A diver swims between long algae in the sea

Transfer

Using Knowledge Effectively for Politics, Business and Society

The transfer of scientific findings to politics, business and society is a strategic core element of the DAM with the aim of promoting the sustainable use of the coasts, seas and oceans.

The DAM bundles the expertise of German marine research and ensures a goal- and interaction-group-oriented exchange of knowledge and communication with politics and society. In addition, the DAM develops strategies for cooperation with industry, for the promotion of young scientists and for capacity development.

The pink sea slug lives in the algae forests of the Atlantic — Nudibranch off Norway | Picture: Dirk Schories

The Ocean Decade

The United Nations has proclaimed the years 2021 to 2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Policy makers, society and scientists are to work together to successfully implement sustainable development goals for “life under water”. Knowledge transfer plays a key role here. All the DAM’s transfer activities are also in the context of the UN Decade.

from science into practice

Scientific findings have an impact on society when they lead to innovation, new developments, decision making or an increase in knowledge outside the research community. At the same time, the exchange with non-scientists allows socially relevant questions and views to be incorporated into research. As an umbrella organisation, the DAM builds on the expertise of the German marine research community to provide the framework for the application-oriented synthesis and transfer of specialist knowledge on various topics surrounding the sustainable management of coasts, seas and oceans. Working together in the DAM, German marine research can achieve significant visibility and efficacy in society and on the political agenda through preventive research.

Ocean Literacy

The oceans influence human beings in many different ways and conversely we influence the oceans. The United Nations has launched a worldwide initiative to increase our understanding of this interrelationship: “Ocean Literacy” addresses decision-makers and society alike to promote the sustainable use of seas and oceans.

Two women lay out fish to dry on the beach — Fishing in Ghana | Picture: ZMT

Two schoolgirls stand by the sea and watch a scientific sample — School class on sea excursion | Picture: GEOMAR

Several divers wade into the sea with equipment — Dive off Chile | Picture: Dirk Schories

Two people examine a piece of driftwood with shells on a beach by the sea — Barnacles on the beach | Picture: Dirk Schories

A diver swims in the sea under a big red jellyfish — Dive with comb jelly | Picture: Dirk Schories

fields of action FOR the DAM knowledge transfer

The exchange of knowledge with experts from politics, business and civil society is crucial for developing viable concepts for the protection and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems and for effectively integrating them into the political and social context. Under the umbrella of the DAM, the expertise of the German marine research community is being brought together to produce science-based analyses of issues relating to the sustainable use of the oceans. The DAM can ensure that knowledge is exchanged in a way that is appropriate to the objectives and interaction groups, and can become a central partner for policy advice and knowledge exchange between protagonists in research and society. Knowledge exchange with stakeholders plays a crucial role in the DAM’s research missions, allowing aspects that are relevant to practical applications to be incorporated into research projects and science-based options for action to be specifically developed.

The sustainable management of our natural resources – including coasts, seas and oceans, as the largest habitat on earth – is a challenge for society and a key question for the future of humankind. The climate and environmental crisis affects everyone. Finding paths that lead to greater sustainability is an issue not only for science and politics, but for society as a whole. Sustainability also relies on the understanding and willingness of citizens to participate in transformation processes and to live them. A prerequisite for this is that everyone must understand what they are talking about. In addition to a concrete exchange of knowledge with stakeholders from politics, business and civil society, there must therefore also be an effective dialogue with society at large, motivating and offering opportunities for participation and further education. In the core area of transfer, appropriate formats are being developed in cooperation with museums, to give access to and an overview of socially relevant marine topics, to provide food for thought on sustainable behaviour and to create opportunities for dialogue and participation.

The DAM is developing a strategic concept for promoting young scientists and engineers and supporting and implementing it with the help of the participating research institutions. As an added value, the DAM can provide a more comprehensive overview and interlinking of the offers available to students, PhD students and postdocs, and promote the exchange between young researchers and stakeholders from politics, business and civil society. Based on the research and needs analysis conducted at its member institutions, the DAM develops measures that serve this added value by combining digital solutions with offers for a personal exchange.

Capacity development is a broad term that covers various training, exchange and support measures for different target groups in a national and international context. The three fields of action already discussed in the context of knowledge exchange are also part of capacity development. In the context of the UN Decade of Marine Research for Sustainable Development, knowledge partnerships with emerging and developing countries are particularly important as a means of promoting the sustainable management of coasts, seas and oceans globally. As the umbrella organisation of the German marine research community, the DAM can enhance the connectivity of existing capacity development measures in order to increase their strategic effectiveness, and supplement them with targeted new measures.

Concept for the transfer of knowledge within the DAM (in German): PDF

Background paper on the DAM’s concept for transfer (in German): PDF

Seaweed under water — Seaweed has great economic potential. | Picture: Dirk Schories

“For many, the ocean is the new economic frontier. It holds the promise of immense resource wealth and great potential for boosting economic growth, employment and innovation. And it is increasingly recognised as indispensable for addressing many of the global challenges facing the planet in the decades to come, from world food security and climate change to the provision of energy, natural resources and improved medical care.”
OECD (2016): The Ocean Economy in 2030

Cooperation with Businesses

In order to encourage the sustainable use of coasts, seas and oceans, it is particularly important to work together with industry stakeholders to promote solutions and innovation for sustainable use and to forge new alliances for this purpose. The DAM can help to initiate such cooperative ventures involving science, marine technology and industrial players, while also including politics and society in the process.

The activities of the DAM, especially its research missions, are designed to allow research and development projects to be established in close cooperation with industry. To this end, DAM is strengthening the exchange with representatives of industry and technology transfer.

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Our Sponsors

The federal government and the regional governments of the five Northern German federal states are supporting and funding the current establishment of the DAM. In addition, the DAM is supported by the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.