Jacob Carstensen and Daniel Conley are awarded for playing critical roles in shaping key research on eutrophication, water quality, hypoxia, and underlying biogeochemical processes in the Baltic Sea. Through groundbreaking collaboration, Carstensen and Conley have combined expertise from different fields, and thus, their research has transformed, developed and broadened this field of research. The prize of SEK 3 million will be awarded on September 26 by H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden.
Björn Carlsons Östersjöpris was established in 2021 by Björn Carlsons Östersjöstiftelse to inspire further work for a healthier Baltic Sea. The 2023 recipients of the prize are Jacob Carstensen, Professor in Marine System Management at the Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Denmark and Daniel Conley, Professor in Biogeochemistry, at the Department of Geology, Lund University, Sweden.
Professors Carstensen and Conley have in their research combined expertise from different fields, such as environmental statistics, biogeochemistry, ecology, and marine biology. This innovative collaboration has made it possible to understand the complex interactions between the different factors influencing eutrophication and hypoxia in the Baltic Sea. By implementing various advanced methods they have generated high-quality data to make accurate predictions about the ecosystem´s behavior. This has shown the long-term effect of nutrient loading and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and contributed to recommendations on measures for improving its water quality.
– It is a great honor to receive this prestigious award together with my colleague Jacob Carstensen. I hope that in the coming years we will be able to contribute new knowledge and that our research approach inspires others to work together towards a cleaner, better functioning Baltic Sea, says Daniel Conley.
Jacob Carstensen agrees and hopes that the award will put more focus on the eutrophication problem in the Baltic Sea. However, Carstensen and Conley’s work not only identifies the problems caused by eutrophication and hypoxia but also provides solutions. Solutions widely communicated to stakeholders and policymakers. In this way, they have had a direct impact on the Baltic Sea environment and the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan.
– Receiving this award means that we can use the money for further investigation of how different organisms affect nutrient fluxes in water and sediments. Specifically, this could involve more advanced experiments. But, we cannot mitigate eutrophication without involving stakeholders, so it is important to continue with disseminating our knowledge to these as well as the public in general, says Jacob Carstensen.
September 26, Carstensen and Conley will be awarded the Björn Carlsons Östersjöpris 2023 by H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm. As recipients of the award, they will receive SEK 3 million to continue their work for a healthier Baltic Sea.
Read more about Carstensen and Conley’s research here.
Recipients of Björn Carlsons Östersjöpris 2023
Jacob Carstensen
Professor in Marine System Management
Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Denmark
Phone: +45 87 15 85 96
Email: jac@ecos.au.dk
Daniel Conley
Professor in Biogeochemistry, in particular aquatic and marine systems Department of Geology, Lund University, Sweden
Phone: +46 46 222 04 49
Email: daniel.conley@geol.lu.se
About the Björn Carlsons Östersjöstiftelse and the Björn Carlsons Östersjöpris
Björn Carlsons Östersjöpris (i.e. Baltic Sea Prize) was established in 2021 by Björn Carlsons Östersjöstiftelse (BalticSea2020) – an annual prize awarded to a researcher or other person who has made valuable contributions to the Baltic Sea’s environment. With a prize sum of SEK 3 million, the foundation’s hope is that the award will create commitment to the Baltic Sea and inspire further work for a healthier sea. From 2005 to 2020, the foundation allocated grants totalling 650 million for research and applied projects for the Baltic Sea.
Press contact: Amanda Bjursten, +46 70 837 14 30, amanda@hakanson-united.se
