GoNorth – Exploring the Arctic Ocean

The high North is Norway’s most important strategic foreign policy area. The GoNorth project has completed two expeditions into the Arctic Ocean, and will present discoveries from this summer’s expedition along the mid sea ridge northwest of Svalbard, including hydrothermal vent fields that have never previously been explored.

The event at Egget, Studentsenteret, University of Bergen October 17th, is organized jointly by the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA) and the Norwegian Scientific Academy of Polar Research (NVP).

About the event
The Norwegian Government has defined the high North as its most important strategic foreign policy area. Presence and knowledge are key elements. GoNorth has completed two expeditions into the Arctic Ocean, using the research icebreaker Kronprins Haakon and the University of Bergen ROV Ægir as main platforms. The seminar will concentrate on this summer’s expedition along the mid sea ridge northwest of Svalbard, where the scientists discovered hydrothermal vent fields that have never previously been explored.

  • Presentation of GoNorth – background and mission, by Gunnar Sand, Vice president of SINTEF and project manager of GoNorth
  • GoNorth’s scientific plan – what we want to explore, by Rolf Mjelde, professor at UiB and member of the GoNorth management team
  • The 2023 expedition – covering the mid sea ridge and the hydrothermal vent fields, by Rolf Birger Pedersen, professor at UiB and 2023 cruise leader
  • GoNorth into the future – where do we go from here, by Øyvind Paasche and Margit Simon, research manager and senior researcher at NORCE, and future GoNorth managers

Hanne Sagen will co-chair the event on behalf of NVP.

More information at the UiB website.

Practical information

  • The event will be held in English
  • The event is free and open to all
  • There will be refreshments served outside the auditorium Egget from 16.00
  • The event starts at 16.30, and is estimated to last for two hours
  • Egget is in the Studentsenter, Parkveien 1.