Conference Tjärnö
Come together with your colleagues in a creative research atmosphere on Tjärnö Marine Laboratory.
Meeting rooms
There are plenty of meeting rooms of different kind - from comfortable seating for discussion in smaller groups, to the auditorium with modern presentation technique and 99 seats. Several rooms are equipped with video conference technique, allowing external participants. In all rooms there is wireless Internet through the networks eduroam and Göteborgs universitet.
Lodging
All rooms in White residence building have shower and WC. A common room on the first floor is furnished for informal round-table-meetings as well as pleasant social gathering in the sofas. There is also a pentry with fridge and equipment for making coffee and tea. On the same floor there is a gym with basic equipment as well as a sauna. You will find a sauna also in the Diving facility in the workshop building by the water.
Dining hall
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining hall. Dishes are prepared from scratch by our kitchen staff, a lot is organic, and fresh fish is bought from a local fish dealer in Strömstad. Tjärnö Laboratory is 'Kranmärkt', which means we have opted out bottled water and instead serve tasty tap water. Thus, we contribute to less transportation and lower emission of greenhouse gases and substances causing eutrophication.
Take part in our activities
Are you curious about what is happening at the Tjärnö Laboratory? Book a guided tour, and we tell about all exciting things going on. You can also choose to visit our aquarium, the most species-rich in Sweden. Below we present three alternatives, but with other requests we try to adapt to other content and length.
Guided tour – approx. 90 minutes
A marine biologist tells about the sea and marine environmental issues, shows parts of our research and education as well as our ships. We visit the aquarium at the station and show a film about Kosterhavet Marine National Park. The tour is adapted to previous knowledge and interests of the visiting group.
Tjärnö Aquarium – approx. 45 minutes
A marine biologist guides through the aquarium with algae and animals from Skagerrak. Here are large and small fishes but also lesser known creatures as squat lobster, sea pen and Lophelia coral. And what about touching a sea cucumber!?
If time is scarce – 10 minutes
A short introduction of the field station, ending with a visit in the aquarium on your own.
Book a trip at sea
Our specially-equipped research vessel Nereus is used both in research and education. It may also be booked by visiting groups. You are accompanied by a trained marine biologist who tell about the sea and about the research conducted by the Tjärnö Laboratory in Kosterhavet. Below you find two examples of trips we offer, but feel free do discuss other options with us!
To the Outermost Archipelago – approx. 4 h
Trip with research vessel Nereus to Kosterhavet Marine National Park and the island of Ramsö. On our way we stop to collect algae and animals, which we get a closer look at. We moor at Ramsö for a short walk. Fika or lunch on Ursholmen or on board. We hope to see harbour seals. The return trip goes through the sound between Nord- and Sydkoster with plenty of charming boathouses. With reservation for changes due to bad weather.
Film time in the Kosterhavet Deep – approx. 3 h
Trip with research vessel Nereus to Kosterhavet Marine National Park. On the deep Koster fjord we deploy a remotely operated vehicle which films and transmits in real-time from the bottom of the sea. Sequences are shown on a monitor on board and a marine biologist guides you among sea anemones and sponges. You will taste water from 100 metres depth which we collect with a water sampler. Fika on board. With reservation for changes due to bad weather.
More about us at Tjärnö Laboratory
Tjärnö Marine Laboratory is a field station for education and research about the sea. We are a part of the University of Gothenburg, and the first students arrived here already in 1963. Today the Tjärnö Laboratory is of the one of the most modern marine field stations in Europe with very good conditions for experimental studies. International cooperation is extensive with visits from researchers and students from all over the world. Approx. 60 persons are working on the station with research, education and service.
Broad research
The research on Tjärnö spans from fundamental understanding of the functions of the sea to more applied issues, for instance coastal zone management, monitoring and aquaculture. Examples of research areas are evolution and speciation, genetical methods for improved fisheries management and development of Swedish macroalgae farming.
A part of society
The Tjärnö Laboratory contributes with marine competence in different issues important for society. The establishment of Kosterhavet Marine National Park, co-management of prawn fishery in Koster- and Väderöfjorden and sustainable tourism are some examples of collaboration with authorities and industry. Every year several hundreds of pupils from elementary school to high school from all over Sweden to Tjärnö to learn more about the sea. During summer season the general public is invited to Tjärnö Aquarium, a series of popular science lectures and other activities for both children and adults.
Our environmental work
Environmental work and sustainability are well-known concepts at the Tjärnö Laboratory; we were environmentally certified already in 2004. Our boats uses ecofuel, we heat our buildings with sea water through heat pumps, compost left-overs from the dining hall and constantly decrease our environmental impact. Furthermore, we use remotely operated underwater vehicles with cameras, to map the seafloor. Thus, we can study sensitive bottom organisms without harming them.
Prices and booking
One day or several? Boat trip or guided tour of the station? Ordinary dinner or seafood buffet in the aquarium hall? There are many possibilities! How long you stay and what you choose to do, depends on your purpose with the meeting, of course. Please contact us, and we are willing to help with your planning.
| Conference fee | Lodging single/double | Meals breakfast, lunch & dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universities until 30 June 2026 | 300 | 450/350 | 312 |
| Universities from 1 July 2026 | 300 | 550/450 | 340 |
| Authorities, companies & associations until 30 June 2026 | 300 | 750/650 | 312 |
| Authorities, companies & associations from 1 July 2026 | 300 | 750/650 | 340 |
Examples of conference packages
- Lunch to lunch
Lunch incl. sallad buffet and beverage on arrival, afternoon fika with coffee/tea, juice and cookie, dinner at night. Lodging in single or double room, and breakfast buffet. Forenoon coffee with fruit and biscuits and lunch. Access to meeting rooms. Prices per person and excl. VAT.
Price universities with lodging in single or double room:
1892 SEK / 1692 SEK until 30 June 2026, 2050 SEK / 1850 SEK from 1 July 2026
Price other groups with lodging in single or double room: 2192 SEK / 1992 SEK until 30 June 2026, 2250 SEK / 2050 SEK from 1 July 2026
- Full day
Fika with bread roll on arrival, lunch incl. sallad buffet and beverage as well as afternoon fika with cookie. Access to meeting rooms. Prices per person and excl. VAT.
Price for all: 546 SEK until 30 June 2026, 575 SEK from 1 July 2026
Supplement
Prices per group with no more than 20 persons
- Guided tour av Tjärnö Laboratory (approx. 90 min)
Universities: 1200 SEK until 30 June 2026, 1500 SEK from 1 July 2026
Others: 2250 SEK until 30 June 2026, 2700 SEK from 1 July 2026 - Tjärnö Aquarium (approx. 45 min)
Universities: 600 SEK until 30 June 2026, 750 SEK from 1 July 2026
Others: 1125 SEK until 30 June 2026, 1350 SEK from 1 July 2026 - Boat trip to the Outermost Archipelago (approx. 4 h)
Universities: 11200 SEK until 30 June 2026, 16000 SEK from 1 July 2026
Others: 24000 SEK until 30 June 2026, 29200 SEK from 1 July 2026 - Film time in the Kosterhavet Deep (approx. 3 h)
Universities: 12900 SEK until 30 June 2026, 16500 SEK from 1 July 2026
Others: 25500 SEK until 30 June 2026, 29400 SEK from 1 July 2026