From 25 August, Christina Halling will be coordinating SLU’s involvement in BSSC, taking over from Elin Dahlgren, who most recently held the role.
"I've always felt that BSSC is a fantastic platform – it showcases the Baltic Sea in a way that’s accessible and eye-opening, sparking interest and inspiration in many. As a researcher, getting the chance to contribute and share knowledge here really feels like hitting the jackpot," says Christina Halling.
Christina Halling is based at the SLU Swedish Species Information Centre in Uppsala. She is an Associate Professor in marine ecology, Environmental assessment specialist as well as an expert in marine habitats and macroalgae.
The sea has been a constant thread throughout Christina’s career. She started out collecting samples of environmental toxins and assisting with seal necropsies, before moving on to develop sustainable, integrated aquaculture as part of her doctoral dissertation in systems ecology.
Her research has explored the ecological importance of algal beds and the impact of invasive species. Today, much of her work focuses on protecting marine biodiversity and restoring marine habitats.
"I hope more colleagues at SLU will want to get involved and contribute scientific insights and exciting content to BSSC. It’s also a great opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of SLU among the public and schools," Christina Halling adds.
This autumn’s agenda includes teacher training sessions and themed activity days for upper secondary school students.
Christina Halling, Environmental assessment specialist at the SLU Swedish Species Information Centre, coordinator of the Coastal and sea areas programme within SLU's Environmental and monitoring, and responsible for marine environments at SLU Swedish Species Information Centre. E-mail: christina.halling@slu.se, phone: +46(0)18-671210.