During two days in December, over 100 European marine scientists will gather in Brussels to jointly agree on the establishment of the EuroMarine+ Consortium and the coordination of marine research in Europe. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) will also be represented at the meeting by Adelino Canário.
During two days in December, over 100 European marine scientists will gather in Brussels to jointly agree on the establishment of the EuroMarine+ Consortium and the coordination of marine research in Europe. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) will also be represented at the meeting by Adelino Canário.
Over the past two years, Europe's leading marine scientists have come together to integrate three separate marine networks of excellence (MarBEF, MGE, and Eur-Oceans) into one interdisciplinary consortium, EuroMarine, with the by-line "From Genes to Ecosystems in a changing Ocean".
In the field of marine research it is becoming increasingly important to take a holistic approach and examine the same problem from as many different perspectives as possible. Therefore, the exchange of knowledge between researchers from different disciplines must become more efficient. For example, it is important that information about genes from a fish reaches scientists studying the environment where the fish live, and vice versa, says Mike Thorndyke at the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, who for nearly two years has been the coordinator of the EU project EuroMarine.
Cooperation for the future
The headline General Assembly of EuroMarine will be held in Brussels on the 10th-11th December. The General Assembly will include high-profile speakers from the European Commission, such as Anne Glover, the first EU scientific advisor and Donald Dingwell, the Secretary General of the European Research Council (ERC). Adelino Canário, president of the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), will also be one of the researchers attending this important meeting.
"We expect at least 100 marine scientists at the meeting and they will discuss the latest exciting developments in marine research and also be involved in influencing the strategic way forward for the EuroMarine project, which is important for shaping the future success of Europe" says Mike Thorndyke.
Developing strategies for marine research
Once the EuroMarine+ Consortium has been established in early 2013, the network will work to develop strategies and services to set priorities for research, facilitate information and knowledge exchange between researchers, stakeholders and policymakers as well as developing new approaches for training future generations of multi-disciplinary marine scientists.
"The seas and oceans that surround the European coastline represent an outstanding resource potential for the European people, from the discovery of new medicines and novel products to fisheries, aquaculture together with leisure and well-being. Our coasts are also the most vulnerable from over exploitation, climate change and other pressures due to an expanding population. At the same time it is clear that we know very little about these vital marine ecosystems, knowing more about the Moon than we do about our maritime coasts" says Mike Thorndyke.