EU4OceanObs

Our Ocean 2025
2025-04-28 - 2025-04-30 | Busan, Korea
The 10th Our Ocean Conference has chosen the theme ‘Our Ocean, Our Action’ to promote global actions for a sustainable ocean. Particularly, this 10th conference will discuss ‘Ocean Digital’ as a special agenda, focusing on means to drive ‘action’. Ocean Digital is a concept that combines the ocean industry and digital technology, serving as an implementation tool to achieve a sustainable ocean swiftly and systematically. The Our Ocean Conference gathers approximately 1,000 global leaders from various sectors, including heads of state and high-level government officials from over 100 countries, as well as representatives from more than 400 international and non-profit organizations. Together, they discuss diverse and concrete actions for a sustainable ocean.
More info: https://ourocean2025.kr/

The European Ocean Days
2025-03-03 - 2025-03-07 | Brussels, Belgium
The European Ocean Days is a week-long event featuring dynamic and interconnected sessions on key maritime topics. Each day offers distinct sessions that explore themes such as the sustainable blue economy, fisheries science outcomes, actions under Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, blue investments, and stakeholder dialogues, including engagement with youth.
Highlights of the event include:

Young Voices for the Ocean, with first Youth Policy Dialogue with the Commissioner
Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum, along with related events throughout the week
Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues: Help Design the European Ocean Pact
BlueInvest Day
Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact
Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar: Exploring the latest scientific developments

More info: https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/governance/european-ocean-days_en

GEO Blue Planet workshops on Eutrophication and Marine Litter
2025-01-08 - 2025-01-09 | Paris
The GEO Blue Planet EU Office, supported by EU4OceanObs and hosted at Mercator Ocean International is organising two workshops in early January in Paris on:

Nutrient Monitoring Across the GEO Work Programme Workshop, click here for more info: https://geoblueplanet.org/events/nutrient-monitoring-across-the-geo-work-programme-workshop/
IMDOS 1st Steering Committee Meeting. Click here for more info: https://geoblueplanet.org/events/imdos-1st-steering-committee-meeting/

OceanPredict Symposium (OP’24)
2024-11-18 08:00 - 2024-11-22 17:00 UTC | Paris
The OceanPredict Symposium (OP’24) will take place from 18 – 22 November 2024, with the last day reserved to the OceanPredict Science Team meeting. The overarching theme of OceanPredict ’24 will be “Advancing ocean prediction science for societal benefits” to highlight the central role played by ocean prediction in the UN Ocean Decade goals. It will invite ocean and atmospheric scientists, observation specialists, industry representatives, service providers, governments, and users of ocean data & products from across the international operational oceanography community to engage in science sessions, exhibitions and discussions to explore and define the direction of operational oceanography.
The symposium will seek to

accelerate the evolution of operational oceanography as a key component of Earth System Modeling;
identify the growing and changing needs of users and how to enhance service delivery;
align the objectives with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

A plenary session on user applications and societal observations is planned in collaboration with GEO Blue Planet.
To register, submit an abstract and more information, visit: https://www.oceanpredict24.org/

Marine User Days
2024-11-05 - 2024-11-06 | Lisbon, Portugal
The EUMETSAT Marine User Days will bring together existing and prospective users from across the diverse marine user community. Focusing on the data provided by the European organisations involved in the Copernicus programme and their role in oceanography and marine applications, the event will act as a showcase for use cases. It is also a networking opportunity for users across the value chain, and will feature a workshop to engage with user needs and feedback.
For more information, visit https://www.eumetsat.int/marine-user-days

All-Atlantic Forum 2024
2024-10-08 - 2024-10-10 | Ottawa, Canada
The 2024 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Forum will bring together representatives from the Atlantic community, including AAORIA Partners (i.e. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cabo Verde, the European Union, Iceland, Morocco, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States). The 2024 Forum will highlight opportunities for collaborative science including a focus on coordinating efforts on ocean observation and increasing our understanding of the relationship between ocean and climate to support coastal resilience.
The 2024 Forum will showcase the scientific coordination taking place in the context of AAORIA to help address ocean challenges. AAORIA aims to be an open community and will continue to bring in new partners to advance the goals of the All-Atlantic Declaration.
For more information, click here.

