Juris Aigars). LIAE Senior Researcher Anda Ikauniece led one of the closing sessions – “An inspiring and engaging Baltic Sea”<\/strong> which assessed impact of the state of the sea and activities of people living around it in various aspects. Anda Ikauniece also took part in the panel discussion of session leaders, where the importance of interdisciplinarity and knowledge transfer was emphasized. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring the networking events of the Congress, the potential directions for cooperation<\/strong> were identified with the University of Klaip\u0117da, which are necessary for in-depth research of the nitrogen cycle in the Gulf of Riga. The results of research done by Tallinn University regarding sediment transport in the Gulf of Riga were also discussed, and discussions were held with the representatives of the Baltic States on other possible forms of cooperation. <\/span>