{"id":8742,"date":"2022-09-05T11:21:55","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T09:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mohnfoundation.webforslag.com\/?page_id=8742"},"modified":"2025-12-16T14:32:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T13:32:38","slug":"centre-for-deep-sea-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/https-mohnfoundation-no-en-thematic-initiatives-womens-health\/centre-for-deep-sea-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Centre for Deep Sea Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1662680266711{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Infografikk_fra_HI-1.png?id=8745) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2\" style=\"\"><\/div><style>@media (min-width: 320px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 200px;}}@media (min-width: 767px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 200px;}}@media (min-width: 979px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 400px;}}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .spacer-5830a5ea62c1f2880975a2ceab4a96be2{ height: 400px;}}<\/style>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;article-white&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1649538946065{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1650537879673{margin-bottom: -30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner]<div class=\"header left  \"><h1 class=\"font-size-sm\" title=\"Centre for Deep Sea Research\">Centre for Deep Sea Research<\/h1><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Centre for Deep Sea Research<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Centre for Deep Sea Research at the University of Bergen (UiB) leads pioneering efforts to unravel the secrets of the deep ocean\u2014one of Earth\u2019s most unexplored environments. Their research sheds light on geological evolution, biological adaptations, species diversity, and potential biological and geological resources of the deep sea. This leading-edge research relies on cutting-edge technology and a highly interdisciplinary approach.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the Trond Mohn Foundation awarded NOK 16 million to the Centre, with UiB dedicating additional funds toward wages and operations. This support enables essential Arctic expeditions using state-of-the-art technology, advancing the team\u2019s research in the high north. The Centre\u2019s director\u00a0Steffen Leth J\u00f8rgensen is driven by a mission to bridge significant knowledge gaps: \u201cThis is what excites and motivates me\u2014identifying major knowledge gaps and finding ways to close them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He emphasizes that the search for new knowledge and a deeper understanding of how these systems work is not only of academic relevance and gives an example of studying the sedimentary biosphere &#8211; one of the Centers research areas. \u201cThe deep sedimentary biosphere controls all major geochemical fluxes across the seafloor and determines the fate of the world\u2019s largest storage of organic carbon. Hence, it matters for our global environment, ranging from the composition of the air that we breathe to the balance of the global carbon budget\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The research conducted at the Centre &#8212; Norway&#8217;s largest and oldest research centre in this field \u2013 can be divided into five main themes (outlined below), but they are all of strategic importance. As stated by UiB rector Margareth Hagen at the launch of the Centre for Deep Sea Research in 2021: \u201cWe are very happy that the Trond Mohn Foundation sees the great value of funding strong basic research. The deep seas are of great strategic importance for Norway, and the contribution means a lot for the opportunity to build more knowledge about the sea. Through this, the Centre for Deep Sea Research will make a solid contribution to developing this important area of \u200b\u200bknowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cutting edge technology<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The current competence at the Centre builds on decades of pioneering efforts in the exploration of the Norwegian deep-sea environments. Our expertise has gradually been built up across the geo- and bio-sciences with support from public and private sectors. Advanced infrastructure for deep-sea research has also been developed. The \u00c6gir 6000, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) acquired in 2015, operates at depths of up to 6,000 meters. Equipped with advanced sensors, scientific instruments, and video equipment, it has completed over 950 dives and remains crucial to deep-sea research in Norway. In 2024, the Centre received funding to upgrade \u00c6gir 6000\u2019s infrastructure, expanding its capacity and extending its operational lifespan.<\/p>\n<p>The current competence at the Centre builds on decades of pioneering efforts in the exploration of the Norwegian deep-sea environments. Our expertise has gradually been built up across the geo- and bio-sciences with support from public and private sectors. Advanced infrastructure for deep-sea research has also been developed. The \u00c6gir 6000, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) acquired in 2015, operates at depths of up to 6,000 meters. Equipped with advanced sensors, scientific instruments, and video equipment, it has completed over 950 dives and remains crucial to deep-sea research in Norway. In 2024, the Centre received funding to upgrade \u00c6gir 6000\u2019s infrastructure, expanding its capacity and extending its operational lifespan<strong>. <\/strong>In 2025, a new contract was signed with Kongsberg Discovery (funded by the Norwegian government and Norwegian Offshore Directorate) for a Hugin Superior autonomous underwater vehicle that will join \u00c6gir 6000 in advancing the Centre\u2019s effort to explore the Arctic deep sea.