EuroGEO Workshop 2024
2024-10-08 - 2024-10-10 | Krakow, Poland
Coordinate, Combine, Cooperate
EuroGEO is the regional coordination mechanism that aims to consolidate and coordinate activities throughout Europe that contribute to GEO (Group on Earth Observations) initiatives.
Since EuroGEO’s inception, the European landscape has significantly changed. Firstly, at EU level, with the implementation of the EU Space Programme, which provides the necessary infrastructure, data, and technological advancements, whilst EuroGEO coordinates and integrates these resources to address global and regional challenges through GEO work programme activities. And secondly, at GEO level, with the adoption of the ‘post-2025’ GEO work programme, which shifts from “Earth observation” to “Earth Intelligence” and from a focus on services to equity, in order to bridge the global information gaps.
At this critical juncture, this year’s EuroGEO workshop, which will take place in Krakow from 8 to 10 October, aims to invite and mobilise the EO community to reposition EuroGEO in the light of both the evolving European landscape and GEO strategy.
The GEO Blue Planet European Office, supported by EU4OceanObs, works closely with the EuroGEO secretariat to ensure better uptake and visibility of relevant ocean and coastal related European pgorammes and actions, contributions and priorities within GEO Blue Planet and the wider GEO community.
To register and for more information, visit https://eurogeosec.eu/egw2024/

2nd EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference on Sargassum
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-02 | St Georges, Grenada, Saint Georges, Grenada
The 2nd EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference on Sargassum will take place from 1 to 2 October 2024 in St. Georges, Grenada.
This high-level event is organized by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), under the auspices of Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada. This 2-day conference aims to shape the political discussion at the regional level amongst governments, organizations, industry, academia, and financing institutions to drive investment and build sustainable sargassum value chains.

EO 4 Africa Symposium
2024-09-23 - 2024-11-26 | Rome, Italy
The 2024 EO for Africa Symposium will be held from 23 to 26 September at ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy in partnership with ESA, the African Union Commission (AUC), African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE), the European Commission (EC), EUMETSAT and NASA.
The aim of the Symposium is to:

Showcase the latest R&D EO Science and Applications achievements relevant for the African continent;
Further facilitate international EO R&D collaborations across Africa and Europe;
Continue the user-driven process of capturing EO high-priority topics for future R&D and capacity development joint efforts;
Share information about future EO missions, digital technology, and the related opportunities;
Discuss the challenges and opportunities to accelerate the integration of downstream services in operational solutions.

For more information, visit https://eo4society.esa.int/event/eo-for-africa-symposium-2024/

G7 Science and Technology Ministerial 2024 and related events
2024-07-09 - 2024-07-12 | Bologna, Italy
9 – 11 July | G7 Science and Technology Ministerial 2024
The Science and Technology Ministers of the Group of Seven, including the European Union, will convene from 9 to 11 July 2024 in Bolognia and Forlì, Italy, to discuss the pivotal role of science and research in ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future, and to explore possible shared initiatives to achieve this goal.
The agenda includes sessions, each focusing on one of the priority themes identified by the Italian Presidency: research security and integrity, open science and science communication; large research infrastructures; research and innovation cooperation with Africa; research on new and emerging technologies, nuclear energy and space; seas, ocean, and their biodiversity.
For more information, visit: https://www.g7italy.it/en/
11 July | Conference on Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean Health and Coastal Resilience
On 11 July 2024, a high-level event, jointly organized by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research and the European Commission will take place under the framework of the G7 Science and Technology 2024. The event will address the Mediterranean macro-region and Atlantic Ocean’s health and coastal resilience towards climate related extreme events.The conference will showcase the progress made in monitoring, restoring and regenerating the ocean, seas and coastal areas, transitioning from research and innovation to local deployment, also through the development of the Digital Twin of the Ocean.
The event will feature strategic mobilization initiatives involving G7 countries, with particular focus on the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, and the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). It will also link to international organizations and research and innovation initiatives, such as the Union for the Mediterranean and UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
For more information, click here.
12 July | G7 FSOI Workshop on Marine Research Infrastructures integration and harmonization
Organised by the G7 FSOI working group with support from the EU coordination centre supported by EU4OceanObs, the workshop aims to bring together representatives of national agencies or ministries who finance ocean observing networks, leading experts and/or managers of national or regional marine research infrastructure/observing networks, Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) national focal points, and relevant experts from the Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructures to provide advice on how other global research infrastructures have been established and operated. The worshop aims to:

