Fra venstre: Anne HS Tandberg (UiB, UM), Mari H Eilertsen (UiB, BIO), Michelle Taylor (Univ Essex/Deep Sea Biology Society), Rebecca Ross (HI). Foto: Bergen Bathysphere/privat
[Our translation (Google translate)]
In collaboration, five researchers from several research institutions in Bergen have succeeded in attracting the largest international conference in deep sea biology to Bergen in 2028. Researchers from the University of Bergen (Department of Biosciences, Center for Deep Sea Research and the University Museum), the Institute of Marine Research and NORCE will organize the conference together, supported by a local professional network for the deep sea, Bergen Bathysphere.
The Deep Sea Biology Symposium is held every three years, and the 17th edition of the conference is taking place this week in Hong Kong. The Bergen researchers put forward the proposal to organize the 18th edition of the conference at the annual meeting of the Deep Sea Biology Society, where the members agreed to come to Bergen next time. The president of the Deep Sea Biology Society, Michelle Taylor, said:
We are very excited about the plans the local organizing committee has put together for the DSBS in 2028, and look forward to coming to Bergen!
The conference is planned at the same time as Bergen’s One Ocean Week 23-28 April 2028, and will attract approximately 400 researchers from 40 countries. This will both be good for the city of Bergen, and give us the opportunity to showcase Norwegian deep-sea research and industry to the international research environment. The collaboration with One Ocean Week will also give Norwegian authorities and businesses access to world-leading international expertise with high relevance for the management of deep Norwegian sea areas.
Quotes from members of the committee:
Mari Heggernes Eilertsen, researcher at BIO and Centre for Deep Sea Research, says:
This will be very exciting, it is a great opportunity for the deep-sea biology community in Bergen and Norway to expand our international networks and to showcase our research and facilities. It has been very nice to work on this jointly between the research institutions in Bergen, and we are sure that there will be a good volunteer effort going forward towards 2028 to carry out this conference in a good way!
Anne Helene S. Tandberg, fesearcher at the University Museum, says:
We are looking forward to offering a specially created exhibition at the University Museum in connection with the conference. The exhibition will provide a unique chance for both the researchers from the conference, the city’s population and visiting tourists to experience approaches from a combination of art and science to illuminate the earth’s dark ocean depths. This is a communication tradition we have had since the museum started, and which we now want to continue.
Rebecca Ross, researcher and committee member from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and co-founder of Bergen Bathysphere:
We have to say a big thank you to Cedric Beguin from VisitBergen who has thrown himself right into the matter, with free help to call around for inspections, share city promotional resources, write a large part of the bid text, and arrange support from the mayor and others. We have been very impressed with the help we have received and look forward to working with him further to make this congress happen.
Heidi Meyer, also from IMR and co-founder of Bergen Bathysphere, says:
Our young local professional network Bergen Bathyshere is an invaluable network that brings together professionals from the deep sea environment in Bergen and Norway, and I am sure that organizing the 18th DSBS together will only strengthen our connection with the international community even more! I look forward to this exciting opportunity and we look forward to welcoming everyone in 2028!