Retrospective
With ICYMARE 2025 BREMERHAVEN, we concluded the seventh ICYMARE edition and reached a personal milestone. This year’s conference was the most international so far with 230 participants from 37 countries including places as far away as Costa Rica and the Falkland Islands. Since connecting young and early-career researchers across borders is at the core of what we do, we are particularly happy about this development.
The international character of the event was also reflected in the range of topics covered. A total of 96 talks and 40 posters made up the scientific program. While you can read all abstracts here (LINK TO BoA), ICYMARE 2025 BREMERHAVEN also offered a wide range of additional activities that many of our participants found just as valuable.
This retrospective looks back at the events and impressions that made ICYMARE 2025 BREMERHAVEN into the fantastic week that it was.
Keynotes
For many ICYMARE participants, this was the first chance to experience the full range of what a scientific conference can offer. Talks and posters are the obvious highlights, but the daily keynotes stood out to many as a surprise favorite. Our speakers and their chosen topics resonated strongly with participants and offered new perspectives that went beyond the sometimes very narrow scope of their individual research projects.
On Tuesday, Prof. Dr. Martin Mundt (https://owl-ml.com/people/mundt/) from the University of Bremen opened ICYMARE 2025 BREMERHAVEN with his keynote on with what many call the topic of the decade: the promises and limitations of artificial intelligence with a special focus on sustainability. He explained why current AI approaches are often computationally unsustainable and socially challenging, and pointed to possible shifts towards adaptive, community-driven systems that could benefit both our professional and personal lives.
Coming from a completely different perspective, on Wednesday M.Sc. Anna-Lucia Buer from EUCC-D about ocean literacy and the role of community engagement in conservation. Based on her work at EUCC-D, she showed how science, stakeholder involvement and education can contribute to the sustainable use of coasts and oceans. This keynote was particularly well received as it also highlighted career paths outside of academic research, which many participants found highly interesting.
On Thursday, Prof. Sarahi L. Garcia from the University of Oldenburg and HIFMB talked about microbial communities and their crucial role in Earth’s ecosystems. Her keynote combined reductionist and holistic approaches to studying bacteria and showed how their interactions reveal both ecological complexity and the interconnectedness of life. Her take-home message was that bacteria teach us a profound lesson: we, like all life, are interconnected across multiple dimensions.
And last but certainly not least, Dr. Lena Steinmann from the University of Bremen’s Data Science Center wrapped up the week with a keynote on career development in marine sciences. She showed how recognizing and expanding data-related skills can open new career opportunities both in and beyond academia. Her own path from geoscientist to science manager inspired many questions from the audience, and it is always a highlight for the ICYMARE team to see participants engage so actively with our speakers.
Workshops
Wednesday was Workshop Day. After the morning’s scientific sessions, ICYMARE participants joined one of several workshops or excursions that either matched their research interests or focused on skills useful for any early-career researcher. This year we were especially happy about the wide range of topics, from cooking seaweed omelets to exploring the depths of R repositories.
In Acoustic Telemetry – An Innovative Tool for Tracking Aquatic Animals, Andre Steckenreuter from our sponsor Innovasea-Fish Tracking explained how small transmitters attached to animals can be detected by hydrophones placed in strategic locations. The workshop showed how this technology helps to identify migration routes, key habitats such as spawning or nursery areas, and even the spread of invasive species. Participants also had the chance to see some of the latest Innovasea-Fish Tracking equipment in action, making this session both hands-on and exciting for those interested in movement ecology and applied management.
Eva Karin Rohlfer and Julia Wenhuda discussed why effective science communication is no longer optional in their Science Beyond the Lab and Field: Practical Tools for Effective Science Communication workshop. They addressed the growing need for scientists to develop and practice public engagement skills and introduced participants to the basics of science communication, including storytelling, audience targeting, videography, photography, and audio production. In the hands-on session, participants also created a short video reel for Instagram using Canva or recording a podcast episode about their research interests.
A popular topic at ICYMARE workshops is always our favorite statistical tool. In Unboxing R, Bryson Yerik Torgovitsky guided participants through the basics of data cleaning, analysis, and visualization with R, using the well-known Palmerpenguins dataset. Step by step, the group learned how to turn raw data into a publishable format while also building a reproducible workflow that can be adapted for their own projects. The workshop combined practical coding exercises with explanations of how these methods fit into ecological research. By the end, even those with little prior experience in programming had a set of scripts to take home and continue developing.
Publishing can feel like a black box for many early-career researchers. In their interactive Frontiers’ ECR Publishing Workshop, Joanna Johnson and Ella Hierlehy from Frontiers in Marine Science and Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability opened that box and explained how the publishing process really works. Participants learned about different publishing models and journal types, how to prepare and submit manuscripts, and what to expect during peer review. A particularly useful part was the hands-on exercise: everyone who brought their own abstract could work through author requirements directly, applying best practices on the spot.
Runa Reuter hosted From Pixels to Data: Image Analysis for Marine Researchers. Marine research increasingly relies on image data, whether from underwater cameras, drones, or microscopes. In this workshop, participants explored ImageJ, a free and open-source software that allows scientists to turn images into measurable data. After a guided introduction to the software’s user interface, participants explored how to calibrate images, set measurement parameters, and apply techniques such as thresholding and particle analysis. They also learned how to export their results for statistical analysis or publication. The atmosphere was very hands-on, with laptops open and many questions being tried out in real time.
