Excursion: Visit to various departments of Royal NIOZ led by Prof Dr Hein de Baar, emeritus professor of Oceanography Groningen and retired employee of Royal Nioz.

Summary

After arriving by TESO ferry on Texel, 20 people walked to NIOZ. There we were received by Hein de Baar. Who led us to various departments/locations.

1. Mass spectrometer and clean room.

After a short introduction by Bridget Zoetemelk, we were able to see the mass spectrometer in two groups of 10. Bridget does tests with samples, in which isotopes are detected. The ratio of those isotopes of a material (e.g. Magnesium) is a measure of all kinds of properties of that sample. Bridget is completing her Bachelors at Leiden University of Applied Sciences with this. Next to this room is a Clean Room. Which is so clean, no one is allowed in. Watching only.

2. Biology department

In this department, all kinds of animals and plants are extracted from samples of the seabed. These are first simply weighed using a weighing machine. Then they go into an oven (60°C) and then the "ashes" are weighed again. All this data gives information about the amount of food, which is present in the Wadden Sea for birds and fish. The first robot was developed and built by NIOZ itself. The new one is a purchased robotic arm. But the programming was done by NIOZ. The robot knows exactly which container contains what. Before and after oven. Loran Kleine Schaars and Youk Greeve explained.

3. Ultrasonic sampling system.

We were then taken outside by Edwin Keijzer. There we entered a container, which contained a frame with a 24 sampling units. Those units consist of a plastic cylinder with top and bottom lids. Those lids have a special closure that is kept shut by the high water pressure. That pressure is 400 bar at a depth of 4 km. During the (slow) lowering of the frame, those lids are still open, so the unit is rinsed clean.

4. Presentation in Colloquium Hall

After a short film about NIOZ - mainly about Antarctic expeditions - Hung-An ("Stanley") Thian and Mathijs van Manen made a presentation about their work. This was about iron concentrations in the southern ocean and its influence on algal growth and viruses.

5. Technical workshops NMF (National Marine Facilities)

Here, Edwin Keijzer and Lorendz Boom explained and showed in detail, how deep-sea sampling systems are developed and built. A gigantic frame consisting of large hoops was built here to form a picture of the ocean in several places at the same depth at the same time. 3-D, in other words.

Walked back to the 16:00 TESO ferry, and while enjoying a Texel Skuumkoppe beer completed the windy crossing.

The Board of KIVI Region Noord-Holland has the pleasure of inviting you to attend an excursion to Royal NIOZ (Netherlands Institute for Sea Research).



Mission statement NIOZ
NWO-NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research is the national oceanographic institute and principally performs academically excellent multidisciplinary fundamental and frontier applied marine research addressing important scientific and societal questions pertinent to the functioning of oceans and seas. Second, NIOZ serves as national marine research facilitator (NMF) for The Netherlands scientific community. Third, NIOZ stimulates and supports multidisciplinary fundamental and frontier applied marine research, education and marine policy development in the national and international context.

One of our hosts will be Prof Dr Hein de Baar, who has done quite a lot of research during South Pole expeditions.

Programme
On own initiative to Den Helder.
11:00 If by car no later than present to look for parking at or near ferry port ferry TESO.
In Den Helder, follow the route 'P Texel', 'Pick up + Drop off'. Then enter this address in your navigation system: Havenplein 3, Den Helder. The entrance to the boat for pedestrians and cyclists is next to the car park. Please note that this car park has a limited number of spaces.
Is there no more parking space available at the ferry harbour? Then park your car for free in the vicinity of the ferry harbour at Willemsoord P3. This car park is located about 10 minutes' walk from the pedestrian and bicycle entrance.

11:30 departure ferry to Texel

12:00 - 12:15 arrival and walk to the canteen led by Hein de Baar

12:15 - 13:15 sandwich lunch in NIOZ canteen

13:15 - 13:30 welcome and NIOZ film

13:30 - 15:45 guided tour by NMF employee(s)

16:00 crossing to Den Helder

Drinks will be offered on the ferry.

Contribution to costs for lunch, drinks afterwards and lecture for members is €10, payable in advance when registering via the KIVI website:


Note: A maximum of 20 participants can attend. First come, first served. People who have not registered and paid via KIVI will unfortunately have to be sent back!