EMODnet is pleased to welcome İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) and DIVR as new EMODnet Associated Partners, strengthening the network's engagement with both marine citizen science and marine research communities.
IZTECH is the Izmir Institute of Technology in Türkiye, recognised for its expertise in engineering, marine sciences and environmental technologies.
Through its International Water Resources Graduate Program and associated research infrastructure, IZTECH brings together expertise in coastal engineering, marine observations, hydraulic experimentation, numerical modelling and climate adaptation research. Its work supports both scientific advancement and practical solutions to environmental challenges affecting coastal and marine regions.
IZTECH's interdisciplinary approach strengthens understanding of coastal and marine systems and contributes to evidence-based management of marine and water resources in a changing climate.
DIVR is a Netherlands-based platform that enables recreational divers to log their dives and record marine species observations. By structuring these observations according to the internationally recognised Darwin Core standard, DIVR transforms information that would otherwise remain in personal dive logs into valuable, research-ready biodiversity data.
The platform currently includes more than 5,600 dive sites across 136 countries and a species catalogue covering over 4,500 marine species. Taxonomic information is aligned with the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), supporting data interoperability and reuse across marine science and biodiversity initiatives.
Through its growing community of divers, DIVR demonstrates how citizen-generated observations can contribute to marine knowledge, biodiversity monitoring and ocean literacy. The platform was officially launched to the public in August 2026 and is freely available to divers worldwide.