The Advancing Ocean Observations of Marine Life through Collaboration and Integration workshop, led by the BioEcoOcean project, focused on a big challenge in marine research: fragmented data and disconnected initiatives. Lina Mtwana Nordlund and Said Hashim invited participants to actively contribute to the development of the Blueprint for Integrated Ocean Science, a global tool designed to improve how we observe and manage marine ecosystems. Through structured discussions, early-career researchers shared their perspectives and helped identify priorities for future collaboration. The workshop emphasized that the Blueprint is not a top-down framework but something built collaboratively with input from scientists around the world, including ICYMARE participants.
Not all workshops were about coding, data, or publishing. In Algae – Vegetables from the Sea to Your Plate, Katharina Schaefer introduced participants to algae as a sustainable and versatile food source. Together, the group explored different types of algae – from microalgae like spirulina to macroalgae such as wakame and nori – and discussed their health benefits, sensory qualities, and potential role in future diets. The workshop was very interactive, with tastings and a practical cooking session. Participants prepared simple recipes such as smoothies and pesto, and many were surprised at how easy it is to integrate algae into everyday meals. Beyond the culinary fun, the session highlighted how algae can play a role in sustainable nutrition and why it is becoming increasingly relevant in global food systems.
For those keen to explore, the ICYMARE excursion to the Klimahaus was a chance to discover one of Bremerhaven’s highlights. The Klimahaus takes visitors on a journey through different climate zones along the eighth meridian east, linking local weather with global climate and showing the science behind climate change and its future scenarios. The exhibition also makes clear in a very engaging way what each of us can do to contribute to climate protection. So, what better excursion to take for a group of marine scientists that care about all our future.
Round Tables
The emphasis of ICYMARE Round Tables is always on open exchange. Rather than having presenters talk at you, these sessions are all about sharing, comparing, and building on each other’s experiences. We especially highlight topics that tend to be tricky for early-career researchers. Often, they’re exactly the kind of things you might not feel comfortable asking your supervisor.
We started things off on Tuesday with Conference 101, a session for everyone new to the whole conference world. Because let’s be honest: it’s not always clear how to get the most out of it. Is it enough to just sit through the talks? How do you even start a conversation about collaboration? And can you really, as a first-year BSc student, just go up to a postdoc and say hi? Lots of great questions came up, and some experienced conference folks were happy to share what’s worked for them.
One topic that’s always in high demand: Mental Health and Stress in Academia. There’s always a lot to talk about, from imposter syndrome, perfectionism, the pressure to always perform, and the fear of speaking up. Sure, universities often offer support, but sometimes just being in a room with others who know how that feels can already help. Putting words to it, realizing you’re not alone, that’s what this session is about.
New this year was Neurodivergence in Science. Together with experienced ICYMARE volunteers, participants discussed how being neurodivergent intersects with working in a system that can be pretty rigid and fast-paced. The feedback was great, and we’ll definitely continue this conversation next year at ICYMARE 2026 BREMEN.
We wrapped things up on Friday with I Wish I Had Known This Before Starting My Thesis. Because let’s face it, most of us have had moments of wondering what on earth we’ve gotten ourselves into. Burned-down labs, lost samples, badly calibrated equipment, rejected hypotheses… hearing others talk about their not-so-shiny moments helped put things in perspective. And we even came up with a few ideas for how to stay sane through it all or at least not feel completely alone in the chaos.
Art & Data Corner
At ICYMARE we value the insights we can gain from one another. The more we work across disciplines, the easier it becomes to look beyond our own research focus. Bringing art into the conference helped exactly with this. In our Art Corner, participants had two options: take a moment to sit back, relax, and sketch a few fish to escape the busy conference schedule or explore how visual storytelling can enhance their scientific work. Together with our Art Team, they learned how visual formats can support scientific communication and discovered ways to connect creative hobbies with their everyday lab life.
In 2025, we added something new: the ICYMARE Data Corner. Set up in cooperation with the University of Bremen’s Data Science Center, this new space followed the same idea as the Art Corner. Instead of sketching and drawing, it was all about data. Participants met in the cozy Data Corner for casual chats about code, shared workflows, or just geeked out over spreadsheets. Unsurprisingly, the Data Corner quickly became a favorite hangout and we’re planning to make it a regular part of future ICYMARE editions.
ICYMARE 2025 BREMERHAVEN Program & Book of Abstracts
All ICYMARE 2025 BREMERHAVEN Sessions
1 The Ocean’s Role in Climate Mitigation and Biogeochemical Cycles
These sessions focus on the ocean’s role in climate regulation, carbon cycling, and marine biogeochemistry, emphasizing air-sea interactions and chemical processes.
Hosted by Benjamin Owusu
Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) techniques offer a transformative opportunity to mitigate climate change by harnessing the ocean’s natural carbon storage potential. This session invites Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from diverse backgrounds to explore, debate, and innovate in the field of mCDR. From Artificial Upwelling (AU) and ocean alkalinity enhancement to biological carbon pumps and sequestration through dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the session will address the breadth of emerging strategies in marine-based climate mitigation.
