The azure waters of the Mediterranean await as JPI Oceans' delegation prepares to disembark in Nice this June. Maps in hand and a compass pointed firmly toward innovation, we will drop anchor first at the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC) and later at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), sharing the bounty of our European marine expertise with the global community.
As the scientific precursor of UNOC3, the One Ocean Science Congress will prepare the ground with essential scientific insights to world leaders hungry to preserve our blue planet – and JPI Oceans is amongst these scientific contributors.
On Wednesday, 4 June at 16:30 CEST, when Matthias Heckel will take the stage to unveil findings from our MiningImpact projects. His presentation, "Environmental impacts of deep-sea mining - from scientific research to policy recommendations," promises to illuminate the murky depths of this controversial frontier.
For those who prefer to explore at their own pace, we'll be showcasing three posters on 3-5 June, 18:00-20:00 CEST, regarding the results of our Joint Actions on sea level rise, underwater noise, and microplastics:
Due to JPI Oceans’ role in the OKEANO CSA supporting the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, we will attend the townhall on 3 June at 12:45-13:45 CEST, titled "Tales from the Tide: Exploring Ocean Sciences through Storytelling," which promises to cast ocean science in a captivating new light and explore storytelling as a powerful tool for science communication.
We'll also be anchoring at the Adaptation Days "Financing Coastal Resilience" side event of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank on 5-6 June, extending our engagement in funding solutions based on our recent assessment report on sea level rise.
With JPI Oceans flying its flag as an accredited organisation, our voyage continues the following week at UNOC3, co-organised by France and Costa-Rica. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, it will seek to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 on Life Below Water. Our fleet of events spans both the official Blue Zone and the public-facing Green Zone, offering multiple harbours for engagement.
The RV Meteor sails to the Blue Zone
Germany's Research Vessel (RV) Meteor within the Blue Zone, accessible only to those holding the conference accreditation, will host a dynamic showcase of JPI Oceans initiatives:
Our seconded science-policy advisor from Germany, Jella Kandziora, will captain the second edition of the V.ECOP Days via KDM on 9-10 June.
Under the thematic umbrella of energy-pollution we are also bridging together two JPI Oceans Joint Actions on marine lightscapes and underwater noise with a workshop on light and sound in the ocean on 10 June, 10:00-12:00 CEST.
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, for which JPI Oceans leads the communication efforts, and the Mission Ocean will invite for a reception and quiz titled "All Aboard! Blue Economy Networking and Knowledge Voyage" on 11 June, 13:00-15:00 CEST.
By supporting the MMinE-SwEEPER project coordinator GEOMAR, JPI Oceans will actively contribute to a two-hour event on munitions in the sea, scheduled for 11 June from 18:00 to 20:00 CEST. Following a panel discussion under the theme "The Baltic Perspective: Front-Runner Regional Approaches to Addressing a Global Threat," a selection of stakeholders from the field, including JPI Oceans, will showcase various aspects of munition management and highlight current European research efforts aimed at removing these troubling relics lurking beneath the waves.
Green Zone events: accessible science for all
The Green Zone will feature events open to the public with no accreditation required, including a European Digital Ocean Pavilion hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) in partnership with the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), with Mercator Ocean International as the implementation partner. There, JPI Oceans will be making several appearances, namely at a European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) side event on 9 June in the afternoon and presenting the Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise at a session moderated by Mercator Ocean on 11 June in the morning. We will showcase our Blue Carbon and Ocean Carbon Capacities Joint Actions there too – more details will be available as soon as we find suitable venues for them.
This intensive schedule reflects JPI Oceans' unique approach to ocean science: we seek out underdeveloped research topics alike buried scientific treasures, and, differently from pirates of old, we share our bounty with the world. Our mission is to dig up innovative solutions to pressing ocean challenges and create maps for others to follow.
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