We are proud to announce that our Decade Action: An Ocean Data and Information System supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is officially registered as a UN Decade Programme!
Three new Associate Data Units (ADU) joined the IODE network of data centres today: (i) Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) - México: it manages geospatial data corresponding to the undersea relief referring to bathymetric cartography, digital bathymetric models, coastline as part of the Regional Projects International Bathymetric Chart (IBC) Mapping Project, which are regional cartographic projects sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); (ii) Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Germany. The division’s main research focuses on the research areas Biodiversity, Systematics and Evolution, Biodiversity and Climate and Biodiversity and Environment and they run the Deep-Sea node for OBIS; and (iii) Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Cochin, India: CMLRE runs the Indian OBIS node (IndOBIS). IndOBIS has been conceived in 2011 as a national data archival system for marine biodiversity information and services as resource for national reporting requirement to international agreement/conventions and frame works connected to biodiversity and its conservation. We welcome these centres to IODE! More info on https://www.iode.org/adu
Namibia is hosting this week 17 scientists and technicians from 12 different African countries who are undertaking the practical sessions of a blended training course
in methods in quality control, processing, interpretation, and reporting of ocean monitoring data from the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen surveys,
which will support such methods harmonisation and standardisation among the EAF-Nansen Programme partner countries.
in observational oceanography to support fisheries science and management across Africa.
Finally, this joint initiative aims to address existing gaps and challenges identified in theOcean Decade Roadmap for Africain relation to ocean training,
research capacities, and equitable access to data, information, knowledge and technology by promoting transformative partnerships for the sustainable development of oceans round Africa.
It is with great pleasure we announce the UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE has been certified by the Belgian accreditation body and meets the requirements of the international standard ISO 29993 as learning service provider. This certification is valid for 3 years.
The OceanTeacher Global Academy (www.oceanteacher.org) is an endorsed action under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and has currently updated their promotion video.
The Ocean InfoHub Project presented a series of four webinars during May and early June 2021. The first was in preparation for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Assembly, and the subsequent three focussed on each of the Ocean Infohub (OIH) pilot regions, being Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific Small Island developing states (the latter used a meeting format to be more interactive).
The webinars provided an update on project progress and sought to provide a platform for the engagement of additional national and regional partners.
Presentations and recordings of these regional webinars can be consulted at the following links:
Overall, the webinars were attended by more than 400 participants, and raised a number of interesting discussion points, as well as leading to interest from new partners. To find out more about the project, become a partner, or to join the mailing list, please visit: www.oceaninfohub.org
The IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange held its 26th session (IODE-XXV) online between 20 and 23 April 2021. The IODE session was attended by 155 participants from 65 IOC Member States and 9 organizations. To accommodate participants from the wide range of time zones two plenary sessions of two hours were held on each day of the session (07:00-09:00 UTC and 15:00-17:00 UTC). During its 26th session, the Committee focused its attention mainly on the following key issues: (i) review of NODC health status within the IODE network; (ii) IODE project and activity performance evaluation methodology; (iii) future of the IODE Ocean Data and Information Networks (ODINs); (iv) establishment of the ODIS project and associated partnership centre; (v) contribution of IODE to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development; (vi) revision of the IOC strategic plan for data and information management (2022-2025); (vii) revision of the IOC oceanographic data exchange policy; (viii) performance review of the IOC Project Office for IODE; (ix) (first) international ocean data conference (November 2021); and (x) work plan and budget for 2021-2022. The Committee adopted five decisions and four recommendations. The report is available [HERE]. The web page of the Session is available [HERE]