The ocean’s role as a carbon sink is central to the global climate system, yet mCDR techniques face challenges ranging from ecological trade-offs to uncertainties in scalability and efficiency under future climate scenarios. This session aims to provide a platform for critical discussions of these challenges, while fostering collaborations and sparking innovative ideas. Key themes will include the mechanisms driving mCDR processes, the role of microbial and biogeochemical interactions, and the potential for mCDR to complement terrestrial carbon removal approaches.
Whether you are modelling ocean-climate feedbacks, conducting field studies, or exploring governance frameworks for mCDR implementation, this session is for you. Through presentations, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities, we aim to empower ECRs to contribute to this rapidly evolving field.
Join us to exchange ideas, share research, and co-create solutions for a sustainable and resilient future. Together, let’s redefine the role of our oceans in combating the climate crisis and inspire actionable pathways for mCDR to make a meaningful impact.
Hosted by Michael Julian Haryanto
Oceanic Mixing processes (OMIXs) correspond to a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, promoting heat and material exchange across boundaries that can further influence global climate change and local marine ecosystems. While physical observations and model simulations have extensively explored OMIXs, direct chemical evidence and quantification of the OMIXs and associated material transport remain limited. To bridge this gap, a deeper understanding of water mass mixing, nutrient dynamics, and their impacts on marine ecosystems is essential.
One valuable approach to gaining this understanding is studying the underlying biogeochemistry, specifically that of trace elements and their isotopes (TEIs) across environmental settings: land-coastal area, coastal area-marginal sea, and marginal sea-open ocean. This land-to-open ocean interaction is complex and variable, thus requiring a more exploratory approach from various disciplines. Moreover, with the changing climate regionally and globally (episodic events), changes in intrusion patterns across boundaries can impact the regional material budget.
Attempts have been made to incorporate TEIs, including Rare Earth Elements (REEs), in evaluating biogeochemical processes, water mass transport, and environmental monitoring. Nevertheless, marine geochemistry laboratories still face significant challenges as the measurement process of TEIs remains challenging due to factors such as matrix effects from seawater matrices. This session seeks to bring together sea-going early-career researchers working on the biogeochemistry of TEIs, creating a multidisciplinary exchange among environmental analytical chemists and chemical, physical, and biological oceanographers. This session aims to pave the way for further academic collaboration among presenters, leading to a more comprehensive understanding and diverse approach to our changing oceans and their ecological impacts on marine ecosystems.
Hosted by Lea Lange and Samuel Mintah Ayim
Air-sea interactions are fundamental to Earth’s climate system and a critical component of biogeochemical cycling. They mediate the exchange of heat, momentum, and mass between the ocean and atmosphere, influencing weather patterns, climate regulation, and global cycles. Without these interactions, the Earth would not sustain terrestrial life as we know it. However, the ongoing changes of our oceans due to global environmental shifts, like slowing of the ocean carbon sink, deoxygenation, eutrophication and weaking of overturning circulations, present an urgent concern for scientists and policymakers alike. As a result, there is a pressing need to deepen our understanding of how these changes affect and translate through the air-sea interface to predict and mitigate their impacts on climate change.
This session invites studies that explore the biological, chemical and physical processes driving air-sea interactions, as well as studies on the Sea Surface Microlayer, the surface ocean or the lower atmosphere. Topics of interest range from observational approaches over experimental set-ups to data analysis and models. Complex networks of viruses, bacteria, archaea, phyto- and zooplankton, but also larger specimen exist in the surface ocean as well as the Sea Surface Microlayer. They are controlled by nutrient availability, temperature, salinity, currents and more abiotic parameters. These networks affect the biogeochemistry of the water and each other in turn. Through the air-sea interface some of the products escape the networks as sea spray or gas and in turn affect the composition and cycles in the lower atmosphere. By combining presentations from all perspectives, this session aims to address gaps and link existing knowledge. Understanding and quantifying air-sea interactions and how they might adapt to global environmental shifts are vital for assessing the health of the ocean-atmosphere system.
2 Sustainable Ocean Use and Conservation Strategies
These sessions explore sustainable marine resource management, conservation efforts, and strategies to enhance coastal and ecosystem resilience.
Hosted by Olga Lukyanova
Healthy oceans play a critical role in supporting life on Earth, providing essential services such as food security, coastal protection, and climate regulation. However, much of the ocean is now considered overexploited, making the protection of marine living resources vital for human well-being. Recent advances in computational techniques, statistical analyses, animal tracking, genetic research, and other methodologies offer promising opportunities to enhance conservation and management strategies on a global, regional, and local scale. At the same time, there is a growing recognition of the need to integrate social science approaches to better understand the socio-ecological dynamics of marine resource use, enabling the development of more effective and equitable policies. Despite these advancements, persistent challenges and data gaps continue to hinder progress, exacerbating uncertainties in conservation outcomes – particularly in the face of ongoing and projected climate change impacts. This session aims to provide a platform for researchers from diverse disciplines to share insights, exchange ideas, and explore innovative approaches to addressing the challenges of conserving and sustainably using marine life.
