MARINE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE Need for a better information and co-ordination Rudy L. Herman Science and Innovation Administration Ministry of Flanders, Belgium EUROCEAN2004- Plenary session 11 May 2004

Marine Research Infrastructures Research vessels Research submersibles and unmanned vehicles Research aircraft Moored instruments Tide gauges Lagrangian observations facilities Marine observatories/ Satellite Oceanography Centres Numerical modelling centres Ships of Opportunity DATA & INFORMATION CENTRES ± 50% RTD-budget

MARINE INFRASTRUCTURES (under FP5) Access to South European Finfish Aquaculture Facilities (FR) Institute of Aquaculture (UK) Trondheim marine systems (NO) Kristineberg Marine Research Station (SE) Bergen Marine Food Chain Research Infrastructure (NO) Analysis of marine sediments for paleo-environmental studies (DE) CALYPSO, Giant Sediment Cores and Support (FR) European Access to Sea Floor Survey Systems (UK) GEOMAR (DE) Marine Environment Tests and Research Infrastructure (METRI) (FR) SINTEF Multiphase Flow Laboratory (NO) Major research infrastructure of WL/DELFT hydraulics (NL)

European activities aiming at a more coherent and synergistic use of marine research infrastructure  the barter system of the Marine Facilities Tripartite Group (MFTG) that facilitates the sharing of German, French, Dutch and UK marine facilities (established 1996)  ESF European Research Vessel Operators group, to encourage adoption of standardised operational procedures (established 2000)  ESF Oceanographic Vessel Operators group, to exchange information and best practise in operational procedures (established 1999)  EuroGOOS, association of 31 agencies, founded in 1994, to further the development of Operational Oceanography in the European Sea areas and adjacent oceans  the EU Marine XML project to improve the interoperability of data for the marine community and specifically in support of marine observing systems  the European information Centre for Marine Science and Technology, EurOcean, an information centre to encourage communication and cooperation between European organisations  ECORD, the European Consortium for maximizing European countries’ participation in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and providing the program with drilling platforms fit to individual missions  European Union 6 th Framework Programme support for Transnational Access and Integrating Activities (e.g. BONUS, ECORD, MARBEF, Marine Genomics, CARBOCEAN, HERMES, IPY-CARE)

Marine Research Infrastructure e-conference 26 till 30 April 2004 ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? Bottom up approach: what does the Marine Scientific Community expects. Rationalisation of information. Optimise by integration of information and avoid duplication. New technologies: What could be expected from new technologies + their needs for information, data management and products & services? 189 registered participant 57 contributions 35 countries (21 EU member states)

RESULTS from the MRI e-conference ANSWER to the initial question : Yes, we are on the right track. The new funding instruments are very suitable to meet MRI requirements, since all of them are based on an integrating approach. They can play a key role in the design, standardization and development of new MRI. Small research vessels are very important and specific infrastructure facilities in marine science. They could be operated by preference at a regional scale. Criteria to meet a number of standards need to be developed at a pan-EU scale. Coastal research stations can and should be revaluated. Issues related to long term monitoring (for coastal as well as for the deep ocean) should be dealt with: requirements for new technology, installation, maintenance, long term financing, data management and exchange.

RESULTS from the MRI e-conference (cont.) Integration of MRI in the communication strategy towards education and the public at large is recommended. Human resources are part of the marine 'infrastructures'. Attracting young scientists in marine science is essential. Better management of information is required for: 1) sharing knowledge and experience efficiently; 2) developing scientific dialog across countries and continents. Integration of information, data and services revealed the need for a single platform, overarching the initiatives within the new instruments

SHARING INTEGRATION & KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCES GLOBAL M & OSC E UROPEAN M ARINE R ESEARCH A REA STRATEGY & SCIENCE PLAN SHARING INTEGRATION & INFORMATION DATA AWARENESS BUILDING STAKEHOLDERS IPSTREPCASSA ERA-NET R EGIONAL ERA-NET PAN-EUROPEAN NoE THEMATIC NoE PAN-EUROPEAN ERA-NET R EGIONAL POLICY & SCIENCE DRIVEN SCIENCE & POLICY

RV BELGICA (B) RV LUCTOR (NL) RV ZEELEEUW (B) cruises 2003 cruises Cruise programmes

Contact PI Cruise track

Information on the PI and the research group and his/her publications

Technology Database –MS SQL Server Maps –SVG (zooming and panning) –Javascript make line and symbol size independent of zoom factor make map interactive ‘create’ point for stations PHP pull everything together (interrogate DBs, generate SVG and Javascript)

Technology: way to go Distributed databases!? DiGIR: Distributed Generic Information Retrieval Every ship operator maintains own database, makes limited number of fields available in common standard format Operates over WWW, makes use of XML Used by biological community: GBIF, OBIS

Schematic representation of DiGIR principles Schema stolen from Stan Blum, Taxonomic Databases Working Group

Co-operation with Development Countries IOC:TEMA & OSP

SHARING INTEGRATION & KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCES GLOBAL M & OSC E UROPEAN M ARINE R ESEARCH A REA STRATEGY & SCIENCE PLAN SHARING INTEGRATION & INFORMATION DATA AWARENESS BUILDING STAKEHOLDERS IPSTREPCASSA ERA-NET R EGIONAL ERA-NET PAN-EUROPEAN NoE THEMATIC NoE PAN-EUROPEAN ERA-NET R EGIONAL POLICY & SCIENCE DRIVEN SCIENCE & POLICY

Conclusions and Recommendations For FP7 and beyond. The FP6 instruments – after stabilisation - are very suitable for the design, evolving standardisation and development of MRI. Criteria to meet a number of technical standards for small Research Vessels need to be developed at a pan-European scale. Coastal stations should be revaluated Integration of MRI in the communication strategy towards education and the public at large is strongly recommended. Human resources are part of the marine 'infrastructures'. Attracting young scientists in marine science is essential. Better management of information is required for: 1) sharing knowledge and experience efficiently; 2) developing scientific dialogue across countries and continents. Integration of information, data and services revealed the need for a single platform, overarching the initiatives within the new instruments

Special thanks to: Jan Mees, Laurent d’Ozouville, Edward Vanden Berghe Ward Appeltans (MRI e-conference board manager) and the participants of the MRI e-conference for their valuable contributions THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION