MUNIMAR at Kiel Week 2026:
Kiel Week 2026 provided an excellent opportunity for the MUNIMAR project to engage with the public on the important topic of munitions in the sea and to raise awareness of the environmental, safety, and health challenges associated with underwater munitions. During two Science Slam sessions, experts from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), the Thünen Institute, the Global Climate Forum, and KRD Schleswig-Holstein presented their research in an engaging and accessible format. The sessions attracted numerous visitors, who actively participated in the discussions, asked insightful questions, and demonstrated a strong interest in the topic. Throughout the week, the MUNIMAR information booth, operated in collaboration with MEKUN (Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature of Schleswig-Holstein), GEOMAR and UKSH, welcomed hundreds of visitors. The booth offered hands-on insights into ongoing research, monitoring activities, and innovative approaches to addressing the legacy of underwater munitions. On 23 June, MUNIMAR was also pleased to welcome Schleswig-Holstein's Minister for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature, Tobias Goldschmidt, and Kiel's newly elected Mayor (Oberbürgermeister), Dr. Samet Yilmaz, to the booth. Another highlight of the programme was the Open Ship event aboard the research vessel ALKOR, where visitors experienced marine research firsthand and met the scientists working to better understand and address the legacy of munitions on the seafloor. MUNIMAR sincerely thanks everyone who visited the booth, attended the events, and contributed to the engaging discussions throughout Kiel Week 2026. The strong public interest demonstrated the importance of continuing to raise awareness of this largely hidden environmental challenge and to foster dialogue between science, policymakers, and society.
