EMSO

Ocean Data Action Day
2024-10-10 09:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Rome)
Third-party event with Blue-Cloud
10 October 2024 09:00–14:30
Oslo, Norway

Hosted by HUB Ocean, Microsoft and Accenture on October 10th, the Ocean Data Action Day will provide insights into the invaluable role of industrial ocean data sharing in promoting ocean health and sustainable management. Sharing this data bridges knowledge gaps, benefiting both the environment and ocean-dependent industries.
Under the auspices of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, these organizations spearhead the coalition, contributing to the Ocean Panel’s goal of achieving a 100% sustainably managed ocean. Unlocking industrial ocean data is a specific goal for ODAC, as it is for the UN Ocean Decade’s Corporate Data Group, of which HUB Ocean is also a key member.
Moderated by David Eades, broadcaster and journalist, the event will feature leaders from industry, science and regulatory, and offer a 360° perspective on the significance of industrial ocean data sharing. HUB Ocean will introduce their report, Tides of Transparency: A First Mapping of Industrial Ocean Data Sharing, including insights, use cases and guidelines explaining why and how private industry can make their ocean data publicly accessible, empowering all joining to contribute to the sustainable management of the ocean.
Blue-Cloud 2026 at the event
Blue-Cloud 2026 will be represented by Dick Shaap (MARIS), Technical Coordinator of Blue-Cloud, who will be giving a presentation at 10:20 CEST on Enriching Open Ocean Data Repositories with Industrial Data.
Register here

EGI2024
2024-09-30 09:00 - 2024-10-04 18:00 | Lecce, Lecce, Italy
Other event
30 September 2024 09:00 – 4 October 2024 18:00
Lecce, Italy
The EGI2024 event will take place in Lecce, Italy, this year, from September 30th to October 4th. For this edition of their annual conference, they are closely collaborating with Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC). The CMCC is an Italian research centre dedicated to climate and climate-related research, including climate variability, its causes and consequences, carried out through numerical models ranging from the Global Earth System to Regional models within the Euro-Mediterranean area.
EGI is the federation of computing and storage resource providers, united by a mission of delivering advanced computing and data analytics services for research and innovation.
The main location for the conference will be the Hilton Garden Inn in Lecce. Some side meetings will take place at the CMCC offices.
More info on the event coming soon.
Official webpage: https://www.egi.eu/event/egi2024/

Supporting Early-Career Scientists: FerryBox Workshop in Helsinki
2024-09-30 - 2024-10-03 | Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
MINKE supports young and early-career marine scientists and technical staff working on FerryBox observations to participate in the 12th international FerryBox Workshop and adjacent metrology workshops from 30 September to 3 October 2024 in Helsinki, Finland.
The responses of marine ecosystems to environmental changes are complex, and finding out the high spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton is one of the most relevant research questions. The high frequency in situ phytoplankton observations, using fluorescence and imaging methods, are increasingly used in various observing platforms. Reproducibility, comparability, and traceability are the specific challenges for these methods and the user communities should advance the consistency of these important measurements. This workshop concentrates especially on the measurements done using FerryBox flowthrough systems installed on the Ships-of Opportunity, Research Vessels or fixed platforms. It brings together FerryBox operators, data users and technology developers, early career and senior scientists and technical staff, and marine biologists and metrology experts, to discuss and agree upon next generation developments in improving the reliability of the fluorescence and imaging methods.
Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Meteorological Institute and EuroGOOS FerryBox TaskTeam are organizing a 12th International FerryBox Workshop in Helsinki, Finland 1.-2.October 2024 as an on-site meeting. EU-funded project MINKE is organizing two additional metrology-related sessions adjacent to the FerryBox workshop: 1) Improvements in fluorometer measurements (30. September 2024, afternoon) and 2) Improving the quality of plankton imaging (2. October 2024, morning)”, targeting especially young and early career marine scientists and technical staff working within FerryBox observations. The first workshop will be dedicated to the specificities of measuring phytoplankton Chlorophyll-a fluorescence in the FerryBox systems, and the second to improving methods of phytoplankton imaging in the FerryBox systems.
The MINKE workshop participants are expected to have basic knowledge of marine biological observations, especially on fluorescence methods and/or phytoplankton imaging (this is not an elementary course of methods but a meeting point for method users). We expect participants to have also experience in flow-through FerryBox measurements or similar methods. Both workshops also include senior participants and lecturers from various research institutes performing FerryBox measurements and with solid experience in the methods.
A limited amount of funding is available for supporting in-person attendance, and participants wishing to avail of this possibility should fill in the application form by the 31st of August 2024. Only expenses relating to international travel (flight/ferry/train-ticket from an applicant’s country of residence to Helsinki and back) and local accommodation costs (between 30th September and 2nd October) will be considered. Catering during coffee breaks and lunches will be provided during the workshops, as well as a workshop dinner. The workshop organizer will book the flights and accommodation for the participants selected to be funded. Kindly note that priority will be first given to applicants from developing countries in the selection process for awarding reimbursement. Note also that priority will also be given to those applicants showing a solid engagement with the FerryBox measurements. We seek a balance in the background of the funded participants (gender, students, early-career scientists, technical persons) and in the geographical distribution.
The financially supported participants of MINKE workshops should also attend the 12th FerryBox meeting in full. Participants receiving financial support will be required to prepare and present either a talk (15minutes) or a poster during FerryBox workshop, showcasing their own work to help foster networking.