Map the G7 member ocean observation systems sustained by Marine Research Infrastructure funding or other forms of long-term infrastructure investment.
Assess current limitations for transition to sustained funding for ocean observations, drawing on lessons learnt from national approaches.
Map existing common services that are shared within and between networks. Barriers that limit global infrastructure sharing and integration opportunities to draw on best practices
Define action to progress towards a common vision and strategy for the integration and harmonization of national infrastructures into a global/international research infrastructure focusing on next steps for 2025.

For more information, click here.

Digital Ocean Forum 2024
2024-06-12 - 2024-06-13 | Brussels, Belgium
The 3rd edition of the Digital Ocean Forum will take place from 12 to 13 June 2024 in Brussels. This annual event brings together experts, stakeholders, policymakers and interested citizens in the co-design and co-creation of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean. The first day is dedicated to a closed scientific and technical workshop, followed by a high level event on day 2. The event is hosted by the European Commission with support from Mercator Ocean International and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) – two main partners leading the development of the core infrastructure of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO project).
More information coming soon.
Also see

DOF 2023 – https://research-innovation-community.ec.europa.eu/events/7Akod3Zv5fHhhQ6lRKEfgI/overview
DOF 2022 – https://www.mercator-ocean.eu/en/news/digital-ocean-forum-2022-highlights/
European Digital Twin of the Ocean – https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters/european-digital-twin-ocean-european-dto_en

Copernicus Marine Service General Assembly 2024
2024-06-04 - 2024-06-05 | Online Event
The 2024 Copernicus Marine General Assembly will take place as a fully online event from 4 to 5 June 2024. This event will be an opportunity to highlight the many achievements done by Copernicus Marine production centres (observations and models) and Marine Data Store in 2023 and their evolution plans for 2024. It will also address the challenge to access to an integrated digital ocean thanks to WEkEO and the European Digital Twin of the Ocean. A focus on National collaboration programme and the coastal zone will be presented as well.
To register and for more information, visit: https://events.marine.copernicus.eu/copernicus-marine-general-assembly-2024

European Maritime Day 2024
2024-05-30 - 2024-05-31 | Svendborg, Denmark
The 2024 edition of the European Maritime Day will take place in Svendborg, Denmark, on 30-31 May as a physical event, at the SIMAC Academy- Svendborg International Maritime Academy (Address: Nordre Kajgade 9A, 5700 Svendborg)
The European Maritime Day (EMD) is the annual two-day event during which Europe’s maritime community meet to network, discuss and outline joint action on maritime affairs and sustainable blue economy.
The EMD is the place where ‘Ocean Leaders Meet’. It provides an engaging and completely interactive experience to catch up on the current state of play on a broad range of issues concerning the blue economy and the marine environment and to discuss ways of moving forward.
It features a large number of inspirational speakers, thematic sessions, stakeholder workshops and pitch sessions organised by stakeholders and the European Commission. The EMD targets professionals from businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs and academia as well as EU citizens interested in the Sea.
The EMD 2024 is being organised by the European Commission, the Municipality of Svendborg and the Danish Maritime Authority.
For more information, visit https://maritime-day.ec.europa.eu/index_en

9th Our Ocean Conference Greece 2024
2024-04-15 - 2024-04-17 | Athens, Greece
Greece will host the 9th Our Ocean Conference in 2024. The Conference is scheduled to take place in Athens, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, on the 16th and 17th of April. The Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit will be held parallel to the main conference, starting the day before, on the 15th of April.
The Our Ocean Conference was first launched under the initiative of the U.S. Department of State in 2014. Since then, it has gradually become a forum for dialogue that brings together governments, international organizations,academia, the private sector, and NGOs that share a common vision for the protection of the oceans and take action to support this vision.
For more information, click here.

