On 14 October in Brisbane (Australia) EMODnet Chemistry demonstrated its support for international marine policy against marine pollution at SciDataCon 2025. This is the international conference for scrutiny and discussion of the frontier issues of data in research. SciDataCon 2025 is an integral part of the International Data Week 2025 taking place at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 13 to 16 October. SciDataCon is organized by the International Science Council (ISC)'s two data bodies: CODATA (the ISC's Committee on Data) and the World Data System (WDS).
EMODnet’s presentation was part of the session entitled “The Transformative Role of Data in SDGs and Disaster Resilience”, which aimed to highlight the multifaceted value of data in generating tangible, evidence-based impacts. Speakers demonstrated how data serves as a critical catalyst for addressing global priorities such as mitigating climate-related risks and public health emergencies.
After introducing the EMODnet mission and main services, Chiara Altobelli of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, coordinator of EMODnet Chemistry, continued by illustrating dozens of success stories of EMODnet Chemistry involving various types of data providers and users.
She emphasised that the data centres and the research or monitoring centres across Europe that constitute the partnership of EMODnet Chemistry are the main data providers, followed by ICES, the OSPAR and HELCOM regional Sea Conventions and citizen scientists. Regarding data users, she mentioned that the European Environment Agency, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, and most regional sea conventions in Europe have used EMODnet's chemical data to implement the European Union's marine framework policies. In addition, researchers and Copernicus Marine Service use this data to develop tools, data products, and models for assessing environmental status and trends. Finally, she informed that EMODnet, together with the Copernicus Marine Service, forms the data backbone for the European digital twin of the ocean.
Altobelli also illustrated the role of EMODnet Chemistry in the marine knowledge value chain, explaining that although EMODnet focuses on European data sources, it is increasingly contributing to global data systems, for example by sharing data on marine litter and ocean acidification.
She concluded its intervention with a call to action.
“As recent European and global environmental reporting shows we can no longer ignore the transformative role of data for the UN sustainable development goals and disaster resilience. Now is the time for all countries to act quickly and collectively to strengthen the weakest link in the marine knowledge value chain – from the local to the global levels – so that evidence-based adaptation and mitigation measures can be defined and implemented at national level to tackle the looming environmental crisis.” Chiara Altobelli, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
Figure 1. Chiara Altobelli of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) presents the EMODnet service offer at International Data Week. ©EMODnet Chemistry
Find out more about EMODnet as a link in the marine knowledge value chain and about the call to action in the presentation given by OGS at the IDW. Julie Vercelloni, a researcher at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, was among the speakers at this session. She stated that the digital revolution can be transformative for coral reef conservation, fostering a stronger connection between science and policy. However, coral reef monitoring programmes remain sparse and fragmented.
“After the session, all the speakers have agreed that writing a follow-up paper examining the lack of a sense of urgency and presenting real-world solutions through our various case studies, analysed from the perspective of hazards, would be excellent. EMODnet is definitely an example to follow.” Julie Vercelloni, Australian Institute of Marine Science