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>According to Rolf Birger Pedersen, former director of the Centre and the leader of the NORMARII ROV infrastructure \u201cWe have the opportunity to continue our research efforts in hitherto unknown areas under the drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, Norway&#8217;s outer border to the north, at depths down to 6,000 metres. Together with other national and international research activities, the goal is to generate new knowledge about the Arctic Ocean. We will contribute to understanding the Arctic Ocean\u2019s geological development and climate history and how geological and biological processes in the deep sea affect the ocean&#8217;s environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, more than ever, it is crucial that scientists and decision-makers have access to the best available knowledge. The CDeepSea database, launched in June 2025, features over 4,500 geo-referenced data entries, meticulously cataloged in ArcGIS.<\/p>\n<p>In collaboration with the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, this ambitious effort at the Centre consolidates decades of deep-sea metadata, from sediment samples to high-resolution video, into an accessible Geographic Information System. Through this the Centre has curated a resource that will assist deep-sea scientists access and share their data helping to accelerate scientific discovery. Th<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/eebd7b471f7f4e6faa929938673c05fc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">e data can be viewed via this link.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Interdisciplinary research<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many of the important scientific questions about the deep sea can only be answered via interdisciplinary collaboration. The Centre for Deep Sea Research is a leading international research centre with a highly interdisciplinary research profile, but the director is well equipped to deal with the challenges this presents having spent his entire career working at the interface between different research fields. \u201cIt is an inspiring workplace where excellent researchers from different disciplines, such as geochemistry, petrology, geophysics, data sciences and biology work together to try to understand the various deep-sea processes and how they interact,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>The interdisciplinary research carried out at the Centre can be broadly divided into five themes:<\/p>\n<p>-1. <strong>From mantle\u00a0to fluid: <\/strong>This theme focuses on the driving forces, mechanisms and consequences of fluid-rock interactions along mid-oceanic ridges. These dynamic environments present a unique interplay between\u00a0magmatic activity, plate tectonic and reactive fluids that drives large-scale fluxes of mass and energy, as well as modify\u00a0the physical and chemical characteristics of the oceanic lithosphere.<\/p>\n<p>-2. <strong>From fluid to life: <\/strong>The physical and chemical characteristics of seawater\u00a0strongly constrain\u00a0the biological processes in the deep ocean. These processes can in return also radically alter the seawater characteristics. This connection with complex feedback regulates the partitioning of geochemical species, as well as the life processes in this environment. In contrast to most of the deep sea, the mid-oceanic ridges present a high concentration of different environments with different fluid characteristics, including hydrothermal systems, crustal aquifers, tectonic faults, and sedimentary systems. This makes mid-oceanic ridges an ideal place to study fluid-life interactions. Furthermore, the significance of such processes in and on the arctic seafloor is to a vast extent unknown.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; 3. <strong>Mineral resources in the deep sea: <\/strong>Because of the long experience the Centre has with deep-sea exploration, geological resources, and ecosystem assessment and the competencies it has accrued as a result it is an important knowledge provider for governmental agencies responsible for seafloor management.\u00a0The main aim of this group is to solve key challenges linked to the estimation of deep-sea geological resources and the potential environmental impacts of industrial activities in the deep sea. Strong focus is given to areas under Norwegian jurisdiction.<\/p>\n<p>-4. <strong>Biological resources in the deep sea: <\/strong>Mid-oceanic ridge ecosystems host a diversity of organisms that are adapted to live under extreme conditions and are well known to be a\u00a0source for bio-molecules with potential industrial and biomedical relevance. The Centre\u00a0has a diverse\u00a0collection of samples collected from the Arctic mid-ocean ridge (AMOR). This represents a unique resource and allows the Centre to compete at the front of Norwegian marine bio-prospecting. More specifically, this allows for the search for new enzymes with variable catalytic activities and temperature tolerance.