During the 21st Session of the IODE Committee (Liège, belgium, 23-26 March 2011) a Recommendation was adopted to establish the IODE Group of Experts on OBIS (GE-OBIS). This Recommendation IODE-XXI.3 was subsequently approved by the IOC Assembly, at its 26th Session (Paris, France, June 2011). More information on OBIS can be found here or HERE
NOTE: taking into account that OBIS has its IODE Steering group for OBIS it has been suggested to abolish the GE-OBIS.
Note that also an IODE Steering Group for OBIS has been established.
Sessions
No Sessions of the IODE Group of Experts on OBIS have been held
Recommendation IODE-XXI.3
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE IODE GROUP OF EXPERTS ON OBIS (GE-OBIS)
The IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange,
Noting the great progress that has been made under the Global Census of Marine Life (CoML) programme and that this ten-year initiative, to assess and explain the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine life in the oceans, concluded at the end of 2010,
Recalling the decision, through Resolution XXV-4, to accept OBIS within the IODE Programme, and the request to the IOC Executive Secretary to make the necessary administrative arrangements necessary for OBIS activities to continue under the auspices of IOC and its IODE Programme,
Recommends the formation of a Group of Experts on OBIS, to operate in close collaboration with all IODE Groups of Experts, and responding to the needs expressed by the IODE Steering Group for OBIS;
Further recommends that the tasks of the Group of Experts should include to improve, optimize and streamline the Ocean Biogeographic Information System:
- By shaping the evolution of the architecture to keep it state-of-the-art, fit for a wide range of users and interoperable with other relevant international data networks
- By providing advice on relevant new technologies, including visualization and analysis tools
- by promoting, selecting or developing standards for data format, data exchange and data synchronization
- By providing guidelines for data practices including QC, data capture, integration, citation, metadata generation for marine biodiversity
- Identify needs and provide advice on training and education initiatives.
Invites the IOC Governing Bodies to support this Group of Experts;
Encourages IOC Member States to nominate experts having expertise in biogeographic and biodiversity data management and exchange to the Group of Experts;
Requests that the Group of Experts maintains close relations with GBIF and other relevant programmes;
Further requests that a progress report be submitted regularly to the IODE Officers and the IODE Committee.
Latest News
The IODE Programme Component, OceanTeacher Global Academy is seeking a consultant for 8 months
Please find the requirements here
This contract would run from 15 April until 15 December 2024.
Deadline to apply is 31st March 2024 Extended till 7 April 2024- contact point: Mr Peter Pissierssens (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OBIS has a key role in several new projects that use eDNA or aim to further improve this technology for biological monitoring and we are glad to announce that we now have two knowledgeable staff members in our OBIS secretariat who are experts in eDNA: Dr Emilie Boulanger (consultant) and Dr Saara Suominen (project appointment).
Dr Saara Sumominen, after more than 3 years working as a consultant for us with projects like PacMAN and eDNA expeditions, now joined the OBIS secretariat on a project appointment contract basis to help implement 3 Horizon Europe projects (Marco-Bolo, eDNAquaPlan and DTO-BioFlow), coordinate the final scientific report of eDNA expeditions in UNESCO marine world heritage sites, and further develop the capacity to manage eDNA projects at OBIS.
Saara can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More information on Saara's background see: https://obis.org/2020/09/15/saara/
Dr Emilie Boulanger joined us as a consultant and will support us with implementing two Horizon Europe projects: Marco-Bolo and eDNAquaPlan. Some of these tasks include (i) reviewing protocols and SOPs utilized for eDNA monitoring, (ii) testing bioinformatic workflows and comparing outputs across marker and taxonomic types, (iii) establish standards for genetic reference libraries and eDNA data repositories, (iv) aligning databases for enhanced interoperability, and (v) addressing the infrastructure and services for aquatic biodiversity monitoring using eDNA.
Emilie has a background in biodiversity conservation and marine molecular ecology. For her PhD at the University of Montpellier, her work focused on applying molecular methods to study the genetic and species diversity of fish populations and communities in the Mediterranean Sea. During her following PostDoc experience at the Aix-Marseille University, she applied her research experience towards teaching as well as developing monitoring projects coupling environmental DNA metabarcoding with direct species observations. She is passionate about the ocean, knowledge dissemination and projects that bridge scientific innovation with environmental conservation and policy.
Emilie can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We received the news that Dr J.R. Wilson (Ron) has passed away.
Dr J.R. Wilson was Director of the Marine Environmental Data Service of the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He was IODE Chair between 1992 and 1996 and chaired the 15th Session of the IODE Committee held in Athens, Greece. Dr Wilson was also GTSPP Project Leader and MEDS hosted the RNODC for drifting buoy data. Many of us remember Ron as a kind and very experienced colleague, always ready to advise and assist.
We offer our condolences to Ron's family.
(picture of the IODE-XV Session with Ron behind the Chairman IODE sign)
The IODE management group meeting took place in Oostende, Belgium from 5-7 February 2024. The Summary Report is now available : https://oceanexpert.org/document/33860
background documents and presentations are available on https://oceanexpert.org/event/3991#overview
The following items were discussed during this 2.5 days meeting: the action points of the XVII meeting, the status of the IODE network , the restructuring of the IODE elements , the IODE Quality Management Framework, the different Programme elements achievements in the past year , the collaboration with other entities, IODE role in the UN Decade and new possible initiatives to come.
OBIS is taking part in an EU-funded project, MARCO-BOLO (MARine COastal BiOdiversity Long-term Observations) which aims to structure and strengthen European coastal and marine biodiversity observation capabilities.
The main objective is to enable a digital framework for coastal and marine biodiversity data streams and data access. This will be done by building on international standards and approaches to establish the biological component of the marine
and coastal Earth observation Infrastructure in Europe. One of Marco-Bolo’s main aims is a more effective knowledge transfer and uptake of data and information products through the establishment of a stakeholder community and close engagement through co-design/co-creation workshops.
UNESCO-IOC is seeking an individual consultant to assist with the coordination of the Marco- Bolo project and more specifically the work related to Work Package 6 “Stakeholder Engagement and Community Integration”.
more information: HERE
Deadline to apply: 23 February 2024 (23: 59 CET)
contract start: 7 March 2024 - 75 %