Find out more about the MINKE project at: https://minke.eu/
The registration is open until 31 August, 2024.
We are able to fund 15 attendees for the event, which is for personal attendance only. Information about the workshop can be found in the link: https://www.finmari-infrastructure.fi/events/ferrybox-workshop-october-2024/
Please contact Jukka Seppälä (jukka.seppala@syke.fi) or Katri Kuuppo (katri.kuuppo@sykefi) if you have any questions.
Apply now!

The Into The Deep - Marine Citizen Science Webinar
2024-09-27 10:00 - 12:00
The Into The Deep – Marine Citizen Science Webinar,” will take place on September 27, 2024, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET in online format.
Organized by the Interchange Non-profit gUG, this event will bring together marine scientists, educators and conservation activists to present and discuss how citizen science hands on and digital initiatives can successfully connect people to their Oceans, and support pro-environmental behavioural change.
Into The Deep brings the worlds deep ocean to your laptop. In this event we will present how we have built learning modules + a tailored participatory science tool around four distinct deep sea marine habitats. Each shows the impact which human behaviour has on them, then empowers users to use a new web-based image analysis tool, know as BiiGLE PARTY, to make species observations in sea floor images. The UPC, as a partner in this project, has developed the course “Coastal NorthWestern Mediterranean (Catalan) Ecosystems”. This aims at monitoring the underwater performance of artificial reefs. Placement of artificial reefs has been proven to be an effective technology to protect the coastal line and to restore damaged ecosystems.
Further information on this Project is available here
Registration here

2024 Fisheries Science Seminar – Artificial Intelligence
2024-09-25 14:00 - 18:00 | Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
Third-party event with Blue-Cloud
25 September 2024 14:00–18:00
Brussels, Belgium

The annual Fisheries Science Seminar, organised by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will take place on 25 September 2024. This year’s seminar will focus on the potential contribution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) towards achieving fisheries sustainability. The 2024 science seminar will be dedicated to exploring the rapid developments in the area of artificial intelligence to support the scientific process, and in particular how this approach can be instrumental towards sustainable fisheries management with increased transparency of fishing activity and reduced impact on the environment. The seminar will include presentations from experts in the field followed by discussions involving seminar’s participants. In addition, a poster exhibition, showcasing successful fisheries science projects integrating AI based knowledge, will be displayed at the event premises.
Blue-Cloud2026 will be presenting a poster in collaboration with IRD France – leaders of the Global Fisheries Atlas VLab.
More information and registration will be available soon.

FrOOS : National Ocean Observation Conference
2024-09-25 - 2024-09-26
Two Fr-OOS (French Ocean Observing System) days are scheduled for September 25 and 26, 2024 at the Ifremer center in Brest. The first day features two workshops open to all, and in particular to members of Fr-OOS networks and infrastructures, as well as national players in space and modeling. The second day is a conference open to the entire oceanographic scientific community.
Registration will close on September 13, 2024.
More information

Join the first AQUARIUS brokerage event at the ICES Annual Science Conference
2024-09-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Gateshead, Gateshead, United Kingdom
Join the first AQUARIUS Brokerage Event at the ICES Annual Science Conference, where we will launch the AQUARIUS Transnational Access Funding Calls and its Research Infrastructure Portfolio.
Register now!
Tuesday, September 10th 2024
18:00 – 19:30 (GMT+1), Gateshead, UK
Register here
Aiming to inform the marine and freshwater research communities about the integrated research infrastructures that will be made available by AQUARIUS, the brokerage event will launch the project’s two Transnational Access Funding Calls showcasing the diverse on-site, remote, and virtual access opportunities AQUARIUS provides. Detailed profiles and specifications of the research infrastructures will be highlighted to attract applications from the scientific community while also providing opportunities for researchers and institutions to come together and form collaborations to apply to the AQUARIUS Transnational Access Opportunities.
In addition, the event will also:

Showcase the portfolio of available research infrastructures.
Introduce the infrastructure access portal and TA Access Call requirements.
Promote the AQUARIUS training opportunities for the next-generation of researchers.
Highlight the data management and open science initiatives.
Announce the schedule of stakeholder events and the thematic and regional focus areas.
Explain how AQUARIUS will deliver to the goals of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”.

Further information here

Webinar on Lessons Learned from ENVRI-Hub Next Landscape Analysis
2024-09-03 10:00 - 12:00
Date: 3 September 2024
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 CEST
Overview:
Join the 2-hour interactive webinar, “Lessons Learned from the ENVRI RIs Landscape Analysis,” where key insights and findings from the recent landscape analysis questionnaire on metadata, vocabularies, AAI, and licenses across ENVRI Research Infrastructures (RIs) will be shared.
Objectives:

Share key findings from the landscape analysis questionnaire
Foster discussions and collaboration among ENVRI RIs

Presenters:
RI representatives, among which our EMSO Data Officer, Aljaz Maslo, who participated in the questionnaire, will contribute short presentations during the webinar.
Further information can be found on the event webpage
Register now

JERICO-S3 Final General Assembly
2024-06-18 - 2024-06-21
The final JERICO-S3 General Assembly will take place from Tuesday 18th June to Friday 21st June 2024 at the “Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie” in Brest, France. The aim is to discuss the short and medium term for the JERICO Community and the future of coastal observation, bringing together the JERICO-S3 Consortium and stakeholders.
Read more

EGU Galileo Conference "Fibre Optic Sensing in Geosciences”
2024-06-16 - 2024-06-20 | Catania, Catania, Italy
Fibre optic sensing technologies provide a cost-efficient alternative to several conventional geophysical approaches. The conference, which will take place in Catania, Italy, aims to foster discussions among the diverse communities involved in this field, including geoscientists, photonic experts, instrument manufacturers and fibre optic network providers. The ambition of the conference is to identify pathways for leveraging fibre optic networks and fibre optic sensing to improve resilience and sustainability in our modern Society.
Be sure to meet our team at the EMSO booth during the event! You can learn more about the Consortium’s features and the current use of optical fibre.
Read more

Blue Economy Workshop at POSIDONIA International Shipping Exhibition
2024-06-07 10:45 - 17:00 | Athens, Athens, Greece
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s workshop “Blue Economy – The key towards Mediterranean Regional Sustainability,” will take place on June 7, 2024, from 10:45 to 17:00 EEST at Metropolitan Expo, Athens, Greece as part of the POSIDONIA International Shipping Exhibition.
Organized by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI) and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the workshop aims to engage key stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society in the Mediterranean maritime sector. It offers a valuable opportunity for participants to learn about the Partnership’s funding, networking, and investment opportunities. Project representatives funded by the Partnership will present their initiatives, showcasing advancements and opportunities within the blue economy sector.
Further information on the registration and program is available here

Join INGV and EMSO for World Oceans Day 2024
2024-06-06 - 2024-06-08 | Palermo, Palermo, Italy
From 6 to 8 June 2024, on the occasion of World Oceans Day (WOD) established by the United Nations, INGV is organizing the second edition of the “Giornata Mondiale degli Oceani – Conoscere, Comprendere, Convivere” (World Oceans Day: Know, Comprehend, Coexist). This exciting event offers three days of immersive scientific dissemination and educational experiences focused on the oceans. This year the event boasts one prestigious award conferred in Italy, the Medal of the President of the Republic. It confirms the appreciation of the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella, for the particular scientific and cultural interest of the event curated by INGV. This event received the endorsement of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity.
Experience Three Days of Ocean Exploration and Education
Get ready for an unforgettable experience with a series of interactive and educational activities designed to captivate and engage a broad audience through laboratories, educational games, virtual reality experiences, workshops, exhibitions, talks, and more. The event aims to deepen your understanding of the oceans, shed light on the threats they face, and inspire a commitment to protect this invaluable resource.
Exhibitions, film forums, workshops, theatrical performances, roundtables and much more await you in the spectacular setting of the Molo Trapezoidale in Palermo, of the Castello di San Terenzo in Lerici and of the headquarter of INGV in Rome.