Hosted by Susete Pinteus, Margarida Matias and ICYMARE
Marine ecosystems hold a wealth of natural resources rich in bioactive compounds, offering opportunities for sustainable innovation and economic growth. We welcome studies that focus on the sustainable exploration of marine-derived ingredients, particularly those that align with circular economy strategies to create environmentally-friendly products. We invite you to share with us your advancements in the discovery, extraction, and application of marine ingredients – ranging from pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals to biodegradable materials and other biotechnological applications. By leveraging the sustainable exploration of marine biodiversity, we can significantly contribute to reducing our environmental footprints while unlocking the economic potential of coastal and marine sectors.
Hosted by Victoria Wegner and Jonathan Heimer
Coastal regions are among the most productive and biodiverse areas on Earth. Although they account for only 10 % of the global ocean surface, they are home to over 90 % of all marine species. For humans, coasts are equally essential: around 60 % of the global population lives within 60 km of a coastline, benefiting not only from a place to live but also from critical ecosystem services such as food, livelihoods, and natural protection. However, these regions face increasing threats from natural and anthropogenic hazards. Climate change intensifies these risks, with changing sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and other disruptions. Since the Industrial Revolution, global sea levels have risen by 20 cm, and the worst-case IPCC scenarios expect increases of up to 2 m by 2100. Coastal communities are at the forefront of these challenges, making coastal resilience a priority. Coastal resilience is the ability to adapt to changing conditions, withstand disruptions, and recover quickly from emergencies. But how can we assess coastal resilience effectively? What role do nature-based solutions play in enhancing resilience? Are there complementary technology-driven solutions that can mitigate risks? This session invites participants to explore approaches to coastal resilience, share knowledge, and discuss best practices. How can we learn from one another to protect these important regions? Join our session to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and explore practical solutions to protect and strengthen our coasts and coastal communities!
3 Marine Organisms and Ecosystem Responses to Environmental and Anthropogenic Change
These sessions address how marine life —including coral reefs, polar regions, and symbiotic relationships—respond to environmental stressors and anthropogenic stressors.
Hosted by Fabio Viotti and Catherine Golinvaux
Marine Bioacoustics provides critical insights into how organisms, from invertebrates to marine mammals, use sound for communication, navigation, mate attraction, and foraging. However, the rise in human-made noise (e.g. boat noise, sonar, pile-driving, wind turbines), disrupts these vital processes and can lead to altered behaviours, an increase in stress levels, displacement, and, in the most extreme cases, even injuries and mortality. By examining both intentional and incidental sounds in the marine environment, we can better understand how anthropogenic noise affects species at physiological, behavioural, and ecological levels, and move toward more effective mitigation strategies.
In this session, we invite early-career researchers to present studies on the acoustic behaviour of marine organisms, as well as innovative methods for characterizing animal calls, and to investigate the impacts of anthropogenic noise exposure. We also welcome contributions that discuss strategies to reduce noise pollution, along with policy and best practices to safeguard marine soundscapes from further degradation. We hope that, through the dialogue among the young experts in this field, we could broaden not only scientific knowledge but also strengthen global conservation efforts to reduce noise-related impacts.
Hosted by Naomi Krauzig, Marwa Baloza and Gabriel Akoko Juma
Polar regions are undergoing some of the most rapid and profound changes on the planet. The Southern Ocean, a major heat sink, has absorbed up to 62% of the global ocean heat gain in recent decades, significantly influencing the thermohaline circulation and ocean-ice interactions around Antarctica. In the Arctic, temperatures have risen nearly four times faster than the global average, accelerating sea ice loss and permafrost thaw. These changes are reshaping polar marine ecosystems, triggering cascading effects on biogeochemical cycles, microbial communities, and food web dynamics—ultimately impacting carbon sequestration and global climate feedbacks.
Despite their critical role in the Earth system, the polar regions remain among the least observed and understood environments. Their remoteness and extreme conditions pose significant challenges to scientific exploration, leaving many key processes unresolved.
This session invites interdisciplinary contributions that investigate the physical, chemical, and biological changes occurring in the polar regions. We encourage studies addressing oceanographic processes, ice-ocean interactions, sea ice retreat, permafrost erosion, and their impacts on biogeochemical cycles, microbial communities, and macrofaunal ecosystems. We also welcome research leveraging in situ platforms such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), gliders, drifters, moorings, and floats, as well as remote sensing and climate modeling approaches. Additionally, we invite contributions that integrate policy and societal perspectives to enhance our understanding of the future of the polar regions.
The discussions will provide a platform for early career researchers to share findings, exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and promote innovative approaches to observing and conserving these rapidly changing ecosystems. Join us in shaping the future of polar science through interdisciplinary research and technological innovation.
Hosted by Nagore Quintano, Tabea Platz and Malte Ostendarp
Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet they are severely threatened by human-driven pressures. Climate change is the primary driver for reef degradation, causing rising water temperatures, ocean acidification and more frequent extreme weather events. These alterations trigger effects, such as coral bleaching, the emergence of diseases and alterations in the natural trophic structure of coral reefs. Projections for the upcoming century are alarming, with predictions pointing towards the loss of the majority of coral reefs as we know them today. For this reason, monitoring the health status and studying survival strategies of the coral holobiont under varying environmental conditions – both in the wild and in the lab – becomes critical for the design and implementation of effective conservation measures.
