University of Bergen plays pivotal role in Netflix’s documentary “Our Oceans”

The five-part series premieres on November 20^th 2024. The documentary is produced of Wild Space Productions and Emmy prize winning James Honeyborne. Former president Barcak Obama narrates the the extraordinary stories of marine life unfolding on and below the water.

Bergen: The Ocean capital

“Our Oceans” will take you a 75,000-mile cruise across and beneath the oceans. The series utilizes cutting-edge research and newly developed underwater filmmaking technology to capture the intimate stories of the most magical, resourceful, and compelling creatures on the planet.

UiB’s participation in the documentary also shines a spotlight on Bergen as a world-class destination for marine research and education.  UiB’s researchers played a pivotal role in the documentary by offering cutting-edge data and analysis on topics such as ocean acidification, rising sea temperatures, and declining fish stock. UiB scientists provided high-resolution models and real-world data on how climate change is affecting marine ecosystems in the Arctic and surrounding waters.  

– We are proud to supply the producers with our research and knowledge. This documentary is a unique way for our researchers to provided millions of viewers with insight on how climate change is affecting marine ecosystems in the Arctic and surrounding waters, says Rector at the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen.

Producer James Honeyborne and rector at Universtity of Bergen, Margareth Hagen, are proud of the cooperation in the Netflix documentary “Our Oceans”. Photo: Torill Sommerfelt Ervik. 

Highlighting stories from across the globe, “Our Oceans” includes a segment dedicated to the Arctic and North Atlantic, where UiB’s contributions have been particularly impactful.  

Using technology to uncover ocean secrets  

The documentary also showcases UiB’s innovative use of technology, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and advanced marine sensors, to study ocean currents and monitor biodiversity in some of the world’s most remote and fragile environments. This technological expertise has placed Bergen—and Norway—at the forefront of international ocean research.  

UiB’s participation in the documentary also shines a spotlight on Bergen as a world-class destination for marine research and education. As one of Norway’s leading research institutions, UiB has long been a champion of sustainable ocean management and a key partner in global marine science initiatives. Its involvement in “Our Oceans” underscores Bergen’s position as a hub for ocean innovation and research.  

You can see the trailer here. 

Bergen: The Ocean Capital

Bergen has established itself as the Ocean Capital. The partnership One Ocean consists of more than 80 stakeholders from business, academia and the public sector with a focus on sustainable value creation, knowledge and research related to the ocean.
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The UN has stated that sustainable development of the world is not possible without clean and rich oceans. The project is therefore linked to Sustainable Development Goal number 14, "Life in the Ocean", with the aim of becoming an example for other nations to follow when it comes to solving problems related to oceans, climate and sustainable development.

Bergen: Pioneering a sustainable ocean. Photo: Lars Korvald.