Dive into the footprints, sounds and colors of the sea depths with EMSO

During the three-day event in Palermo, EMSO and the Joint Research Unit EMSO Italia, the scientific research collaboration between 9 Italian research institutions – CNR, Inter-university Consortium of Marine Sciences, ENEA, Hydrographic Institute of the Navy, INFN, INGV, INOGS, ISPRA, Zoological Station ‘Anton Dohrn’ of Naples – will offer to the participants an immersive booth experience in the depths of the sea through images and suggestive sounds. The participants will learn more also on how the scientific research captures this precious material to study and understand the phenomena of natural and anthropic origin that modify the deep marine environment continuously and how data collected by underwater observatories are used to develop conservation strategies and sustainable management of the oceans.

Learn more about the booth here
The program for the 3-day event in Palermo is available here

Authors: Alessandra Giuntivi (INGV) and Sara Pero (EMSO ERIC)

Research Infrastructures in a Changing Global, Environmental and Socio-economical Context
2024-06-04 - 2024-06-05 | Blegium, Bd de l'Empereur 2, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
The conference organised in the frame of the Belgian Presidency of the European Council, will take place in Brussels, at the Royal Library of Belgium and will focus on three main issues:

Research Infrastructures (RIs) as key players of strategic autonomy in a changing global context;
the socio-economic and environmental impact of RIs;
the broad ecosystems of RIs.

Our new General Director will attend the conference as many ERIC directors or representatives.
Read more

THE FIRST GEORGE TECHNICAL FORUM ORGANISED THIS WEEK IN VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
2024-05-21 - 2024-05-25 | VILLEFRANCHE SUR MER, VILLEFRANCHE SUR MER, Provença - Alps - Costa Blava, France
The first training event of the GEORGE project will be organised in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France on 21-25 May 2024. The event brings together scientists, technicians and instrument manufacturers in a unique learning event and an active dialogue about ocean observing technologies. An online training platform will make this information known to a wider audience.
Training the marine scientific community to use the new technology developed in the GEORGE project is an important part of the project and a key way to ensure the technologies will be integrated into marine research infrastructures. The project has a designated work package that plans and executes training activities both on-site and online.
The goal is that on-site training will form a base for “a sustained Technical Forum for Ocean Carbon Observations”, which will continue to function as a forum for scientists and manufacturers to exchange ideas after the project. That’s why the training event is called the Technical Forum.

Edouard Leymarie (left) presenting an NKE Instrumentation profiling float at the GEORGE annual meeting in October 2023.
The topic of the first Technical Forum is platforms. The training will provide up-to-date expert information on several commonly used platforms in ocean Research Infrastructures. Among the platforms featured in the training are the Sailbuoy, used in surface ocean measurements; Argo floats and the glider SeaExplorer, used for horizontal and vertical water column observations; and the EGIM, used in seafloor observations.
“Autonomous platforms, whether at the surface, on the seabed or in the water column, are now essential systems for ocean observation. They have undergone unprecedented development over the last decade, making it possible to integrate increasingly complex sensors. This is one of GEORGE’s main objectives. This first training will allow participants to learn about the capabilities of the different platforms and how to use them with the new sensors integrated thanks to the GEORGE project.”, says Edouard Leymarie, Research Engineer at the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche and a task leader in WP6.
The participants for the Technical Forum consist of scientists and technicians from the broader ocean observing community formed by ICOS, EMSO and Euro-Argo. The Technical Forum will also present the participants with the unique opportunity to learn about each other’s measurement technologies – information which will become vital as the project goes on. Because ICOS, EMSO, and Euro-Argo measure different parts of the water column, this will be the first opportunity for many of their technicians to learn about each other’s measurements.
“From the outset of the project, these workshops were seen as an opportunity to bring together people involved in different research infrastructures in order to share knowledge and technologies. I have no doubt that this will open up future collaborations for the benefit of our communities,” Edouard Leymarie says.

Laurent Coppola (right) presenting the SeaExplorer to the GEORGE project team at the project’s annual meeting in October 2023.

The online training platform will provide equitable access to learning
Alongside the on-site sessions, the GEORGE project team has been actively developing the online component, known as the GEORGE online platform. While the number of participants in on-site events is limited due to space constraints, the online program will be able to reach a much broader, even global audience. It can be accessed free of charge from anywhere in the world.
The online training platform utilises an educational approach known as a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC). The University of Helsinki, the partner in charge of developing the GEORGE online training platform, has developed several successful courses on the platform, with topics ranging from 5G to sustainability and the ethics of AI.
“Developing the GEORGE online training platform as a MOOC enables us to offer something more than just the traditional manuals and teaching documents, but rather a holistic, interactive learning experience that is available to all, from domain experts to students of the field”, says Laura Sinikallio, Project Planner at the University of Helsinki and a task leader in WP6. “In GEORGE we have a unique opportunity to have the best minds across Europe bring forth their expertise, experiences, and recent advances. Together we aim to create an online learning forum with an impact that will outlive the project itself.”
The content for both the online and on-site training will be developed iteratively throughout the project and will contribute to the overall outcomes of the project. The topic of the second Technical Forum in 2025 will be sensors, and the third, organised in 2026, will focus on data management. The online training platform will also feature introductory materials about the ocean carbon system and ocean observing technologies.

NorEMSO - Advancing Marine Observations in the Nordic Seas
2024-04-16 08:00 - 11:00 | bergen, Nygårdsgaten 5, bergen, 5015, Norway
Date: 16th of April
Time: 8.30 – 11.00 CET
Place: UiB Læringsarena, Nygårdsgaten 5, 5015 Bergen
Join this outreach event highlighting the advancements in Norwegian marine observational capabilities led by NorEMSO, the EMSO ERIC Nordic Seas Regional Facility. NorEMSO’s network in the Nordic Seas boasts three key components: moored observatories, underwater gliders, and an integrated seafloor and water column observatory.
The overarching objective is to enhance understanding of the drivers for the temporal and spatial changes of water mass transformations, ocean circulation, ocean acidification and thermo-chemical exchanges at the seafloor in the Nordic Seas. NorEMSO provides new knowledge about all these fields including a description of the hydrothermal outflow dynamics, their impact on the hydrothermal fauna and their effects on the surrounding ocean. Furthermore, NorEMSO benefits the Earth observation community in validation of satellite data and development of retrieval algorithms and satellite products.
NorEMSO serves as a crucial resource, providing data and platforms to a diverse range of users, from scientists and industries to institutions and policymakers.
In this context, we invite you to an introductory outreach session focusing on marine observational capability and forecasting in the European context. Join our event to learn about the NorEMSO capabilities and infrastructure and hear insights from the researchers involved.
Do not miss this opportunity to learn, network, and engage with NorEMSO, University of Bergen, University of Tromsø, Norwegian Polar Institute, NORCE, Norwegian Meteorological Institute and Institute of Marine Research.
Program

8.30 Coffee and mingling
9.00 Welcome and introduction
9.15 Presentation about all components
9.45 Demonstrations of the instruments
10.00 Break and snacks
10.15 Industries’ and students’ contributions, Q&A

For further information, visit the webpage

2024 OCEAN DECADE CONFERENCE
2024-04-10 - 2024-04-12 | Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
10 Apr 2024 – 12 Apr 2024
Barcelona, Spain

Focused on ‘delivering the science we need for the ocean we want’, the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, will be hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona from 10 – 12 April 2024 and co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), and will bring together various actors, including governments, decision-makers, maritime sectors, philanthropy, academia, the private sector, and civil society.
All these voices will engage in this international event in a constructive dialogue to celebrate and take stock of progress, and set joint priorities for the future of the Ocean Decade and the continued success of ocean sustainability efforts, across the science – policy – society interface. This event will cover the full range of Ocean Decade Challenges including critical issues such as climate change, food security, sustainable management of biodiversity, sustainable ocean economy, pollution, and natural hazards.
Go to event website

