Meetings

Kickoff (virtual), fall 2021

Given the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of AIMS³ and CDRmare was somewhat slowed down and affected by the lack of exchange. It was hence only possible to have a virtual meeting instead of the envisaged in-person gathering at MARUM Bremen. Still, all administrative things (cooperation contract, etc.) could be sorted out, and Wanda Holzhüter from CDRmare operational management explained basic concepts about the DAM research missions and how each collaborative project links to the overarching goals.

Annual meeting, Nov 2022 Kiel (GEOMAR)

In November 2022, the second AIMS³ annual meeting was organized at GEOMAR Kiel. Partners MARUM, GEOMAR, Sea&Sun Technologies as well as Fraunhofer IPM Freiburg presented the status quo of their work. The main focus was on extended presentations by the Early career researchers in the project, particularly the first successful tests with the newly developed DIC sensor on RV Littorina.

Annual meeting, MARUM, November 2023

In fall 2023, we held the third of our annual meetings at MARUM, Univ. Bremen. Representatives from all AIMS³ partners attended and gave oral presentations to update their peers. Key foci were reviews of the achievements in the earlier cruises and plans for the Phase 2 proposal of CDRmare.

TET with ASMASYS, February 2024

The research project AIMS3, coordinated at MARUM, investigates whether carbon dioxide (CO2) could be fixed in the basaltic ocean crust. During a two-day workshop in Berlin, AIMS3 was subjected to an assessment framework for marine CO2 removal developed by the sister project ASMASYS. Both projects are part of the DAM research mission CDRmare, which aims to investigate potential carbon sinks in and under the ocean.

In a very efficient and productive atmosphere, the workshop enabled an intensive exchange between researchers from ASMASYS, invited representatives of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), representatives of NGOs and MARUM representatives from AIMS3. Despite a thorough examination of the economic and ethical feasibility, the possible legal restrictions or theoretical environmental incompatibilities, a scenario was found in which the simulated AIMS3 test case was classified as feasible in the future and highly attractive from a scientific point of view.

Achim Kopf and Nike Fuchs (both MARUM, coordinator and transfer officer in AIMS3 respectively) and Isabel Lange (PhD student of FB5 Geosciences in AIMS3) as well as Melanie Dunger (FB7 Economics, postdoc in AIMS3) from University of Bremen participated the TET.

Citizen jury workshop, MARUM Bremen, February 2024

On February 28, 2024, citizens gathered at MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen to intensively discuss the acceptance of CO2 storage methods at a workshop inspired by the Citizens Jury format. This form of participation enabled the participants to actively engage with the topic of CO2 storage in rocks under the sea. The participants were a small group (12-15 people) with little to no prior experience in CCS (carbon capture and storage) and to some extent represented a cross-section of the population. This is related to age and gender, employment status, and migration background. After a brief round of introductions, the group was presented with two different carbon storage methods in a specialist presentation, which were then analyzed as part of the moderated discussion.

This “small” Citizens’ Jury drew up a comprehensive statement highlighting various aspects and emphasizing the importance of transparent communication in research and decision-making processes. The question of responsibility and monitoring in CO2 sequestration was at the center of the discussion, as were concerns about possible effects on CO2 reduction efforts in other areas. The participants called for a transparent comparison of CCS with other CO2 storage methods in order to achieve the German government’s climate targets. In the final discussion, the participants emphasized the importance of different perspectives and rated the workshop as a welcome participation format.

AIMS3 @ EGU General Assembly, April 2024

Scientists from AIMS3 presented a wide range of their findings during the 2024 EGU Generall Assembly in Vienna. The abstracts to the oral and poster presentations can be seen here:

Talks

Kopf et al. (invited)

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-14732.html

Kremin et al.

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-8820.html

Posters

Esposito et al.

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-10915.html

Lange et al.

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-8820.html

Bhattacharya et al.

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/EGU24-655.html

Hannovermesse Exhibition, May 2024

The theme of the current Hannover Messe, ‘Energizing a sustainable industry’, which will also focus on climate change in 2024, also touches on a number of AIMS3 topics. As part of the week-long program, numerous events will be held for school students to provide insights into technical professions and innovative, future-oriented technologies. Prof. Achim Kopf from MARUM gave a keynote speech on the topic of “Engineering professions in climate change” and took part in a panel discussion organized by the BDI (Association of German Engineers). In front of a large audience, which included many high school graduates looking for a place at university, the needs for engineers in areas such as coastal protection and extreme events, renewable energies, carbon storage in the sea and technology development were discussed. The exciting discussion revolved around marine science topics at MARUM and the DAM (German Marine Research Alliance) and their technical implementation by the next generation.