Seminar: "Ocean fertilisation - can seeding new life in the ocean absorb our excess carbon?"

Past Event

Date
 01 February 2012, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Location
 Lecture Theatre, Oxford Martin School
34 Broad Street (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets), Oxford, OX1 3BD

This seminar is hosted by the Oxford Geoengineering Programme

Summary: The proposed geoengineering technique of ocean fertilisation involves adding nutrients to enhance the ocean’s capacity to draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The theory is that by providing certain nutrients to those parts of the ocean that are deficient in them, we can seed new life that will ‘feed’ on carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But what are the risks of these proposals? How would they affect the balance of life in the oceans? What is technically feasible and what kind governance structures would be required to regulate such activities.

Speakers:

  • Professor Richard Lampitt, Observational Biogeochemist, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
  • Dr Margaret Leinen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, The Climate Response Fund
  • Dr David Santillo, Senior Scientist, Greenpeace
  • Dr Chris Vivian, CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquacultural Science) and the London Convention/Protocol

The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session to all the panel members.