Ocean Decade Conference 2024
2024-04-10 - 2024-04-12 | Barcelona, Spain
The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference focuses on ‘delivering the science we need for the ocean we want’. Hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona from 10 – 12 April 2024, the gathering will bring together the global Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate and take stock of progress, and set joint priorities for the future. An important milestone on the path to 2030, the 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.
Over three days, the conference will create a new foundation to strengthen the sustainable management of the ocean and drive science-based innovation, from global to local, leaving no one behind. In the lead up to the Conference, partners will also have the opportunity to complement the official Conference programme through Satellite Events.
For more information, visit the conference website.

Ocean Decade 2024 Satellite Events
2024-04-08 - 2024-04-09 | Barcelona, Spain
EU4OceanObs is supporting two satellite events in the framework of the Ocean Decade Conference 2024 in Barcelona.
8 April 2024 | 3:30 – 7:00 pm
Connecting the world around Ocean prediction: A vision for the Decade and beyond
Co-organised by the Ocean Prediction Decade Collaborative Centre and GEO Blue Planet, with funding from EU4OceanObs, this satellite event is designed to be a dynamic dialogue, followed by a networking reception with posters on the applications of prediction and a social dinner. This event will promote action and foster collaborations under the “Predicted Ocean” outcome of the Decade towards a society that understands and can respond to changing ocean conditions.
For more information and to register: https://events.unoceanprediction.org/connecting-the-world-around-ocean-prediction

9 April 2024 | 9:30 – 11:30 am
DTO4ECOPS: Leveraging Ocean Data Networks with Cloud Technologies To Deliver the Ocean We Want, Today & Tomorrow
Co-organised by GEO Blue Planet in partnership with EDITO-Infra, Iliad and Invemar, the workshop will revisit existing ocean data sharing efforts across regions, including data & information management and capacity building initiatives and networks and take stock of ongoing ocean digital twinning efforts with a view to discuss how early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) can leverage these efforts and technologies to catalyse the successful delivery of Ocean Decade goals.
For more information and to register: https://events.edito-infra.eu/dto4ecops
Participate in a preparatory survey to gather ECOP perspectives on digital twins of the ocean for sustainable development: click here to access survey.

Arctic Science Summit Week 2024
2024-03-21 - 2024-03-29
The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) is organised annually by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to provide opportunities for coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the various scientific organisations involved in Arctic research. It was initiated by the IASC in 1999 and has evolved into the most important annual gathering of the Arctic research organisation.
The summit brings together perspectives from across national and operational/research boundaries, and centers Indigenous priorities in the conversation. Working groups at the summit link regional Arctic observing efforts into global observing systems, provide community input into SAON initiatives, connect the broader observing community with data system efforts, and highlight areas of pressing need within the observing community. The AOS facilitates these conversations through a short statement and white paper process, and plenary and breakout sessions at the summit. Recommendations generated at the summit inform decisions from the project level to the Arctic Science Ministerial. Through the AOS, the Arctic observing community works together to build a more resilient, efficient, and equitable observing system. The AOS has been a hybrid meeting since 2022.
For more information, click here.

7th ICES/PICES Zooplankton Production Symposium
2024-03-17 - 2024-03-22 | Hobart, Australia
The 7th ICES/PICES Zooplankton Production Symposium will take place in Hobart, Australia from 17-22 March 2024. The Symposium will consist of plenary presentations, parallel sessions and workshops covering a wide range of zooplankton research. This conference will be held in person only due to time zone challenges and to encourage face to face networking following an 8 year gap between Symposia.
​​​Zooplankton play a pivotal role in polar, temperate and tropical marine ecosystems as well as in global biogeochemical cycles. Climate change is profoundly impacting marine ecosystems through changes in zooplankton. A combination of new technologies and techniques, together with classical in situ and laboratory studies and targeted modelling studies, is required to understand changing ecosystems.
Call for session proposals is ​​​open! Deadline for submission: 15 March 2023.
Read more on the symposium website. ​

Ocean Observation and Prediction for Coastal Sustainability in Africa
2024-03-04 - 2024-03-07 | Nairobi, Kenya
Building on the outcomes of the Coastal Hazards Plenary Session and Coastline Changes workshop held during the GEO Blue Planet 5th Symposium (2022, Accra), this event will focus on identifying the priorities and needs for ocean observations and prediction to address the challenges of coastal sustainability in Africa. Presentations and discussions will leverage extensive work led by international groups on the regional strategy for sustainable marine and coastal development for Africa.

