SOS Kick-off sets sail for San Francisco

On April 7th, in the heart of Bergen’s historic Frescohallen, the Sustainable Ocean Solutions (SOS) community gathered for an unforgettable evening that blended sea shanties, schoolchildren, Silicon Valley, and ocean science.

‍

The SOS kick-off marked the beginning of our journey toward the SOS Summit in San Francisco this November—and set a high bar for collaboration, creativity, and courage.

The future of the ocean belongs to the next generation

The evening began with wonder. Before the main program, students from the International School of Bergen, Paradis Skole, and local Montessori schools met with Mattie Rodrigue, Science Program Director at OceanX and James Honeyborne, the executive prroducer of Our Oceans on Netflix. After watching the Arctic Ocean episode, the students shared thoughtful questions and proudly presented their models of underwater submarine technology. A symbolic passing of the torch—and a reminder that the future of the ocean belongs to the next generation.

‍

‍

‍‍
Shanty by the architect behind One Ocean Expedition

As the crowd gathered and the doors opened, the hum of voices filled the grand room. Then came the call of the sea: Haakon Vatle, CEO and expedition leader at Statsraad Lehmkuhl, opened the program with a rousing sea shanty. His message was clear—this is no ordinary meeting. It is a movement anchored in tradition but charting a new course for the future.

‍

‍

Connect deeply and act bold

Johan Odvar Odfjell, Director at Farvatn Venture, welcomed the audience with warmth and vision. He reminded us that this community spans borders, disciplines, and perspectives. He invited us to connect deeply, act boldly, and dream freely.

‍

‍

Under the skillful guidance of our moderators—Dorothy Dankel, (SINTEF Ocean) and Jen Lee Koss, investor and Founding Partner at Springbank Collective—the evening unfolded like an expedition at sea.

‍

‍

Sailing as a tool for innovation

Johan Brand (Founder of Kahoot! and WeAreHuman), Malin Haara (Maritime Bergen), and Sharon Røe (Innovation Norway - San Francisco) shared how ocean voyages have inspired partnerships, research, and sustainable solutions.

‍

‍

Bridging to Silicon Valley

Sharon Røe, Alex Bergo (Innovation Norway - San Francisco), and Ash Rush (Sterling Road) provided us with a front-row seat to emerging trends in climate tech and AI, as well as their implications for ocean sustainability and cross-Atlantic collaboration.

‍

Engaging for Ocean Solutions

Alfredo Giron Nava (World Economic Forum) and Amber LeBlanc (Youth Panel) explored how youth voices, local knowledge, and scientific collaboration drive real-world impact.

‍

‍

The importance of storytelling to save the ocean

Mattie Rodrigue, Science Program Director, OceanX and James Honeyborne (Freeborne Media, Netflix series, Our Oceans) demonstrated how the fusion of narrative and technology accelerates conservation, fosters empathy, and influences hearts and policies.

‍

‍

Co-creating the future for our ocean

The evening also featured powerful visuals, from the opening film about Statsraad Lehmkuhl to a preview of the SOS Summit voyage from San Francisco to San Diego this November. Music played, ideas sparked, and new relationships formed.

‍

‍

As we now chart our course toward the SOS Summit in San Francisco, November 2025, the message is clear: we are not just discussing the ocean’s future—we are co-creating it. The voyage continues with new energy, deeper connections, and a shared belief that a sustainable ocean is within reach.

‍

‍

This is the SOS movement. And we’ve only just set sail. See you in San Francisco.

‍