EU4OceanObs

e-shape solutions: Earth Observation for biodiversity and water management
2023-02-14 - 2023-02-15 | The Hague, Netherlands
The workshop will present e-shape project’s pilots related to biodiversity and water management. E-shape is the EU-funded H2020 flagship project working to promote and upscale Earth observation (EO) solutions in Europe and beyond supporting the sustainable delivery of EO-based benefits.
The first day will set the stage by introducing the audience to European and natinal policies related to biodiversiy protection and restoration as well as water management. Experts from European and National institutions will present relevant funding opportunities. The second day will be entirely dedicated to the presentation of e-shape pilot projects, coupled with presentations from local actors. There will also be a dedicated Q&A session to engage speakers and audience in a discussion about the usability of the pilots services presented and their relevance for the needs of public administrations and private companies in the Netherlands.
More about the event and to register, click here.
To visit, the e-shape website, click here.

Ocean Innovation Africa
2023-02-21 - 2023-02-24 | Cape Town, South Africa
Ocean Innovation Africa is a platform that showcases African ocean-impact initiatives and brings together international changemakers for the growth of an equitable and sustainable ocean economy in Africa. The annual summit convenes innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, industry-leaders, and policy-makers from Africa and abroad leading the way in development and adoption of sustainable ocean solutions.
This year’s event comprises plenary sessions on various topics including blue carbon and nature based solutions, data, exploration and security, ocean rights and capacity building. There will also be break-out sessions, facilitating hands-on workshops on themes such as seaweed, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, integrated ocean management and more. Featuring a start-up ocean impact pitch competition, study tours and an ocean-impact exhibition, the event offers a great opportunity to meet, share & connect over 3 days of conferencing and networking activities.
EU4OceanObs, sponsor and partner to the event, will be holding a stand at the ocean-impact exhibition to showcase Europe’s ocean observing infastructures, and data products and services to understand, monitor and predict the state of our oceans and marine environments, and to support sustainable blue economies.
For more information about the event and to register, click here.

European Ocean Observing System Strategy Launch 2022 - 2023
2023-03-02 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)
Advancing EOOS – the foundation of European ocean knowledge
Europe needs strong and connected ocean observing capacities. This is necessary to understand, benefit from and respond to the dynamic ocean environment that is essential for life on Earth, especially in the face of ongoing climate change and its implications for European societies. By synergistically federating and further developing its ocean observation capabilities as the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS), Europe will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of efforts to understand its ocean, seas and coastal waters.
With the new EOOS Strategy 2023-2027, and its accompanying Roadmap for Implementation, the development of EOOS will be developed in line with its Mission to coordinate and integrate European communities and organisations operating, supporting and maintaining ocean observing infrastructures and activities, fostering collaboration and innovation. Efforts through the EOOS Framework will work towards the vision of a European Ocean Observing System that is sustained and meets the specific needs of users.
At this online launch event, the new EOOS Strategy and Roadmap for Implementation 2023-2027 will be presented and discussed by members of the European ocean community.

To register : Webinar Registration – Zoom
EOOS website: European Ocean Observing System (eoos-ocean.eu)

European Marine Board | EuroSea foresight workshop
2023-03-15 - 2023-03-16 | Brussels, Belgium
The European Marine Board is organising a foresight workshop titled “Ensuring accurate climate related predictions in Europe by 2035” from 15 to 16 March 2023 in Brussels.
This workshop is supported by the Innovation Action “EuroSea”, one of the European Union’s contributions to the G7 Future of Seas and Oceans Flagship Initiative. The EuroSea foresight workshop will consider the Ocean Observation System in 2035, and look for pathways to ensure its sustainability in all European Ocean basins to deliver accessible, timely, and actionable information to all users who rely on this system. The expected outcomes of this workshop are key recommendations for mechanisms to sustainably fund and coordinate Ocean observation, prediction and information delivery in Europe. These will inform a report on recommendations to the Framework of the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS).
EuroSea (eurosea.eu) is a European-funded project working to improve the European ocean observing and forecasting system in a global context. The project brings together key European actors of ocean observing and forecasting with users of oceanographic products and services.
For more information: www.marineboard.eu/events/eurosea-foresight-workshop