This workshop is designed to explore the role of ocean observation and prediction in addressing stakeholders needs aligned with the AU blue strategy, the UN Ocean Decade roadmap and in particular the formulation of international frameworks around four thematic areas:

Shoreline and bathymetry changes
Coastal flooding and inundation
Coastal ecosystem mapping
Coastal waters quality

Click here for more information.
Funding and technical support for this workshop is provided by the European Union through EU4OceanObs/ GEO Blue Planet EU Office.

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Symposium
2024-02-13 - 2024-02-14 | Brussels
“Charting the course towards a Sustainable Blue Economy” Symposium
The first Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Symposium taking place on 13-14 February 2024 at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium will bring together thought leaders, experts, and practitioners in a big-scale European event to promote the transformation towards a sustainable blue economy.
For more information, click here.

EMODnet Open Conference 2023
2023-11-29 - 2023-11-30 | Brussels, Belgium
The EMODnet Open Conference 2023 is a public, in-person event in Brussels, Belgium. This provides a unique opportunity to gain access to cutting-edge marine data service updates, influential speakers, have your say in EMODnet’s evolution and expand your network, connecting and exchange with EMODnet experts from the EMODnet partnership, associated partners, data providers, service providers, users and wider stakeholders from Europe and around the world.
The 2023 Conference will be the first of its kind since the unification of EMODnet thematic services in January 2023. It will showcase the upgraded EMODnet Central Portal and the added value of a single entry point to discover, search, visualise and download all of EMODnet’s marine data and data products, and the value of centralised features and functionalities.
EMODnet continues to evolve. At the Conference, EMODnet experts from the full partnership will present the latest developments and innovations in EMODnet’s in situ marine data services, user-interface and infrastructure to meet user and policy needs for a digital and green future.
This will include EMODnet’s key role in the EU Digital Twin Ocean, including the creation of a common data lake between EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service. It will also discuss how the EMODnet offer is evolving in terms of diversifying data collection e.g., citizen science, filling data gaps in existing parameters, resolution and geographical scope, expanding data parameters e.g., genomics, and increasing EMODnet’s offer of marine data and knowledge for societally relevant topics e.g., coastal vulnerability, sea level rise, biodiversity etc.
Visit the conference website for more information: https://emodnetconference2023.eu/

Towards a new Arctic Ocean – Past, Present, Future
2023-11-07 - 2023-11-09 | Tromso, Norway
The Nansen Legacy project invites the Arctic research community to the international symposium in Tromsø, Norway, 7-9 November 2023.
Contributions and discussions across the Earth system science will shed light on and reveal regional characteristics, connections and pan-Arctic responses. Current understanding of the Arctic Ocean across disciplines and regions will be presented and discussed.

Call for abstracts open. Deadline 15 May 2023.
Symposium website: www.nansenlegacy-symposium.com
Programme overview: www.nansenlegacy-symposium.com/program/program-overview/
To register: www.nansenlegacy-symposium.com/registration/

GEO Week 2023 & Ministerial Summit Cape Town
2023-11-06 - 2023-11-10
GEO Week 2023 will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 6-10 November 2023. The week will include the GEO-19 Plenary from 8-9 November and the GEO Ministerial Summit on 10 November. Organized by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the event will be hosted by the Government of South Africa.
The theme for this year’s GEO Week and the Ministerial Summit is The Earth Talks, reflecting GEO’s unique ability to listen to what our planet is saying and inspire actions through trusted, open Earth observation solutions. In the run-up to the Plenary and Ministerial Summit, the meeting will demonstrate this ability through a series of community events on 6-7 November and an exhibition that will run throughout the week.
EU4OceanObs and GEO Blue Planet will hold a flash talk on 6 November on showcasing the ocean observing value chain to respond to stakeholder information needs.
For more information, click visit the event website: https://www.earthobservations.org/geoweek2023.php

GEO Blue Planet 6th Symposium
2023-10-31 - 2023-11-02 | Seoul, Korea
The 6th GEO Blue Planet Symposium to be held in Seoul, Korea from 31 October 31 – 2 November 2023 in Seoul, Korea. These GEO Blue Planet symposiums are designed to increase regional linkages, promoting linkages between stakeholders and the observing community and gathering community feedback on the focus of GEO Blue Planet activities.
This year’s symposium, themed Digital Solutions for Sustainable Oceans, is specifically geared towards improving GEO Blue Planet’s engagement with Asian nations to expand the Earth observation community of practice, strengthen local capacity and provide access to resources, tools, and services. The Korean symposium is scheduled to be held by establishing cooperative relationships with international organizations to enhance awareness of GEO Blue Planet in the Asia region.
This in-person event will feature plenary sessions centered on the GEO Blue Planet Core Action Areas of Stakeholder Engagement, Cooperation, and Co-design and Capacity Development. Additionally, it will include multiple sessions on Korean Marine Spatial Planning (K-MSP) and digital solutions, thematic workshops, and an interactive Symposium Forum.
More information will be made available on the event website: https://symposium.geoblueplanet.org/

GEO BON Conference
2023-10-10 - 2023-10-13 | Montreal, Canada
The Global Conference on Biodiversity and Monitoring is organised by GEO BON and its partners from 10 to 13 October 2023 in Montreal, Canada.
One year after COP15 of the UN CBD and the landmark agreement of a Global Biodiversity Framework, the GEO BON global conference will focus on the grand challenge of ‘Monitoring Biodiversity for Action’. A central theme will be the development of best practices and new technologies for biodiversity observations and monitoring to support transformative policy and conservation action.
A key session will be dedicated on Biodiversity monitoring in aquatic ecosystems to support a whole society approach to transformative change. The deadline for abstract submissions is 20 May.
For more information, visit: event.fourwaves.com/geobon-2023/pages

EurOcean 2023 Conference
2023-10-10 - 2023-10-12 | Galicia, Spain
EurOCEAN conferences are major European marine science-policy conferences organised every 4-5 years. They provide a forum for the marine and maritime research community and wider stakeholders to interface with European and Member State policymakers and strategic planners.
The aim of the EurOCEAN 2023 science-policy conference is to highlight the synergies between the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, other EU research and innovation, and management initiatives, and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. EurOCEAN 2023 will attract marine policy makers, marine scientists, science stakeholders and communicators, maritime industry representatives and European and national decision makers and programme managers, i.e. those that set, manage and implement the marine science agenda.
For more information, visit: www.euroceanconferences.eu

EuroGEO Workshop 2023
2023-10-04 - 2023-10-06 | Bolzano, Italy
Towards an integrated and convergent EuroGEO
EuroGEO brings together and coordinates activities in Europe that contribute to the initiatives of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). GEO is at a crossroad with defining its post-25 strategy (currently under public consultation) which is planned to be adopted in November 2023 at the GEO ministerial summit in Cape Town, South Africa. The new strategy moves from “Earth observation” to “Earth Intelligence” and shifts the focus from services to equity to bridge the global information gaps.
This year’s EuroGEO workshop provides the opportunity to position European activities in the light of the new GEO strategy and supports the coordination and interlinking of actions at national and European level and across sectors and domains to create relevant and impactful contributions to GEO.
Fore more information, visit egw2023.eurac.edu
On 3 October, the GEO Blue Planet EU Office, supported by EU4OceanObs, will host a thematic session on understanding the need for sustained coastal services, from the Copernicus Marine Service to national and private service providers in Europe and globally:

Session 3 October | 9-10:30 : Sustainability of Coastal Services
Scope and Objectives:
The session aims at understanding the need for sustained Coastal Services from the Copernicus Marine Service to national and private service providers in Europe and globally.

