On 15-1906.Riga hosted the 10th Baltic Sea Science Congress (BSSC) during which over 260 participants reported and discussed findings, problems and solutions of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. At the opening of the conference, keynote speaker Professor Hans von Storch from the Helmholtz Research Centre (Germany) put an emphasis on the necessity for thoroughly tested knowledge to successfully manage and protect the Baltic Sea. Thisknowledge was highlighted in all the congress presentations.
The first Policy Day, which was introduced at the 10th BSSC, stressed the need for scientifically valid answers to ensure a sustainable delivery of ecosystem services from the sea. Enough relevant national and international governance mechanisms through the Helsinki Convention and EU directives are in place now to endorse a well-managed Baltic Sea. Still, a coordinated implementation of this knowledge in the existing mechanisms is lacking.
In the technology transfer workshop organised by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (Germany) the participants discussed the needs of marine research and their link to technological developments provided by the business world. Valuable information was also given by three marine equipment manufacturing companies – Hydrobios, SubCtech and engage AG – presenting their latest products.
The most productive ways of acquiring knowledge were revealed at the BONUS Young Scientist Club event where Hugh Kearns from the Flinders University (Australia) led a workshop entitled “Seven secrets of extremely successful researchers”. More than one fourth of the 10th BSSC participants were master and doctoral students or early stage researchers for whom the workshop gave valuable guidance for combining research work and personal life.
The Baltic Sea Science Congress is the largest scientific meeting in the Baltic Sea Region, organised biannually in a country bordering the Baltic Sea. Latvia was hosting the Congress for the first time and it was an official event of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which was organised in close cooperation with the Baltic Sea biologists, oceanographers and geologists research communities, Estuarie Coastal Sciences Association, BONUS and the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science.