Join our session, in which we welcome contributions from all areas of coral reef research! We aim to create a platform for in-depth exploration of coral reefs addressing the associated challenges of conservation as well as the ecological and socio-economic implications. Together, we will tackle critical questions in coral reef research: How will coral species adapt to future ocean conditions? How can we mitigate the influence of increasing stress to sustain corals for future generations? Be part of this important conversation and share your insights, exchange ideas and collaborate on shaping the future of coral reef science.
Hosted by Roman Petrochenko und Vadim Merkin
Among the many forms of connections in marine ecosystems, symbiotic relationships stand out as a somewhat underrepresented topic in scientific research. However, their role in the evolution and biology of marine organisms must not be underestimated. The complex, sometimes bizarre nature of symbioses may influence the very balance of an ecosystem. Thus, understanding symbioses, from mutualism to parasitism, is an integral part of our efforts in marine conservation.
Join us in our session, where we aim to explore all the forms of symbioses – from parasitism to mutualism – and present the newest insights in their ecology. We want to create a platform where all contributors can share their perspectives. If you are interested in this topic, feel free to submit your abstract! Insights into any taxonomic groups or parts of the ocean are welcome, as we dive deep into a vast and complex world of biological connections.
4 Human-Ocean Interactions: Governance, Policy, and Societal Engagement
These sessions cover ocean governance, stakeholder engagement, and the role of education and communication in shaping sustainable ocean policies.
Hosted by Linda del Savio
The governance of the world’s oceans is shaped by a multitude of processes and institutions, including regional bodies and United Nations agencies, resulting in a fragmented legal and institutional landscape. Recent developments at the international level include the adoption of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the ongoing negotiations of a plastic treaty and the proposed International/Intergovernmental Platform for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS), among others. These efforts can serve as examples for shaping and contributing to sustainable ocean governance in a coordinated manner. However, the international ocean community is confronted with numerous challenges, including those related to marine pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, which impede multilateral and collaborative efforts. Consequently, multi- and transdisciplinary approaches are imperative to address complex challenges and identify sustainable solutions, including practical governance approaches that integrate sustainability goals into individual policy areas. This integration is essential to develop effective measures to achieve zero pollution, climate and biodiversity targets and to protect the marine environment.
The main goal of this session is to examine the pivotal function of sustainable ocean governance and foster discussions among early career researchers and professionals from diverse disciplines. We welcome contributions from natural sciences, law, humanities and economics, acknowledging the oceans’ role as a unifying element connecting us geographically and professionally. Moreover, the session is intended to provide a space for researchers to explore the potential contributions of their research to the science-policy-society interface. Submit your research on ocean governance and join us in shaping a more connected and sustainable future for our oceans!
Hosted by Erik Sulanke
Stakeholder interaction has become a cornerstone of marine research and management, bridging the gap between science and society. The notion of the limitless ocean is long gone and replaced by often contradictory interests of industry, conservation, and governments, creating complex research questions for marine scientists. Answering these questions can immensely benefit from including non-scientific partners in all stages of research from design to conclusion. By fostering such participatory processes, we can harness the unique insights of diverse stakeholders to refine data collection, improve research outcomes, and shape pragmatic regulations that reflect ecological, economic, and social realities. From community-based fishery monitoring programs to interactive policy workshops, this session aims to provide a platform for results, initiatives, and approaches of all kinds. Together, we will discuss how researchers can embrace such partnerships to enhance research relevance and societal impact.
Hosted by Patricia Navarro Gonzalez and Tanushree Mundra
Ocean literacy explores the mutual influence of society and the ocean. Interacting with nature shapes societal attitudes and behaviours, which ultimately, when positive, support the sustainable use of natural resources. Without the human factor, most marine policies will not succeed. Therefore, though often overlooked in marine research, it is crucial to achieve the UN Sustainable Ocean Strategies by 2030. Effective ocean literacy is based on society’s access to a myriad of educational resources, incorporating traditional and historical knowledge of coastal communities into ocean management, providing engaging and emotional experiences through technological advances, and considering scientific knowledge in the policy-making process. While ocean literacy programmes tend to focus on engaging primary and secondary education levels, we would like to pivot the session towards ocean literacy that influences people of decision-making age. In this immersive session, we invite researchers that investigate around the seven principles of ocean literacy, whether that is through marine culture, social-economic impacts, artistic roots, communication, or education. We would like to bring in different expertise to highlight the complexity and diversity of ocean literacy approaches in science and to promote networking and the exchange of ideas. This session is the space you need to share the human dimension of your project and for researchers experienced in this topic to emphasize the importance of ocean literacy!
5 Open Session
Hosted by: Jöran Paap and Theo Krüger
If you think your research does not fit into any of our existing sessions, then we welcome you to the Open Session!
