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Paper short abstract

My paper explores the relation of static and fluid knowledge practices in the case of corroding dumped munitions in the North Sea. Through immersion in water, I show the intersections of saltwater, toxicity and scientific endeavours, asking how anthropology can contribute to this ecological issue.

Paper long abstract

Saltwater pushes us to look closely at the dumped munitions in the North Sea. Up to 1.3 million tonnes of munitions were dumped there after WWII. Now, 80 years later, this is particularly apparent as an ecological slow disaster (Knowles 2020), as the saltwater is causing the metal shells to corrode and releasing toxic elements into the water. TNT, the most common explosive, does not dissolve in water but forms metabolites that are as toxic as the original substance. Scientific endeavours, particularly in the natural sciences, tend to examine this toxic legacy of war rather statically. Although they adapt their work to the sea's conditions, their standardised scientific results erase the sea's fluid characteristics.

In my paper, I explore the relationship between static and fluid knowledge practices, drawing on my ethnographic work in the interdisciplinary research project REMARCO. I consider diving as a sensory and immersive approach to researching fluid toxicities, which simultaneously relies on technical mediations, materiality, and funding. As an anthropologist, gaining a scientific diving licence is difficult as these are mainly aimed at natural scientists. Further, the North Sea is a challenging diving location: it is cold and turbid, and divers rely on dry suits and technical equipment for sampling and taking underwater videos. Through immersion in water, I illustrate how anthropological, STS and multispecies perspectives can contribute to this ecological issue, which is dominated by economic and political interests. Moreover, the intersection of saltwater, toxicity, immersion and scientific endeavours raises questions of responsibility.