The 5th Scientific Conference of Polish Marine Researchers (V KNPBM), 'State and Trends of Changes in the Marine Environment', was held at the University of Pomerania in Słupsk from 22 to 24 June 2026. The event brought together representatives of Polish research institutions involved in marine science, oceanography, marine environmental protection, geology, hydrology, and other marine-related disciplines.
The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) was represented by a large group of researchers who presented the results of their studies, participated in scientific sessions, and actively contributed to discussions on the key challenges facing marine ecosystems. IO PAN representatives also helped shape the conference programme, including through their participation on the Scientific Committee.
The conference provided an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience, establish new scientific collaborations, and discuss the future of research on the Baltic Sea and the global ocean in the context of climate change and marine environmental protection.
We would like to thank the organisers for preparing this successful event and all participants for their inspiring presentations and valuable discussions. We are especially pleased to congratulate Nikola Szlachta, a PhD student of the Doctoral School (IEDS) conducting her PhD research at IO PAN, who received the award for the Best Presentation in the Young Scientists Competition. In announcing the decision, the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Professor Mirosław Darecki, highlighted her ability to demonstrate how scientific research can be translated into practical applications for environmental protection. We are also pleased that Nikola Wierzbicka-Mróz, another PhD student at IEDS conducting her doctoral research at IO PAN, received an honourable mention in the Young Scientists Competition for her presentation. Congratulations to both PhD students on their well-deserved recognition!
Photo gallery (IO PAN)
Photo gallery (Pomeranian University in Słupsk)
During May and June 2026, the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN), within the framework of the MARBEFES project, organised a series of Coastal Watch activities in the Gdańsk Bay region. The events brought together scientists, environmental authorities, NGOs, artists, students and local communities to promote marine biodiversity conservation and strengthen stakeholder engagement. The programme included a BioBlitz-inspired event, field workshops on coastal biodiversity and a training session for environmental practitioners, demonstrating how MARBEFES research supports evidence-based coastal ecosystem management.
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new video presenting the SEABAS (Sea Basin Planning Support) project, implemented under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.
The video highlights the key challenges related to integrating environmental considerations into maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea and presents the actions undertaken by the project partners to address them. In the video, SEABAS partners explain the project's objectives and discuss the benefits it brings to the Baltic Sea region.
The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) is a partner in the SEABAS project and actively contributes to activities supporting sustainable maritime spatial planning based on scientific knowledge and the protection of marine ecosystems.
For more information about the project, please see:
“Integrating the Environmental Component into the Baltic Sea MSP Puzzle”
On 17 June 2026, the 40th anniversary AREX research expedition to Spitsbergen will set sail from Gdańsk aboard the research vessel s/y Oceania, operated by the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN). This milestone marks four decades of uninterrupted Arctic research conducted by the Institute’s scientists.
AREX is one of the longest-running Polish observation programmes in the Arctic. Thanks to regular measurements carried out since 1987, scientists have been able to track the pace and scale of environmental changes occurring in one of the world’s most sensitive regions. The anniversary expedition represents another important step in continuing this unique long-term research effort.
A special place in this story belongs to Oceania herself – a unique research vessel launched in 1985 that combines the characteristics of a sailing ship and a modern scientific platform. Thanks to her design, she is capable of conducting research both in the open ocean and in the hard-to-access coastal regions of the Arctic. For more than 40 years, she has supported hundreds of scientists carrying out projects in oceanography, marine biology, environmental chemistry and climatology, becoming a symbol of Polish marine and polar research. In recent years, Oceania has also become an important platform for education and science communication. Her deck has hosted international schools for students and early-career researchers, art–science projects, documentary film and television productions, as well as a wide range of activities promoting knowledge about the seas, oceans and climate change.
During this year’s expedition, scientists will conduct oceanographic, biological, biogeochemical, atmospheric, optical and acoustic studies aimed at monitoring ongoing changes in the European Arctic and improving our understanding of how marine ecosystems function under conditions of accelerating climate change.
On 13 June 2026, another edition of the Sopot Science Day took place. Once again, the event attracted numerous science enthusiasts and demonstrated that science can be fascinating, entertaining, and inspiring.
At 31 exhibition stands, researchers from the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) and representatives of 20 partner institutions showcased their research, scientific passions, and engaging experiments. Despite the changeable weather, more than 900 visitors had the opportunity to step into the role of scientists, conduct experiments themselves, talk with experts, and attend a variety of interesting lectures and demonstrations.
We would like to thank all exhibitors, volunteers, partners, and guests for spending this special day with us and helping to create the unique atmosphere of the event. We look forward to seeing you at the next edition of the Sopot Science Picnic!
Photo galleries from the event:
https://old.iopan.pl/Albumy/Piknik2026_TK/index.html
https://old.iopan.pl/Albumy/Piknik2026/index.html
We are pleased to announce that the projects C-SCALE (Project Leader: Dr. Katarzyna Koziorowska) and BluePaths (Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Karol Kuliński) have been awarded funding under the JPI Oceans Joint Call on Blue Carbon Ecosystems 2025. Both projects will be carried out within international research consortia.
The JPI Oceans Blue Carbon Ecosystems call focuses on advancing scientific knowledge, improving methodologies and measurement protocols, and identifying effective actions to enhance the capacity of blue carbon ecosystems to contribute to climate change mitigation.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the highly competitive nature of the call. Out of 24 submitted proposals, only 4 projects were recommended for funding, 2 of which involve researchers from the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
We warmly congratulate the project leaders and everyone involved in the preparation of the successful proposals. We wish them every success in the implementation of their projects, fruitful collaboration with international partners, and many exciting scientific outcomes.