ICYMARE 2025 Workshops & Excursions
Workshop host: Klimahaus Bremerhaven
The “Klimahaus” is more than a museum – it is an experience. During this afternoon excursion, you will embark on a journey around the world, crossing the different climate zones of the Earth. Along the way, you will meet people from various countries and learn more about their culture and daily life. And if you wish to learn even more, there will be the possibility to participate in a guided tour: your guide, education officer Kim Ludwig, will provide additional information about the Klimahaus, with a particular focus on its communication strategies to reach a broad audience – especially regarding the topics of climate change and biodiversity. Furthermore, as a marine biologist herself, she will gladly share insights into her work routine in the field of education and exhibitions.
Link: www.klimahaus-bremerhaven.de
Workshop host: Andre Steckenreuter
Acoustic telemetry is a well-established tool that has been used around the world for more than three decades to get an understanding of the spatio-temporal movements and associated behaviour of a wide range of aquatic animals. This technology is based on transmitters being attached to individual animals who will then be recorded by deployed receivers, i.e., hydrophones, in strategic locations when in detection range. Unlike with satellite tags, animals do not need to break the surface in order to be detected. There are also fewer limitations on tag size and battery life, meaning a broader selection of animals can be tracked (starting from a total weight of at least 6g). Acoustic telemetry will allow, for example, to detect migration corridors (or changes of those over time), identify crucial areas of physiological and behavioural importance (such as spawning, mating, foraging, nursery, and resting habitats), and the intrusion and distribution of invasive species, to name just a few. Results will greatly improve management plans and decisions for fishing practices, potential marine protected areas (MPAs), etc. This workshop will provide an overview about this innovative technology and how to use it in a wide array of applications. It is geared towards students and young researchers who are starting their career in marine biology and who want to learn more about novel techniques to answer crucial research questions. Participants will also have the opportunity for live demos of some of the newest advancements in acoustic telemetry equipment.
Workshop hosts: Eva Karin Rohlfer and Julia Wenhuda
Effective science communication is no longer optional: A recent study by Swiss researchers, surveying individuals from 68 countries, found that a large majority expects scientists to invest more effort in communicating their research to the public. While trust in scientists remains high, the study emphasizes that trust must be maintained through transparent and accessible communication. Yet, despite this apparent demand by society, scientific outreach remains underprioritized in the early stages of many research careers. This workshop addresses the growing need for scientists to develop and practice public engagement skills. Together, we will explore science communication’s challenges and opportunities, focusing on social media and podcasts. These formats offer accessible ways to engage diverse and global audiences through digital platforms, and with that, can help shape the public discourse about scientific topics. We will introduce you to the basics of science communication, including storytelling, audience targeting, videography, photography, and audio production. After a brief crash course, you will apply your knowledge hands-on by creating a short video reel for Instagram using Canva or recording a podcast episode, which will be shared on all common audio platforms. Everyone is welcome, whether you are experienced in science communication or just starting. If possible, please bring your phone and laptop. Together, we will reflect on how scientists can better meet societal expectations and strengthen public trust by making our work more visible, relatable, and impactful.
Workshop host: Bryson Yerik Torgovitsky
In “Basics of Coding with RStudio: Unboxing Scientific Data”, participants will be introduced to the freeware RStudio and explore its utility in ecological research. This workshop provides a step-by-step approach with the main goal of curating raw data into an analyzable and publishable format. “Palmerpenguins”, a publicly available R package which contains real-world data on Antarctic penguins, is used so participants can view key data cleaning and display packages in RStudio within the context of biological data. The structure of the workshop follows a three-step format: data cleaning, analysis, and presentation. By the end of the workshop, participants will be armed with basic RStudio skills and a reproducible coding framework that can be built upon and applied to their own data. “Basics of Coding with RStudio: Unboxing Scientific Data” is adapted from the “Unboxing R” tutorial offered at Tohoku University by the International Marine Sciences Laboratory (IMS) designed by Bryson Yerik Torgovitsky (IMS, D2) and attended by researchers from the undergraduate to postgraduate level.
Workshop hosts: Joanna Johnson and Ella Hierlehy
Publishing Workshop This interactive, 2-hour workshop, led by the Journal Managers of Frontiers in Marine Science and Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, is designed to demystify the journal publishing process, including submitting your work, understanding journal types, and exploring how publishing collaborations can benefit your career.
The session includes:
- An overview of publishing models and journal types
- Introduction to Frontiers journals and research collections
- Hands-on activities on how to navigate author requirements, manuscript types, submission, and the peer review process
- Q&A
Bring an abstract of your own research to use during interactive exercises – learn by applying best practices directly to your work! We look forward to seeing you there.
Workshop host: Runa Reuter
Marine research increasingly relies on image-based data, from underwater camera profiles to microscopic images and drone surveys. An efficient and reproducible analysis of these images is key to unlocking their scientific value. During this hands-on workshop participants will be introduced to the concepts of quantitative scientific image analysis using the powerful, free, and open-source image processing software ImageJ. We will explore: – the user interface and basic functionalities of ImageJ – how to calibrate images and set measurement parameters – how to apply common image analysis techniques (e.g., thresholding, particle analysis) – and how to export data for further statistical analysis or scientific publication. You are interested in learning, enhancing or sharing your skills in image analysis? Then this workshop is for you! No prior experience in image analysis is needed to attend the workshop. It would be advantageous if you could bring your own laptop to the workshop. No software installation is needed!
