Tanmay Chaturvedi, Laura Hulkko, and Julaine Enas from Aalborg University (AAU Energy) and Aadila Cayenne from Flensburg University of Applied Sciences (FUAS), are the four fully vaccinated researchers who took a 1600 km road trip to meet with other Aqua Combine Partners and facilitate the exchange of halophyte biomass.

Dr. Hinrich Uellendahl from Flensburg University of Applied Sciences (FUAS), Dr. Jutta Papenbrock and Dr. Ariel Turcios from The Leibniz University Hannover, and Dr. Stéphane Kohnen from Celabor (in Liege, Belgium) extended their hospitality by welcoming the researchers for the first time since the COVID19 pandemic began, by giving tours of their respective facilities and discussing the progress of the Aqua Combine Project.

Extraordinary precautions were taken to store the biomass in cooling boxes, which were refilled with cooling packs and ice at regular intervals to ensure the fresh biomass did not dry out during the journey.

Back at their research bases, they can further optimize their research thanks to this special cargo. Thus, the 1600 km have brought the researchers one step closer to their project goal.

All participants enjoyed the exchange. They are looking forward to more in-person collaborative activities and hope to meet other partners soon.