Give an overview of some key European service providers,
Discuss their contribution at the local, national and regional levels,
Provide guidance for the programme of an upcoming workshop on coastal services in Africa https://geoblueplanet.org/ocean-observation-and-prediction-for-coastal-sustainability-in-africa/

Presentations – session layout:
Copernicus Marine Service and the Copernicus Coastal HubAndrea Taramelli (ISPRA –Copernicus User Forum, Italy)
Detecting and forecasting SargassumMarion Sutton (CLS, France)
NextOcean: Next Generation Fishing and Aquaculture ServicesPedro Ribeiro (DEIMOS, Portugal)
Providing early warning system for pollutionGhada El Serafy (Deltares, The Netherlands)
Roundtable discussionModerator: Audrey Hasson (Mercator Ocean International / GEO Blue Planet/ EU4OceanObs)

10th EuroGOOS International Conference
2023-10-03 - 2023-10-05 | Galway, Ireland
European operational oceanography for the ocean we want – addressing the UN Ocean Decade Challenges

The EuroGOOS International Conference takes place every three years to take stock of the progress in the development of the oceanographic services for society. This milestone event is a meeting point for marine scientists, technologists, research managers, and the users of oceanographic services, including decision and policymakers, private sector, and citizens.
Key priorities of the conference:

Analysing the state of the art and defining emerging priorities in operational oceanography;
Advancing the European Ocean Observing System Framework for the sustainability of in situ observations and European integration;
Towards a seamless forecasting of the ocean;
Strengthening the responsiveness of European operational oceanography to policy and governance needs;
Fostering engagement of all users and stakeholders to co-design the European operational oceanography;
Promoting diversity, equity and inclusiveness in oceanography and ocean science;
Integrating European operational oceanography into the global context.

More information on the programme and to register available here: https://marineinstitute.clr.events/event/133655#
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 16 April 2023

EuroSea Final General Assembly and Symposium 2023
2023-09-19 - 2023-09-21 | Paris
The EuroSea project entitled ‘Improving and Integrating European Ocean Observing and Forecasting Systems for Sustainable use of the Oceans’ is a EU-funded Horizon 2020 Innovation Action running from November 2019 to December 2023. Bringing together 55 institutes from EU and beyond, the project is a contribution to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans initiative. The final general assembly will take place from 19 to 20 Sept will reunite all partners to look back at the project period, the biggest achievements and of course challenges. The event will also look ahead at EuroSea’s legacy and next steps.
EuroSea worked to accelerate the Technology Readiness Levels of instruments, sensors and platforms, and integrating these observations with ocean models, delivering cost-effective actionable information for improved ocean governance and monitoring. EuroSea focused on innovation in the full ocean observing value chain – from the requirement setting to data collection and delivery of forecasts and information. EuroSea impact will result in knowledge transfer towards innovation in the European ocean observing, monitoring and governance in support of a sustainable blue economy and responding to policy needs.
This final meeting will be followed by the EuroSea Symposium on Ocean Observing and Forecasting on 21 September 2023 at the IOC-UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The Symposium is a high-level event bringing together national and international stakeholders from policy, science, and industry. It will celebrate the remarkable innovations in European ocean observing and forecasting over recent years. It will serve as a platform for participants to reflect on past achievements and address the challenges that lie ahead in this vital field. The event aims to present and discuss recommendations for building a sustainable ocean observing and forecasting system that provides accessible, timely, and actionable data and information to all ocean users. By fostering collaboration between diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, and industry leaders, the symposium strives to develop a unified approach to ocean research and forecasting.

EuroSea final assembly 2023 agenda, click here.
EuroSea Symposium 2023 (including link to live streaming)

International Marine Debris Data Harmonization Workshop
2023-08-29 - 2023-08-31 | Yokohama, Japan
The overall goal of this international technical workshop is to enhance the level of data including associated metadata identification to support global data harmonization for selected key marine debris indicators that will underpin the successful mitigation of plastic pollution. The workshop will present the state of the art when it comes to harmonization of monitoring methods and data synthesis efforts but will predominantly include working/discussion sessions in plenary and dedicated breakout groups.
The 3-day workshop will take place in Yokohama, Tokyo, Japan, hosted by the Ministry of the Environment Japan (MOEJ) with organisation support from GEO Blue Planet, Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)/ IOCCP and NIVA Norway and funding support from the European Union through the EU4OceanObs and EuroSea projects. The event will bring together about 50 invited participants, including international experts in marine debris data management, monitoring, and harmonization of methods.
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