THE DATA WE NEED FOR THE OCEAN WE CARE FOR – BLUECLOUD2026 AT 2024 UN OCEAN DECADE CONFERENCE
2024-04-09 17:00 - 18:30 | Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Blue-Cloud 2026 EU project, along with DITTO, iMagine, Ocean Best Practices and Ocean Teacher Global Academy, organized a Satellite event at 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference, taking place on 9 April 2024 17:00–18:30, at the World Trade Center (Barcelona, Spain).
The workshop will deep dive into cases of success in data sharing practices from European research infrastructures, and how to maximise this potential at global level for contributing to the SDGs and the Digital Twins of the Ocean programmes.
The event will be opened by the European Commission’s Directorate-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and will showcase best practices of marine data federation from the Blue-Cloud2026 and the iMAGINE European projects, with specific insights on applications for marine biology and the fishery domain. With input by EMODnet, Copernicus Marine and leading marine research infrastructures, Blue-Cloud (https://blue-cloud.org) is contributing to the open science transformation by an easier discovery and access of blue data, open to all to implement open science and AI. The iMagine initiative (https://www.imagine-ai.eu/) provides a portfolio of image datasets, high-performance image analysis tools empowered with Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Best Practice documents for scientific image analysis.
The OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA) and the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) of IOC/UNESCO will also join the workshop to dive into the education and training needs to ensure data management practices and standards are put in place at a global level.
Last but not least, representatives from the European Digital Twins of the Ocean (EU DTO) Programme and its global counterpart, the DITTO programme, will complement with insights from the global efforts to build awareness around the ensuring cross-regional data sharing towards the development of digital twins of the ocean.
Further information is on the BlueCloud website.
Register here

GEORGE PROJECT AT THE UN OCEAN DECADE CONFERENCE 2024: “TECHNOLOGIES IN SUSTAINABLE OCEAN OBSERVATIONS – FROM LOW COST TO NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT”
2024-04-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Three years after the start of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), a global conference will bring together the Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate achievements and set joint priorities for the future of the Decade. Hosted by Spain and co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference will take place on 10-12 April 2024 in the coastal city of Barcelona.
GEORGE hosting a satellite event at the conference in collaboration with other partners. The panel event, titled “Technologies in sustainable ocean observations – from low cost to new technology development”, will be hosted on-site on Tuesday 9 April, the day before the conference, at the World Trade Center Barcelona. See more info below.
“TECHNOLOGIES IN SUSTAINABLE OCEAN OBSERVATIONS – FROM LOW COST TO NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT”
Location: World Trade Center‘s rooms S9 + S10, 1ª planta Edif. Este, Moll de Barcelona, s/n, 08039 Barcelona, Spain
Date: 9 April 2024
Time: 12:00-14:00
Partners:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
Marine Technology Society (MTS)
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).
GEORGE & ICOS ERIC
Panellists

Patrick Gorringe – SMHI
Jess Sandoval – Ocean Discovery League
Patricia Lopéz-Garcia, National Oceanography Centre (NOC) / GEORGE project
Thanos Gkritzalis, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) / GEORGE project
Peer Fietzek – Kongsberg Discovery

Event description:
Many technology challenges exist when it comes to observing and monitoring the ocean. Dismantling these barriers and identifying opportunities towards achieving a mature and vibrant Ocean Observing Enterprise is the focus of this event.
This event will bring together the stakeholder and scientific community, private sector, industry and policymakers to discuss and elevate the challenges and opportunities in this area. Through a brief introductory presentation and a panel, we will be discussing opportunities for low cost technologies and private sector and industry engagement in new technology development, followed by an opportunity to interact, foster connections and discuss cross collaborative efforts.
How to participate:
The event is organised off-site and therefore does not require registration to the main conference. The organisers do, however, encourage everyone to register in advance to get a better idea of the number of attendees. Please register here.
Please note that the event is exclusively in-person. However, those interested can opt to receive a handout summarising the event’s key outcomes. To do so, please refer to the registration form to provide your information.

MINKE & MED-SHIP HIGHLIGHTED AT BARCELONA’S OCEAN DECADE 2024 SATELLITE EVENT
2024-04-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
We are thrilled to announce the MINKE EU satellite event as part of the UN Ocean Decade Conference 2024. “A dialogue between stakeholders of the ocean observation community identifying common priorities and challenges to respond to global objectives 2030″ will take place at the Museu Marítim de Barcelona, located in the heart of Barcelona. Scheduled for April 8th at 4 PM, this event brings together experts, researchers, and stakeholders to focus on enhancing the quality and accessibility of oceanographic data. Admission is free, and while registration for the Ocean Decade event is not required, attendees must register to attend this event.
The event is designed to address the shared challenges and priorities of the ocean observation community and aim to achieve the ambitious global objectives set for 2030. It will spotlight the importance of data accessibility, accuracy, and interoperability across the various facets of oceanographic research and observation. Discussions will range from the intricacies of research infrastructure to the technological advancements in oceanographic vessels, emphasizing the critical role of data in advancing ocean science and management.
Highlighting the event are presentations on two significant projects: the MINKE and Med-SHIP projects. These initiatives represent the forefront of efforts to improve oceanographic data quality and monitoring. The MINKE Project, with its innovative approach to data quality through Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), and the Med-SHIP project, focusing on the Mediterranean Sea’s physical and biogeochemical changes, exemplify the collaborative spirit and scientific excellence that the Ocean Decade 2024 aims to promote.
Join us at the Museu Marítim de Barcelona for this insightful and inspiring event, and be a part of shaping the future of ocean conservation!
REGISTER HERE

