On the 3rd and 4th of October 2023, a science engagement workshop titled “Science Opportunities on Polar Connect” was held in Oslo, Norway, as part of the Northern EU Gateways project.
The primary objective of this event was to facilitate the exchange of knowledge regarding the technology and scientific applications of optical fiber sensing and SMART cables across various Arctic research domains.
It was crucial to communicate the potential that the Polar Connect cable holds for scientific communities as it traverses the Arctic Ocean while defining the scientific requirements for utilizing the data it collects.
The Northern EU Gateways project warmly welcomed scientists from diverse Arctic research disciplines. Together, we explored a wide range of possibilities that sensing cable technology offers. Imagine near-real-time data streaming directly from the depths of the ocean, benefiting fields such as oceanography, geophysics, marine biology, environmental studies, climate change research, and even disaster mitigation for society.
This workshop brought together brilliant minds and technology experts from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Canada, and the USA.
After inspiring discussions, the workshop left us with numerous valuable insights. We now have a better understanding of the key challenges in developing scientific instruments and the parameters of utmost importance in Arctic research. These ideas and feedback will shape our upcoming report on the feasibility of fiber sensing technology and guide future dialogues with the Arctic research community.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on an exciting journey into the world of Arctic exploration and innovation!