ICOS Science Conference Belgium
2023-04-20 | Brussels, Belgium
The Belgian Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) Science Conference 2023 focuses on the overarching theme “From science to impact”. During the conference we will be diving into the research studies that are currently conducted at the Belgian ICOS stations. In addition we will be discovering new opportunities with different research fields and industry, and explore how climate research can contribute to policy making.
Ocean carbon themes will be addressed during session three: from data collection to societal change, with the presentations:

The opportunities of the ICOS Oceans Network for marine carbon accounting in shelf seas
Copernicus: from observations to public services and policy making tools (including the Copernicus Marine Service offer)

For more information, click here.

Integrated Ocean Carbon Research Working Group meeting
2023-05-03 - 2023-05-05 | Brussels, Belgium
The IOC UNESCO working group Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) workshop is co-sponsored by IOC/ UNESCO, the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative, Ocean Decade Programme Ocean Negative Carbon Emission (ONCE) and hosted by the European Commission and its EU4OceanObs action. Besides IOC UNESCO, IOC-R is supported by the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research Project (IMBeR), the Surface Ocean – Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS), the Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability and Change project (CLIVAR), the Global Carbon Project and International Ocean Carbon Coordination Project (IOCCP).

Established in 2018, the IOC Expert Working Group of the Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) aims at filling knowledge gaps in relation to ocean inorganic carbon by designing and promoting the implementation of a new generation of integrated ocean carbon research. The working group fosters active collaboration and synergies amongst IOC, IOCCP, SOLAS, IMBeR, GCP, CLIVAR, WCRP and relevant international efforts on carbon research.

Workshop objectives

Review the IOC-R vision document and identify areas requiring an update,
Identify a subset of emerging issues/knowledge gaps and/or areas to focus on in light of existing activities and articulate these in an updated vision document and other communications,
Structure the revised vision document and identify key messages,
Identify key actions in the field of ocean observation and research to fill the identified gaps in ocean carbon research
Identify section lead authors and contributors,
Produce a roadmap / timeline of activities.

Useful links

Integrated ocean carbon research: a summary of ocean carbon research, and vision of coordinated ocean carbon research and observations for the next decade – unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000376708
Horizon Europe OceanICU – New project for improved understanding of the ocean carbon cycle to inform climate action

European Maritime Day 2023
2023-05-24 - 2023-05-25 | Brest, France
The European Maritime Day (EMD) is the annual 2-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 complete 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 discuss ways of moving forward. It features a large number of excellent speakers, thematic sessions, stakeholder workshops and project pitch sessions organised by stakeholders and the European Commission. The EMD targets professionals from businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs and academia.
The 2023 edition of the European Maritime Day will take place in Brest, France, on 24-25 May as physical event.
The EMD 2023 is being organised by the European Commission, the City of Brest, the Secretariat General for the Sea and the Region of Bretagne.
Don’t miss the following workshops dedicated to ocean observing and marine data for policy:

24 May | 14:30 – 15:45 – Workshop 23 (onsite) – Sustainable ocean observation, from open sea to coast: shared responsibilities (organisers: EuroGOOS, Euro-Argo ERIC, Eurofleets Plus, Ifremer and Esprit de Velox
24 May | 16:15 – 17:30 – Workshop 12 (onsite)- Benefiting from Maritime Data to Drive Marine Innovation (Technopôle Brest-Iroise, Blue-Cloud 2026, European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), VesselAI and the European Ocean Observing System Framework (EOOS)

See the agenda for more information, by clicking here.
At the exhibition, there will be a stand dedicated to the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research (DG RTD) and Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), together with Mercator Ocean International and VLIZ. For more information, click here.

International Symposium on Sea Ice 2023
2023-06-04 - 2023-06-09 | Bremerhaven, Germany
Organised by the International Glaciological Society, the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI), Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, and the University of Bremen, the International Symposium on Sea Ice across Temporal and Spatial Scales will take place from 4 to 9 June 2023 in Bremerhaven, Germany.
This symposium will invite contributions by the international sea ice research community to exchange recent findings and advances in observations, process understanding, and modeling of sea ice world-wide.
Abstract submission: 17 February 2023
Early bird registration: 28 March 2023
More information available here.