Question & Answer session for the 1st Geo-INQUIRE Transnational Access Call to European research infrastructures
2024-03-01 12:00 - 17:00
On Friday, 1 March 2024 at 12 noon (CET), there will be a Question & Answer session for interested applicants for the 1st Geo-INQUIRE Transnational Access Call to European research infrastructures.

Please register here for this one-hour session to receive the dial-in data.

Geo-INQUIRE (Geosphere INfrastructures for QUestions into Integrated REsearch) is a European project that fosters excellent, interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research of the solid Earth, including land-sea-atmosphere interfaces.
The access to unique high-level installations and experiments provided through Geo-INQUIRE is free of charge for the selected users and includes all costs necessary to perform the proposed research, such as equipment, support staff at the installation, consumables, training for external users and others. Certain installations provide financial travel and subsistence support for the users to visit the installation. To understand if this type of support is available at the installation of choice and under which conditions, users must contact the installation prior to the application. Other scientific fields will also be considered, if the proposed projects are feasible and relevant for the Geo-INQUIRE research topics. Information about the capabilities and research topics of each individual installation are described at the Geo-INQUIRE website.
Geo-INQUIRE is welcoming applications from researchers, technicians, students and other specialists working in the fields of research covered by the installations until 15 March 2024. Application for access should be submitted online through the Geo-INQUIRE website!

AN ONLINE WORKSHOP FOR THE FUTURE OF MINKE
2024-01-24
he MINKE consortium participated in a workshop about its future Strategic Development Programme for Metrology for Integrated Marine Management and Knowledge-Transfer Network, led by the University of Bicocca (Milano). This workshop, which followed the in-person sessions held on January 24, continued to define its future.
During this online session, partners discussed about the fundamentals and key actions of the MINKE project. MINKE’s mission is to develop new and advanced metrological methods for marine instrumentation and observation systems. The consortium agreed that MINKE offers a unique and comprehensive perspective on metrology, placing significant importance on data traceability and completeness to ensure high-quality information.
Over the past years, the project has achieved several key milestones, and it will continue to strive to fulfil its core objectives in the coming years. These are outlined below.

Improving the accuracy of ocean data
There is a lack of information about measurement uncertainty in marine observations—in other words, how far the actual measurement deviates from the intended measurement. This is particularly important in ocean research since harsh marine environments can cause instruments to degrade over time. This information is a problem when it is propagated to fit forecasting models or other external uses.
The MINKE project emphasizes the importance of taking ocean measurements accurately. This means recording the measurements themselves and being aware of the uncertainty surrounding the data. In this sense, collaboration between ocean scientists and metrologists—researchers dedicated to the scientific study of measurement itself—is essential.
Metrological laboratories perform calibrations to ensure the accuracy of marine measurement instruments. This important piece has been missing from the ocean research landscape until now. One of the core objectives of MINKE is to facilitate collaboration between marine scientists and metrologists.

Leveraging citizen science to generate truly complete datasets
One factor holding back marine research is the lack of complete, comprehensive datasets. The ocean is vast, and the instruments used to collect data are expensive. As a result, there are relatively few high-quality sensors, which makes it difficult to extrapolate accurately.
For example, along the 580km of the Catalonian coast, there are just two high-quality ocean sensors. While these instruments collect in-depth information about their specific location, they do not offer insights into variations across the local marine environment.
One of the objectives of the MINKE project is to improve the completeness of marine datasets by encouraging everyday citizens to take part in the data collection process. Activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, and more, can be adapted for research purposes. For instance, a scuba diving school may offer its customers the option to photograph marine wildlife, or record data such as salinity or pH levels, for scientific purposes. This data can then be quality-checked against high-quality sensors and used in scientific repositories. As the project progresses, the goal is to promote public participation in marine science and greater ocean literacy. This in turn will lead people to become more invested in and take better care of marine environments. These participatory processes and contributions are known as citizen science.
The MINKE project will improve the accuracy and completeness of marine datasets, enabling the generation of comprehensive maps of essential ocean variables, such as biodiversity, marine litter, and more.