Workshop hosts: Lina Mtwana Nordlund and Said Hashim
Are you working to understand and protect marine life? Do you think that fragmented data, disconnected initiatives, and communication barriers hold us back? This workshop offers a chance to be part of changing this narrative. Led by the BioEcoOcean project, this interactive session invites you to take an active role in co-creating the Blueprint for Integrated Ocean Science — a pioneering global support tool designed to transform how we observe, understand, and manage marine ecosystems. The Blueprint is not a framework imposed from elsewhere. It is being built collaboratively, and this workshop is a key moment to ensure that the priorities, challenges, and ambitions of early career researchers are also firmly embedded in its design. Through structured discussions, participants will shape a practical tool encouraging communication that strengthens biological and ecosystem observations, connects fragmented efforts, and guides future partnerships, funding strategies, and management actions. The Blueprint will directly support regional and global marine conservation goals, ecosystem-based management, and policy implementation, aligned with frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. The insights generated here will feed directly into the Blueprint, which will launch in 2027 as an open-access, interactive platform endorsed by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) under IOC-UNESCO. This is your opportunity to ensure that the voice of early career researchers helps lead and define the future of integrated ocean observation. Join us — and be part of building a tool that serves both the region and the world.
Workshop host: Anna-Lucia Buer
This workshop shall be an opportunity to learn about stakeholder involvement using the very recent topic of seagrass restoration. Furthermore, it shall be used to gain new insights into (young) opinions and ways of communication. After a short introduction into stakeholder processes and the seagrass / seagrass restoration topic, we want to identify stakeholders of seagrass restoration, determine advantages and disadvantages and potential conflicts. Therefore, we use well established methods of this research. We will split into groups of “stakeholder” to work out specific worries and questions, as well as ways how these could be answered and what kind of involvement the stakeholders would wish for. Coming back together in our starting group, we will discuss potential solution paths and finalize with a summary on how successful stakeholder engagement can look like.
Workshop host: Katharina Schaefer
Seaweed is becoming increasingly popular as a foodstuff in the nutrition sector. But why should we eat these plants at all? And in which products might we already encounter them without realizing it? From “forgotten vegetables” to an integral part of our modern dietary diversity, we take a look at seaweed in its edible spectrum.Together, we will discuss consumption patterns, sensory properties, health benefits, and ways to integrate algae into our daily lives as a versatile food. In the workshop, you will be able to experience microalgae and macroalgae such as spirulina, wakame, and nori with all your senses, taste different products, and develop and share your own recipe or product ideas. In the practical part, we will prepare simple culinary ideas such as smoothies or pesto, which show how easy it is to use algae in everyday life. The aim of the workshop is to arouse curiosity and expand knowledge in order to create easy access to algae in one’s own diet as a sustainable food.
ICYMARE 2025 Keynotes
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Martin Mundt – Professor for Lifelong Machine Learning, University of Bremen, Open World Lifelong Machine Learning Lab: OWL-ML
Be it vision, language or gathered scientific data — foundation models are rapidly advancing research and application frontiers. Almost no discipline seems to be left untouched by the astonishing progress, fueling both advances in core sciences and societal adoption. Inspired by the many success stories, it may thus come as no surprise that AI is now increasingly positioned as a pivotal actor in dealing with some of the most prevalent sustainability challenges, including climate, education, well-being and social (in-)equality. However, modern AI’s data-hungry and compute-heavy nature simultaneously entails a host of scientific and socio-technical concerns. In this talk, I will provide a machine learner’s perspective on AI-driven sustainability, highlighting critical technological elements required to transcend a mere pipe dream. I will first summarize why the underpinnings of AI model training are computationally unsustainable, why produced outputs are frequently misleading, and briefly, why observed outcomes tend to be socially inadequate. Consequently, I will highlight avenues to enable a paradigm shift away from the limitations of large static models towards community-led adaptive AI. In doing so, I will finally posit that AI is currently situated at a critical junction, where its imminent technological focus will decide its prospective long-term impact.
Biography:
Martin Mundt is a full professor for lifelong machine learning at the University of Bremen, leading the OWL-ML (Open World Lifelong Machine Learning) Lab. He is also a board member of directors at the non-profit organization ContinualAI and a core organizer at the non-profit Queer in AI. He currently serves as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) chair at CoLLAs 2025, was previously EDI Chair at AAAI-24 and Review Process Chair for CoLLAs-24. Prior to joining the University of Bremen in 2025, Martin was an independent research group leader and visiting professor at TU Darmstadt and hessian.AI, together with whom he continues to research the frontiers of “Reasonable AI” — funded as a cluster of excellence by the German federal government. He holds a PhD in computer science and a Master’s of Physics from Goethe University Frankfurt.
Links:
www.owl-ml.com
Speaker: M.Sc. Anna-Lucia Buer – EUCC – The Coastal Union Germany
The keynote will focus on the work of EUCC-D, an organization dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of our coasts and oceans. It will present a brief overview of our current projects, the role of science and community engagement, and highlight the need to promote ocean literacy to ensure long-term conservation.
