National Oceanography Centre, Southampton European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK Tel: National Marine Coordination Office Stephen Hall National Marine Coordination Office The National Marine Coordination Office (NMCO) is part of NERC’s National Marine Capability and is working with the marine science community and a variety of marine and maritime partners to improve dialogue and to sustain interactions in an inclusive, impartial way. We are raising awareness of the contribution that marine science can make to society in key policy areas such as climate change, biodiversity and effective, science-informed environmental management. NMCO encourages and coordinates contributions to government consultations, stimulates knowledge exchange between marine scientists and policy makers and provides support to the wider marine science community. NMCO provides the NERC contribution to the Defra-led secretariat for the Government’s Marine Science Coordination Committee (MSCC) and its associated working groups such as the Underwater Sound Forum and the Marine Environmental Data & Information Network (MEDIN). MSCC was set up in response to the former House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report ‘Investigating the Oceans’ to help the UK to face up to future marine science challenges. Its first task is to develop the UK Marine Science Strategy. NMCO provides the secretariat for NERC’s Strategic Marine Science Programme Oceans 2025 and its associated advisory board. Internationally, NMCO represents NERC at the European Science Foundation Marine Board. NMCO staff lead the UK input to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and chair the UK Argo Expert Group. We host the CLIVAR International Project Office (Climate Variability and Predictability) – part of the World Climate Research Programme, which coordinates science and administration under oversight of the CLIVAR scientific steering group. We are continually strengthening our international links and welcome visitors from overseas institutes and universities. NMCO provides a focus for joint actions to foster a strong marine science community and raise the profile of marine science. Our partnerships include: Challenger Society for Marine Science – Learned Society for the marine science community. European Science Foundation Marine Board – Supporting marine science in the EU. Institute for Marine Engineering Science and Technology – Professional Institution. Marine Southeast – Marine grouping addressing needs of the marine sector in South-East England. Passenger Shipping Association – Enables links to ships of opportunity for scientific instrumentation. SeaVision UK – Organisation that promotes the importance & diversity of the marine sector. Society for Underwater Technology – Learned Society supporting subsea technology and education. Subsea UK – Trade body for the offshore technology sector. NMCO consults widely to inform science policy 2008 Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Executive Council NMCO stresses the importance of sustained observations, like the ones above from Oceans 2025, when responding to UK Government consultations NMCO supports a range of partnerships with the community, helping to give a stronger voice for marine science.