POLNOR

R5 - Synthesis of the Results, Transfer of Knowledge and Public Outreach

The project POL-NOR started with KickOff meeting which was organized in Sopot, Poland on April 3^rd 2014. The aim of this event was to (i) introduce all the participants to each other, (ii) consolidate the project team, (iii) discuss the sampling strategies, (iv) introduce the financial and administration regulations, and (v) discuss dissemination and information strategy. All institutions involved in the project were present at the meeting (Task 5.1). POL-NOR annual meeting was organized on 19^th of March 2015 in Sopot, Poland and 10^th of February 2016 in Oslo, Norway (Task 5.3 and 5.7). During these meetings, we discussed: (1) work progress and achievements in all WPs, (ii) further sampling strategy, (iii) ship availability and cruise planning, (iv) data management, and (v) outreach plans (Task 5.1, 5.4 and 5.5). Back to back with annual meeting, two project workshops were held: ‘Workshop with WP2 and WP4 on datasets, scenarios and parameterisations’ (18^th of March 2015), and ‘Workshop on hotspots with WP2’ (19^th of March 2015; Task 5.3 and 5.1). Representatives of all institutions involved in the project attended these meetings. Throughout the project duration scientific coordination was based on frequent contacts with partners through emails and phone/skype calls (Task 5.6).

Project management team developed ideas and activities planned during the meetings (Task 5.5 and 5.6). POL-NOR web-site (June 2014, D5.2) and Facebook (May 2014; https://www.facebook.com/POLNOR) were launched (Task 5.2 and 5.5). Project logo, project stationary, deliverable template, and information stickers were developed to support inside and outside project communication (Task 5.5 and Task 5.6). POL-NOR web-site was and still is hosted at the IOPAN server, and is accessible at http://www.iopan.gda.pl/projects/PolNor. It is available in Polish and in English, and it provides (i) general information about the project, (ii) its objectives, (iii) Polish-Norwegian cooperation, and (iv) POL-NOR main activities. The web-site also contains photo gallery and information for general public (section under development). All internet media were maintained and updated regularly throughout the project duration (Task 5.2).

All internet activities were part of a wider dissemination and information strategy. This strategy was described in the Detailed information and promotion plan (D5.3). This document defined major dissemination target groups (i.e., members of the scientific community, general public, and end-users), and listed tools and actions that were implemented to increase POL-NOR recognition and visibility. The plan defined POL-NOR major dissemination events and the plan revision procedure. The POL-NOR project was presented during several national and international scientific events (see section D of this report for details), and its concepts and results were used to prepare lecture materials for two student courses held in 2014 at the University Centre in Svalbard: Arctic Marine Biology and Arctic Zooplankton Ecology courses. POL-NOR co-organized Larwood Symposium, and POL-NOR goals, methodological approaches and expected outcomes were presented during this event. The dissemination activities for general public included Facebook fan page with the cruise blog and movies. Movie was taken during the field work in the Arctic. A short dissemination movie on POL-NOR related activities was released in April 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuPoGpDIh-o). So far the movie had 1 998 views on YouTube and reached 1 930 people on Facebook (Task 5.5). This short succinct video was also used in several presentations.