Biography:
I’ve always felt home at the sea, which led me to study Marine Biotechnology, followed by Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching. Throughout my career, I have worked in various areas of marine research, such as mussel farming and investigating their feasibility in the German Baltic Sea, microbiology in Antarctica on a genetic basis, and restoring seagrass in the German Baltic Sea. In many cases, involving stakeholders played an important role, which combines my passion for the ocean with practical conservation efforts.
Links:
www.eucc-d.de/mitarbeiter/anna-lucia-buer
www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lucia-buer
Speaker: Professor Sarahi L. Garcia – Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University – Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), School of Mathematics and Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg – Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB)
Bacteria are extremely diverse microorganisms invisible to the naked eye, which have inhabited Earth for billions of years. They significantly influence the global ecosystems and shape our atmosphere and biosphere. Although humans have studied bacteria intensively for approximately a century, much remains to be discovered and learned from these earliest inhabitants of our planet. Natural microbial communities often possess complementary and seemingly redundant metabolic capacities across different cells. A key example involves the synthesis of energetically costly compounds that primarily promote the cell’s own survival but, as a side effect, can also aid the growth of neighboring cells.
In my lab, we investigate natural microbial communities using complementary reductionist (cultivated model communities) and holistic (environmental genome-resolved metagenomics) approaches. Model communities simplify complexity while retaining relevant genetic and nutritional diversity by cultivating two or more naturally co-occurring microbial cells. Through several studies, we have inoculated thousands of model communities derived from aquatic environments, observing varying success rates depending on media composition and initial inoculum density. Many successful cultures have enabled the growth and subsequent genomic characterization of previously uncultivated bacterial species. Using sequencing techniques, we identified complementary metabolic functions within model communities and discovered consortia capable of performing specialized tasks, such as methane degradation.
In parallel, our holistic investigations using genome-resolved metagenomics and network analyses identified correlations among microbial species, their metabolic functions, and environmental factors. Integrating these reductionist and holistic perspectives allows us to uncover the multi-layered organization of microbial communities as biological fractals, revealing complex anabolic and catabolic interactions within natural ecosystems. Ultimately, bacteria teach us a profound lesson: we, like all life, are interconnected across multiple dimensions.
Biography:
I am born and raised in Mexico. However, I have spent most of my life moving from one place to another.
My start as a scientist was not straightforward. I remember being a child and learning about brain drain. That is the first time that it ever occurred to me I would maybe want to be a scientist or inventor. However, as life has it, I tried to become a Christian missionary first. Then, at the age of 20, some big events in my personal life moved me break up with religion and to search for MY purpose. At the same time, I had some serendipitous path crossings with scientists and mentors that encouraged me to invest time and energy into science. Thanks to their mentorship, I started my journey in science.
In this journey, I have learned so much about life and about myself. Often, it has been very painful, but mostly it has been a journey of growth that has led to innumerable positive interactions. I have met inspiring people who enhance my passion to live a life that supports others. As I learn more about life, I want to be able to teach, support and mentor.
I am committed to making science more inclusive. I will support mentees and colleagues to reach their own goals.
Finally, apart from scientist, I am also a mom, queer, neurodiverse, aerialist, coach, first-generation higher education, and a proponent for mental health, inclusion, and sustainability.
Links:
www.miint.org
@sarilog (Instagram, Bluesky, X and LinkedIn)
Speaker: Dr. Lena Steinmann – University of Bremen, Data Science Center
As marine researchers, you work with data every day – planning fieldwork, collecting and cleaning data, managing spreadsheets, running analyses, and sharing results. These are core data science and data management practices, yet we often don’t recognize them as such. In this keynote, I’ll explore how acknowledging and developing your data skills can open unexpected doors and broaden your career opportunities.
I’ll also share my own journey – from hands-on research to science management – and how transferable skills in data handling, project coordination, and collaboration became key assets in shaping my career. Together, we’ll look at how data skills not only strengthen your research but also lead to exciting careers in research support, data stewardship, data science, open science, science management, and beyond. For early-career researchers wondering what comes next, this talk offers both recognition of your existing strengths and inspiration for future directions – whether within academia or beyond.
Biography:
Dr. Lena Steinmann is a geoscientist turned science manager who has coordinated the Data Science Center (DSC) at the University of Bremen since 2020. In this role, she leads an interdisciplinary team, drives the center’s strategic development, fosters collaboration across disciplines, secures research funding, and oversees science communication and outreach.
She studied (Marine) Geosciences at the University of Bremen (DE), University of Southampton (GB), and University of Waikato (NZ), earning her Bachelor’s degree in 2010 and a Joint Master’s degree in 2013. In 2016, she completed her Dr. rer. nat. the high-risk Campi Flegrei volcano in Italy, followed by a postdoctoral phase leading a DFG-project. Her research – from active volcanoes to deep-sea corals and offshore wind farm surveys – combined marine expeditions, complex data integration, advanced data analysis, and cross-disciplinary teamwork. These experiences now underpin her work at the DSC, where she connects researchers and creates opportunities to turn data into discoveries with real-world impact.
Links:
www.dsc-ub.de/en/member_details
www.linkedin.com/in/lena-steinmann