Copernicus Marine General Assembly 2023
2023-06-05 - 2023-06-09 | Brussels, Belgium
The Copernicus Marine General Assembly will take place in Brussels, Belgium from 5 – 9 June 2023. This gathering will provide an opportunity to personally connect with the key stakeholders and Copernicus Marine community, including partners, contractors and downstream users.
The Copernicus Marine Service is the marine component of the European Union’s Copernicus Earth Observation Programme. It provides free, regular and systematic authoritative information on the physical and biogeochemical state of the global ocean and European seas, as well as of sea ice in polar regions. Copernicus Marine is designed to serve EU policies and International legal Commitments related to ocean governance, to cater for the needs of society at large for global ocean knowledge and to boost the Blue Economy across all maritime sectors by providing free-of-charge state-of-the-art ocean data and information.
For more information, visit the event website: Copernicus Marine General Assembly 2023 | CMEMS

3rd international operational satellite oceanography symposium (OSOS-3)
2023-06-12 - 2023-06-15 | Busan, Korea
The Third International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium (OSOS-3) will be held in Busan, South Korea from 12 to 15 June 2023, co-sponsored by EUMETSAT, NOAA and the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA). There will also be an optional training day on 16 June 2023.
OSOS-3 will build upon the foundation set during the first symposium gathering in June 2019, and second virtual meeting in May 2021. Community members involved in all levels of the observation-to-information value chain, from data providers to users, of operational satellite oceanographic data, products and applications contributed prior OSOS outcomes and recommendations
The aims of OSOS-3 are to feature research and applications in Asia, the Pacific (including small Island nations), and high-latitudes. There will be a focus on engaging users on requirements and priorities, demonstrating the use of satellite data in coupled numerical models and emphasising socio-economic benefits from Earth Observation.
To register, submit an abstract and more information, click here.

Digital Ocean Forum 2023
2023-06-15 | Brussels, Belgium
The European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO), announced by President von der Leyen at the One Ocean Summit in Brest, will be a key deliverable of the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters. Its purpose is to provide Ocean communities with actionable knowledge and to support them in their daily decisions and planning, to ensure a healthy and sustainable Ocean.
The Digital Ocean Forum 2023 will bring together experts, stakeholders, policymakers and interested citizens in the co-design and co-creation of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean.
The purpose of this event is to collaborate with stakeholders in defining the goals and aspirations that can be accomplished by setting up a robust EU DTO. The objectives public session will:

Present the EU DTO vision and report on progress to date
Provide a short input from a technical workshop, held on 14 June, featuring esteemed experts from approximately 50 invited research projects to gather their views on the development of the EU DTO, methods for potential contributions
Engage in forward looking discussion on how the EU DTO should serve Ocean communities and actors, how it should evolve, and how it will affect policy and decision making

This event is co-organised with Mercator Ocean International and the Flanders Marine Institute
Click here for information and to register.

2013-2023 | 10 years of the Galway Statement
2023-07-05 - 2023-07-06 | Galway, Ireland
Celebrating a decade of marine research cooperation along and across the Atlantic Ocean – Our Shared Resource

The event is co-organised by Irish Government, the European Commission, the Marine Institute, and the University of Galway. It will be a hybrid event held in Galway, Ireland, on 5-6 July 2023, bringing together European and international Atlantic partners and actors.

Much has happened since the Galway Statement was signed in May 2013 between Canada, the European Union and the United States of America. More than 1000 research teams have started to map the North Atlantic seabed, discovered new deep-water volcanoes and species, studied the effects of deep-sea mining and the changing climate on the biodiversity, created a network of floating universities, shared research infrastructures in the Atlantic and Arctic regions, and much else. These successes have led to a new ocean-scale cooperation, culminating in the signing of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Declaration in Washington DC.

This event will also lead the way up towards the 2023 All-Atlantic Forum in South Africa, and it will interconnect with new strategic mobilisation initiatives that have also been launched in Europe, such as the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’, with its Atlantic and Arctic lighthouse. Furthermore, it will empower future Atlantic stewards and ensure that all of these initiatives support the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

For more information, click here.

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.
For more information click here.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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 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

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/

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/

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.

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.

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. ​

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
