Shared Seas, Shared Knowledge: Insights from the 16th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium

The 16th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium (ISWSS) was held in Groningen, the Netherlands, from 28 to 30 October 2025. The event brought together about 200 researchers from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands to share current insights on the Wadden Sea. Discussions centred on how natural dynamics and human activities—such as tides, climate change, pollution, fisheries, energy production, shipping, and tourism—interact and influence the area. Building on the Wilhelmshaven Declaration, the symposium deepened scientific cooperation and provided important insights into geological, ecological, socio-economic and coastal protection issues, which will be incorporated into the preparations for the Trilateral Governmental Conference in Denmark in early 2026. Dr. Ines Bruns represented the NIhK in Groningen and gave a talk about the project CoastAdapt. Due to the limited number of participants, the colleagues Dr. Martina Karle and Minne Oostra joined the event online. The symposium also provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with familiar colleagues and establish new collaborations, further strengthening the institute’s national and international scientific network.