New Partnership Between Schmidt Ocean Institute and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
News

New Partnership Between Schmidt Ocean Institute and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), the United Nations body responsible for championing global ocean science and services, has announced a new partnership to work together with philanthropic non-profit Schmidt Ocean Institute to advance the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The Institute’s research vessel Falkor will collect ocean data that will feed knowledge generation throughout the Ocean Decade during a January deep-sea mapping expedition off the Coral Sea Marine Park in Australia. This will add to the over 50,000 square kilometres of seafloor mapped to date during their expeditions in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Parks in 2020. 

The Ocean Decade begins in January and will bring together scientists and stakeholders from many sectors to generate scientific knowledge needed for informing policies to support a resilient and sustainable ocean.

“I have always been impressed with Schmidt Ocean Institute’s achievements in oceanography. Now is the time to address ocean issues and we can only do this together,” said Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC-UNESCO’s executive secretary. “Through the Decade, the IOC is trying to offer philanthropies an impressive and coherent programme of work, and this is a historic transformation to upscale the important work they are doing.”

Jyotika Virmani and Vladmir Ryabinin showing the partnership agreement.

Enhancing Ocean Literacy

Schmidt Ocean Institute’s contribution to the Ocean Decade will focus on advancing ocean technologies, marine research and data opportunities, communication and outreach, and enhancing ocean literacy. In February, Schmidt Ocean Institute will also host a two-day virtual symposium to showcase the ongoing impacts of past expeditions across the globe and highlight future initiatives on technology and ocean research and exploration.

“We look forward to working together with all of the Decade partners to increase the visibility of the global ocean and to help ignite passion for the ocean sciences,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Ocean Institute. “We are challenging how ocean research is conducted, working to make it more inclusive for the global marine science community, more consequential for governments and industry, and more compelling for the public.”

“Schmidt Ocean Institute is proud to be a partner of the UN Ocean Decade, working alongside the UN and the IOC to help characterize and transform ocean research on an international scale,” said Dr Jyotika Virmani, executive director of Schmidt Ocean Institute. “We are committed to improving our understanding and health of the ocean through robust scientific research and technology.”

About the UN Decade
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.

Hydrography Newsletter

Value staying current with hydrography?

Stay on the map with our expertly curated newsletters.

We provide educational insights, industry updates, and inspiring stories from the world of hydrography to help you learn, grow, and navigate your field with confidence. Don't miss out - subscribe today and ensure you're always informed, educated, and inspired by the latest in hydrographic technology and research.

Choose your newsletter(s)