FIVE WORKING GROUPS
The School of Dogger Bank is divided into five multidisciplinary teams composed of scientists, legal experts, ecologists, artists and designers. These teams will work in close collaboration on the following topics:
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WORLD VIEW & MYTHOLOGY
The Dogger Bank barely registers in the imagination of Dutch, German, Danish and, to a lesser extent, British people. As is often the case for something unknown, this means there is neither concern, nor care for this topic. In this research group, we question ontological, historical and spiritual relationships with the North Sea and its breeding ground. We aim to bring the Dogger Bank to life in the public imagination. To do so, we need myths, images and stories — from historical events and ancient tales to contemporary narratives and conflicts. With contributions from Kocku von Stuckrad, Professor of Religious Studies (University of Groningen); Anne de Andrade, Artist; Christiane Bosman, Embassy of the North Sea.
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NORTH SEA POLITICS & POLICY
The political and policy processes surrounding the North Sea are highly technocratic. We aim to democratise the conversation about the North Sea and involve civil society in the decisions and challenges at stake. How can a better understanding of North Sea policymaking lead to interventions that democratise the political and legal domain? With contributions from Sami Hammana, Artist; Harpo ’t Hart, Embassy of the North Sea. This research is supported by the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS. University of Amsterdam), through an artist-in-residency programme for harpo at IAS.
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LANDSCAPE & PUBLIC SPACE
How can the Dogger Bank, despite its many administrative, ecological and physical boundaries, be understood as a public domain? How can the marine landscape be designed to serve both human and non-human interests, above and below the water? With contributions from Thijs de Zeeuw, Landscape Architect; Ziega van de Berk, Landscape Architect, MUST Stedebouw; Sebastian van Berkel, Urban Planner, MUST Stedebouw; Xandra van der Eijk, Artist; Thijs Middeldorp, Embassy of the North Sea.
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REEF RESTORATION
We aim to make the Dogger Bank a refuge for species—a place of diversity and resilience. To achieve this, we are exploring the active restoration of reefs using native species, such as the horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus), to restore biodiversity, store carbon and demonstrate the positive effects of these efforts. Our goal is to implement and expand these restoration techniques in the Dutch, German and Danish sections of the Dogger Bank. With contributions from Emilie Reuchlin, Doggerland Foundation; Jose Maria Farinas Franco, Atlantic Technological University; Jonat Deelstra, Artist.
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NON-HUMAN REPRESENTATION IN COURT
In a five-month Law Clinic, we will examine groundbreaking cases of non-human representation in court. Legal cases in which non-humans are recognised as subjects offer new perspectives on the legal representation of ecosystems. By studying cases from different legal systems worldwide, we aim to explore how the North Sea itself could gain stronger representation in the courtroom. With contributions from Laura Burgers, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam, specialising in climate litigation and rights of nature; Five students from the University of Amsterdam’s Public International Law programme: Andi, Anika, Emma, Marine, and Nikitha.
