Basic research is the prerequisite for applied research and sustainable resource utilization on the seabed

At ÍSOR there is unique professional knowledge and experience of specialists in the geoscientific processing of research data on the seabed around Iceland. Collaboration of institutions and ministries in recent years has been crucial so that research data collected by foreign and domestic parties…

At ÍSOR there is unique professional knowledge and experience of specialists in the geoscientific processing of research data on the seabed around Iceland. Collaboration of institutions and ministries in recent years has been crucial so that research data collected by foreign and domestic parties are useful for researching seabed resources and protecting Iceland's interests in law-of-the-sea matters.

It is important that there be a clear policy and goals in the planning of research on the seabed and that all means be sought to acquire knowledge. ÍSOR is a participant in several research projects, and in preparation is a large international research project on behalf of IODP in collaboration with the Institute of Earth Sciences of the University of Iceland. There is great competition between projects, but it is hoped that the project will find favour in the eyes of the project steering committee and that drilling will take place here off the coast in 2024. With it would be obtained drill cores, real raw material for research on the seabed, as an addition to other types of research.

ÍSOR was the geoscientific adviser of the National Energy Authority (Orkustofnun) in the oil exploration that was put out to tender on the Dreki area at the time. The licences were granted with various conditions, including on the delivery of research results to the authorities. Although the three companies that received exploration licences did not see it to their advantage to continue the oil exploration, this project leaves behind knowledge and data in the country that are worth billions. In addition there is a number of foreign research expeditions, small and larger, that annually receive licences for research in the sea areas around Iceland. The licences are issued on the condition that research data shall be delivered. There has, however, been a failure in that. That matter has now been put on track with an agreement of ÍSOR with the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources. ÍSOR's role is, among other things, to call for the delivery of these research results, but in them lie great values for the nation.

"We do not know what the future holds. Having these data helps us to make sensible decisions in the future, whether it is about sustainable resource utilization or protection," say Steinunn Hauksdóttir and Bjarni Richter in the interview.

There was coverage in Morgunblaðið of ÍSOR's seabed research, and a short summary appeared on the web outlet mbl.is

https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2021/08/19/gognin_milljarda_virdi/

The article in full is accessible here