Dear EMODnet partners, colleagues and friends,
A very Happy New Year to you all! The EMODnet New Year’s letter is something of a tradition, written by the Head of the EMODnet Secretariat. In 2024, the baton passes to me, Kate Larkin, as I took on the role of Head of Secretariat in Spring 2023. On behalf of the EMOD-network I wish the previous Head, Jan-Bart Calewaert, well in his new activities in the global ocean data domain, whilst he remains a trusted advisor to EMODnet.
Between 20th – 28th January at Boot Düsseldorf 2024, the German Ocean Foundation, EC DG MARE, EMODnet & the Scuba Schools International (SSI) unveiled the largest Ocean Citizen Science Initiative to-date, which sees divers and wider water sports enthusiasts collecting ocean data using low-cost, high-quality sensors, with data being made available through EMODnet as the EC marine in situ data service.
At the dawn of our 15th year in business, we would like to celebrate the best results of the past year with all of you, starting with the confirmation of the same Consortium at the helm of EMODnet Chemistry for the next two years. Thank you all for believing in us and let’s get to work!
On 26-27 September 2023, EMODnet and EC DG MARE co-organised the online workshop “EMODnet Marine Data for Coastal Tourism”. The workshop assessed data requirements, data uses and data sharing opportunities, with diverse stakeholders from the private sector, research, policy and NGOs.
An autumn of events for EMODnet Physics. At Festival della Scienza, there were two interesting contributions: the talk “OceanBigData” and the collaboration at OGS Lab Quando la scienza dà i numeri - L’impatto dei dati scientifici, giusti e sbagliati. The keynote “Seas of Data: EMODnet commitment” was held at REMEDIES cluster meeting. Finally, a lecture was given at the IOI at University of Malta on EMODnet utility and functionality for managers and policy makers.
After 14 years of activity, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has confirmed the same partnership at the helm of EMODnet Chemistry for the next two years. The EMODnet Chemistry steering committee illustrated the way forward until 2 October 2025 to the project full group during the kick-off meeting on 28 November 2023.
On 27-30 November over 340 partners, associated partners, and stakeholders of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) gathered in Brussels for the third EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree. The week kicked off with a Partner Jamboree with the >120 partners exchanging on their latest service developments and joint activities. The Open Conference was a public event, moderated by Karen Coleman.
Before the plenary stage opened for the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, the EMODnet community convened for the EMODnet Partner Jamboree 2023—an exclusive gathering of EMODnet partners and Associated Partners. This pre-conference event provided a unique setting for in-depth discussions, partner meetings, cross-thematic dialogues, and collaborative endeavors, setting the stage for the subsequent conference.
We are thrilled to announce and welcome three new Associated Partners to EMODnet, each bringing unique expertise and a strong commitment to advancing collaboration with EMODnet in the areas of data sharing, best practices in marine data, information technology and data services, and expanding the users of EMODnet, including for the Blue Economy.
On 29th November, the two EC marine data services EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service launch a joint statement on the EU in situ marine data landscape. The statement explains the complementarity between the two EU marine knowledge assets, and explains how the services work together, following a high-level agreement between DG DEFIS and DG MARE and the signature of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016.
