Stations

The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences is Sweden's largest facility for marine research and teaching.

The stations at Kristineberg and Tjärnö are two of Europe's most modern marine research laboratories, offering unique opportunities for carrying out advanced experimental work. Working at these stations are a group of researchers who are active in the large number of marine research areas such as Marine Ecology, Ecotoxicology, Marine Zoology, Marine Chemistry and, more recently, Large Scale Ecosystem research, linked to processes on the molecular and gene levels.

The research stations have a large number of laboratories supplied with water from the surface and sea bottom drawn directly from the fjord. In many of them, both air and water temperatures can be controlled along with light levels. This is a unique resource for sustaining living organisms in excellent condition for long periods, sometimes several years. Outdoor experimental facilities consist of a greenhouse and installations for what is known as open-tank experimentation ("ecotrons") with access to a running supply of water from both the surface and bottom of the fjords. Experimental equipment consisting of several new and advanced instruments, is fully available for carrying out biological research within areas that range from Ecology and Physiology to Taxonomy and Molecular Biology.

The stations have the use of more than three well equipped research ships and a number of smaller boats.

Experienced technical and administrative personnel are at hand to offer help and advice. The workshop personnel are able to help both with new construction and repair of the equipment. The boat crews will gladly share their long experience of collecting marine material, and how heavy and delicate testing equipment should be handled.