Tvärminne Academy Enhances Cold-Water Scientific Diving with New Funding to Train Researchers

Tvärminne Academy Enhances Cold-Water Scientific Diving with New Funding to Train Researchers

(IN BRIEF) The University of Helsinki’s Tvärminne Zoological Station operates the Finnish Scientific Diving Academy (FSDA), which specializes in training researchers to conduct scientific diving in extreme environments, such as polar regions impacted by climate change. The academy received an €80,000 donation from the Weisell Foundation to expand its operations and organize new courses. Scientific diving is essential for collecting precise samples and monitoring marine ecosystems, areas where conventional tools like ships and satellites fall short. The academy has quickly gained recognition for its cold-water diving expertise, training both Finnish and international divers to conduct research in demanding conditions, including polar and underwater oil recovery projects from shipwrecks.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 30-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The sea can’t be fully understood from the surface: University of Helsinki’s Tvärminne Station trains cold-water scientific divers

The University of Helsinki’s Tvärminne Zoological Station operates a Scientific Diving Academy, which equips divers to conduct research in extreme conditions, such as polar regions affected by climate change. The academy recently received an €80,000 donation from the Weisell Foundation to enhance its operations and expand course offerings.

Joanna Norkko, Research Coordinator at the station, emphasizes that studying marine environments requires more than surface-level tools like ships and satellites; scientific diving is essential to collect samples and monitor ecosystems at the seabed. Trained scientific divers can gather precise data that traditional sampling methods can’t access.

Since its founding in 2021, the Finnish Scientific Diving Academy (FSDA), managed by Edd Stockdale, has become a hub for training Finnish and international researchers in the specialized field of cold-water diving. With the recent donation, the academy will continue to improve its programs and prepare divers for the unique challenges of polar regions and other extreme environments.

Mikko Voipio, Chair of the Weisell Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s support of education, research, and environmental advocacy, all embodied in the academy’s mission to protect marine ecosystems. He noted the academy’s growing reputation across Europe for its expertise in scientific diving.

The academy not only trains divers to monitor marine ecosystems, but also helps tackle urgent issues like oil leakage from sunken ships, some dating back to WWII, by preparing divers to investigate and mitigate environmental risks.

A recent polar diving course held at the University of Helsinki’s Kilpisjärvi station in March 2024 marks the academy’s commitment to advancing research and education in cold-water environments. Another course is scheduled for March 2025, underscoring the academy’s growing role in supporting marine research and preserving global marine heritage.

Media Contact:

Edward Stockdale
Project Planner
Biological stations
edward.stockdale@helsinki.fi
+358294128124

SOURCE: University of Helsinki