As planned in the POL-NOR proposal and Detailed Information and Promotion Plan, artists (Aleksandra Fronc, Mateusz Bąk, Małgorzata Kuznik, Filip Małynicz) were invited to join POL-NOR researchers during the field work in the Arctic. Based on this experience, art exhibitions were prepared and showed in galleries and aquaria (Task 5.5). Cooperation with artists was continued throughout the project. They actively participated in the project summer sampling campaign. This resulted in art exhibition exhibiting all paintings, images generated via interaction between scientists and artists. This event took place on the 18^th of May 2017 in the centre of Sopot in gallery “Dwie Zmiany”. Opening of the exhibition gathered almost 100 of people. Exhibition lasted for one week (Task 5.5). POL-NOR project was monitored and coordinated both financially and scientifically. Within this WP several large field work campaigns were managed. Two campaigns were done within the annul expedition of IOPAN using research vessel Oceania. The other field campaign were conducted in cooperation with Tromsø University and Marine Research Institute (both from Norway) on board of r/v Helmer Hansen, r/v G.O. Sars and r/v Johan Hjort. All field trips were conducted in European Arctic and yielded large amount of biological samples as well as physical and chemical data including salinity, temperature and carbonate saturation data. Management of the field expeditions included selection of the staff participating, travel and financial issue connected with it, and sample delivery (Task 5.1 and 5.7). During the time available extensive laboratory and literature data analysis were conducted. Monitoring of this part of activities was done throughout the project duration, data management was fully supported (Task 5.1 and 5.7). Communications among partners was maintained through regular emails and skype/phone conferences. In order to facilitate smooth communication and project management, Quality and evaluation plan (D5.4) was prepared. The purpose of this document was to support partner institutions in: (i) efficient implementation of the project, (ii) maintaining and coordinating activities between POL-NOR work packages, (iii) coordination between scientific, financial and administration aspects of the project, and, (iv) disseminating project results inside and outside the POL-NOR community (Task 5.6 and 5.7).

As result of all these above activities large database on physical environment and biota was established. This was done both as an Excel file but also as Access file (D 5.6). Throughout the project duration all activities of the project were coordinated and monitored according to the Quality and evaluation plan (D5.4; Task 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8). This coordination incorporated both scientific and financial supervision. Financial coordination included monitoring the way, in which POL-NOR funds are being spent. Every three months each POL-NOR partner institution prepared and submitted internal financial report. These reports were used to ensure proper financial supervision at the project level, and allow for prompt remedy actions in case of any issues. Official periodic reports were prepared and submitted to the National Centre for Research and Development annually (Task 5.8).

In September 2015, Mid-term monitoring progress report (D5.7) was prepared. This document covered first 18 months of POL-NOR implementation, and aimed to assess the project progress towards the achievement of all milestones and deliverables. It also considered any deviations from the work plan, and the potential influence that these deviations might have on POL-NOR further activities. POL-NOR project was present at the 8th and 9th Sopot Science Day (23rd May 2015, 4th June 2016). At the Polish-Norwegian Projects' stand, POL-NOR early-career researchers presented the effects of low pH on the calcareous shells. Visitors were welcomed to observe scientific experiments on ocean acidification, and get involved in games on this topic. Children could participate in art classes where they painted organisms investigated in the project. These art classes were followed by the art exhibition (16th June 2015) when children’s artworks were displayed. During the art exhibition a short talk on the Arctic changing ecosystem was given, and the participants could also engage in the scientific experiments and games (Task 5.5).

Article entitled "Sour Future for Arctic Shelf Seas" was posted on Northumbria Sailing webpage (http://northumbriasailing.co.uk/newsletter/) with link to POL-NOR Facebook page (Task 5.5). POLNOR project was presented during 23 international conferences and workshops, 10 scientific papers were published already, and many more manuscripts are planned to be submitted for publication (see section D of this report for further details; Task 5.5).

On the 8^th of September, POL-NOR in cooperation with the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) co-organized series of lectures/summer school on ocean acidification (D 5.8). The school was open to all interested researchers and students, and its goal was to increase knowledge and awareness on topics related to ocean acidification, and to develop critical thinking and creativity among students involved. Summer school speakers involved POL-NOR scientists (Paul Renaud, Phil Wallhead, Piotr Kukliński), and a number of invited speakers (Melissa Chierici, Mikko Vihtakari; Task 5.3 and 5.5). In addition to all above as a result of POL-NOR project two books were published (see section D for details). One was presenting the project with its activities, results and future plans. This publication is aimed to provide information to politicians, funding agencies, scientist but also to wide public. The second book is a high quality album presenting images of marine biodiversity of study area. This publications is aims to show broad audience that Arctic system is very reach in unique marine life.