MCB collaboration: TU Delft and Cambridge

“It’s hard to see the changes in the climate and be watching as a bystander, seeing the news, feeling powerless," said Zachary Rowland, PhD researcher. "It’s very nice as researchers to be able to feel like we are contributing to part of the solution.”

For the past four years, Delft University of Technology and the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Climate Repair have been working together to assess and design technology for Marine Cloud Brightening. Insights from TU Delft’s modelling team are taken to the lab at the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, and the new findings are sent back for further exploration.

“In the first few years we were all really starting the experimentation and building the models," said Annelot Broerze, "and now you really see the results coming off from this and we're slowly starting to move towards observations.”

The project aims to establish a knowledge-base on techniques to enhance the reflectivity of clouds over the ocean. As a potential climate intervention, the work needed includes not only the physics and technology, but also research into public perceptions and governance. 

This collaboration, warmly supported by Refreeze the Arctic Foundation, provides space to learn and build together. And at least twice a year, the team meets to share more than just the research.

“It’s nice to to meet up with people who've spent a few years in the field, because I think it's such a small group of us that are working on this, especially from a practical perspective,” added Yashasvi Raj. “It's nice to be able to explore all sorts of facets, the engineering side, the modelling side, the communication and engagement side, and the governance side.”

We have different perspectives, but at the end of the day, we're invested in the shared vision of investigating this topic and also humanising the research.

Many thanks to Delft University of Technology for hosting us!