MARUM Research Academy
Malte Ostendarp
Research Visit at Fundamental Systems, Hortimare and Seaweedland (Alkmaar, Netherlands) on 2nd of June 2025
During my research visit in Alkmaar (Netherlands), I first met with Mario van den Bree from the company Fundamental Systems, which specializes in the development and construction of water treatment technologies such as hydrogen-infusion systems. We exchanged insights on our approaches, and I shared the method I used to infuse seawater with hydrogen during my experiment, along with the challenges. Mario van den Bree then introduced me to the design and function of his system and provided an overview of current and past projects.
Following our discussion, we visited the facilities of Hortimare and Seaweedland, where Imke Meyer and Ana Campos gave us a tour of the site, including their seaweed biobank and cultivation tanks. Afterwards, we had a joint meeting (Fig. 1) where I gave a brief presentation about my work with molecular hydrogen and the experimental methods I used. Imke Meyer and Ana Campos presented their experimental design, as they plan to test the effects of molecular hydrogen on seaweed and macroalgae cultivation. Together, we discussed their approach, focusing on how best to measure hydrogen in seawater and which physiological and environmental parameters to assess. I was invited to collaborate on the project during its experimental phase and to contribute to the subsequent publication.
f.l.t.r. Imke Meyer (Seaweedland), Malte Ostendarp, Ana Campos (Hortimare), Mario van den Bree (Fundamental Systems), Thomas (Private Investor)
Following our discussion, Mario van den Bree demonstrated the hydrogen-infusion machine that will be used for the experiment and explained its technical details. We also discussed the option to include coral fragments in the experiment in Alkmaar. However, due to different requirements in water parameters and technical setups, we concluded that this would not be feasible. As an alternative, Mario van den Bree is planning to visit our laboratory in Bremen to explore whether a similar system could be implemented there. Should this not be possible, Imke Meyer and Ana Campos have invited me to conduct a test run at the facilities in Alkmaar.
I would like to thank Mario van den Bree, Imke Meyer and Ana Campos for their invitation and my supervisor Prof. Dr. Christian Wild and especially GLOMAR for funding this research visit giving me a great opportunity to connect with other researchers and companies working on the beneficial effects of molecular hydrogen. This visit therefore not only supports my current PhD project but also gave me great connections for my future career beyond my PhD.