<\/p>\n<p>-5. <strong>Technology and innovation: <\/strong>The objective of this research area is to develop the best possible monitoring and exploration technology in order to improve the knowledge of hydrothermal systems along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. Through an integrated approach, the goal is to bring underwater technologies towards cost-effective, reliable, and scalable instruments for spatiotemporal monitoring and characterization of biological, geophysical and geochemical processes. As a result of this research, the Centre established an observatory at a depth of 3,000 metres in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, which is one of the deepest observatories in the world&#8217;s oceans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>High expectations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sveinung Hole, former managing director of the Trond Mohn Foundation, shares high expectations for the Centre\u2019s work, noting the foundation\u2019s commitment to advancing deep-sea research. \u201cWe have high expectations for the activities at the Centre for Deep Sea Research. UiB has previously, with support from, among others, the Norwegian Research Council and Stiftelsen Kristian Gerhard Jebsen, prioritized this exciting field of research. For the Trond Mohn Research Foundation, it is important to contribute to the research being taken further to new sea areas in order to provide knowledge about this unknown part of our country,\u201d he says.[\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=&#8221;https:\/\/vimeo.com\/342751689&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=&#8221;https:\/\/vimeo.com\/342976923&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Article in Bergens Tidende and e24<br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/e24.no\/shared\/det-groenne-skiftet\/i\/Gak9Ol\/faar-16-mohn-millioner-til-dyphavs-ekspedisjoner?pwsig2=4cf841f487b4c57711adfc0fab93c9d789b16f518e404d5c25a40391d4829a5f_1622549909_VE1T\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gets 16 Mohn-millions for deep-sea expeditions &#8211; Now deep-sea researchers will explore the seabed under the drift ice in the Arctic Ocean.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0(BT\/e24 23\/5-2021)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/dyphav\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The websites of the centre<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>(Introductory illustration: Institute of Marine Research)<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;]<div class=\"infobox light-brown\">\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Facts about the center<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Funding Period: 2021-2026<\/p>\n<p><i>Centre for Deep Sea Research <\/i><br \/>\n<em>TMF contribution<\/em>:\u00a0<em>16 million NOK<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/dyphav\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">read more here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"standard-image left \">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-576x384.jpg 576w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-992x662.jpg 992w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SteffenJorgensen_byPaulSAmundsen2-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption>Havets mineraler<br>Researcher and centre director Steffen Leth J\u00f8rgensen on the deck of the research vessel \"GO Sars\" before a trip to the Arctic in 2024. Foto: Paul S. Amundsen\/Forskerforum<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>[vc_single_image image=&#8221;11975&#8243; img_size=&#8221;medium&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]<div class=\"spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289\" style=\"\"><\/div><style>@media (min-width: 320px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 30px;}}@media (min-width: 767px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 30px;}}@media (min-width: 979px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 60px;}}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .spacer-3ed3c4f3188960fecee6faed144db8791289{ height: 60px;}}<\/style>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1662680266711{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Infografikk_fra_HI-1.png?id=8745) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;article-white&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1649538946065{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1650537879673{margin-bottom: -30px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Centre for Deep Sea Research The Centre for Deep Sea Research [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary vidiflex-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/https-mohnfoundation-no-en-thematic-initiatives-womens-health\/centre-for-deep-sea-research\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":8283,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8742","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-23 23:50:38","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"translation_priority","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8742"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13222,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8742\/revisions\/13222"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mohnfoundation.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}