Building a pioneering and self-sustaining network in marine metrology
The MINKE project is currently supported as a “starting community” by the European Commission. At this stage, the goal is to establish a robust network which clearly demonstrates the added value of working together. The project aims to develop an advanced research infrastructure in the longer term. This can take the form of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), which is a recognized legal entity under European law.
This would entail not just the continued collaboration of the MINKE stakeholders beyond the project, but also the expansion of the community to include other key players across diverse ecosystems. Part of this involves creating world-class learning environments for the next generation of marine scientists. This will help communicate the need for accuracy and completeness in marine research and attract future talent to join this growing community.
Overall, the aim is to establish a network that can be maintained over time with sustainable, long-term sources of funding. Currently, there is no network specifically devoted to metrology in marine science, so this would be a pioneering initiative.
The MINKE project was launched with the support of the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 Programme (2014-2020), Grant Agreement No. 101008724. This INFRAIA initiative brings together 16 European marine metrology research infrastructures as well as other key stakeholders to create a new starting community and framework for marine research.

SAVE THE DATE: Celebrate and take action with EMSO and INGV for World Oceans Day!
2023-06-08 08:00 - 2023-06-10 17:00 | Santa Severa’s Castle, Castello Santa Severa RM, Rome, 00058, Italy
INGV and EMSO, as proud member of the Friends of United Nations World Oceans Day (FOWOD), are glad to invite you to the upcoming event “Giornata Mondiale degli Oceani: Conoscere, Comprendere, Convivere” organized on June 8th to celebrate World Oceans Day (WOD).
The 2023 WOD theme “Planet Ocean: the tides are changing” puts the ocean at first place stating the need to join forces of decision-makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth activists and more to raise awareness on the status of our oceans.
The event is organized along three days of science and art, and aims at immersing the participants in an extraordinary experience to create links with the natural environment, learn more about the oceans and understand how to contribute to its preservation.
Specifically, thanks to the participation of experts who are engaged in studying and protecting this extraordinary resource at a national and international level, we will discuss together the vulnerability of the ocean and we will discover the importance that it has for maintaining Earth’s life.
The “Giornata Mondiale degli Oceani: Conoscere, Comprendere, Convivere” will be held at the meaningful context of the Santa Severa’s Castle, located along the Tyrrhenian coast in the north of Rome, Italy.
The full program and more details to join this amazing event will be out soon.
Follow us to keep updated!
Press release

eRImote 2nd Workshop: Remote operations for RI services and data and access security
2022-10-24 - 2022-10-25
The 2nd Workshop of the eRImote project, a recently funded Horizon Europe project in which EMSO ERIC is closely involved, will be focused on “Remote operations for RI services and Data and access security”. The event will take place virtually on 24th October 2022 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and on 25th October 2022 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (CEST) with the following two main topics to be addressed:

Remote operations of RI services;
Data and access security in remote operations.

During the workshop the participants will investigate these topics from the perspectives of different scientific domains and RIs through several experts’ short presentations, sharing of experience and active discussions about the challenges to be tackled.
The workshop is open to everyone and it is a great opportunity to learn more about the eRImote project that aims at developing tailored solutions for digital and remote service provision across RI domains and for transferable practices and new developments that will improve the accessibility and resilience of Research infrastructures.
For more details, the full programme and registration, visit the workshop web page.
To know more about the eRimote project click here.

International conference on research infrastructures – ICRI 2022
2022-10-19 - 2022-10-21 | brno, Brno, Czech Republic

Marine Imaging Workshop
2022-10-03 - 2022-10-07 | Brest, Brest, France

EGU General Assembly 2022
2022-05-23 - 2022-05-27 | Vienna, Vienna, Austria

EOOS Technology Forum 2022 Workshop
2022-03-22 - 2022-03-24
EOOS Technology Forum 2022
Thinking ahead: The technology of the science we will need for the ocean we want will take place virtually on the 22-24 March 2022 (14:00-17:30 UTC).

Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022
2022-02-24 - 2022-03-04
The 2022 Ocean Sciences Meeting is now a fully virtual event.

International Ocean Data Conference 2022 - The Data We Need for the Ocean We Want
2022-02-14 - 2022-02-16 | sopot, sopot, Poland

The one planet summit for the ocean
2022-02-09 - 2022-02-11 | Brest, Brest, France
