News

Be a LIMNADES Beta-tester!

The University of Stirling, who hosts the recently improved LIMNADES Database, is excited to announce that it’s website has recently been updated with new features to help you upload your data into LIMNADES!

These developments were made with assistance from the GEOAquaWatch community and we now need beta-testers!  Please try out the beta-version of the website and give immediate feedback on any problems found – as these newly introduced features need your testing and bugs fixes.

Find us at https://limnades.stir.ac.uk

New Users can register in the upper right corner.  Existing Users can use your same login to access the database and try the features.

Image of LIMNADES Website Homepage Showing Registration and Login Buttons circled in red in the upper right corner

Register Now: Engaging Users In Solving Coastal Issues – CEOS COAST Webinar

Register now for the “Engaging Users In Solving Coastal Issues – CEOS COAST Product Showcase” webinar that will be held on 05 October, 14:00-15:30 hrs CEST. 

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat is pleased to co-convene this webinar with CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites) on Coastal Observations, Applications, Services, and Tools Ad Hoc Team (COAST) to illustrate the utility of Earth observations (EO) in providing evidence-based solutions to environmental challenges.

CEOS Coastal Observations, Applications, Services, and Tools (COAST) seeks to engage with coastal stakeholders to guide the next stages of its ambition.  At this community webinar you will learn more about CEOS COAST and see product demonstrations directed at solving coastal issues in pilot regions. COAST EO applications will be co-developed and co-designed with users to better inform decision-making and to improve products with local data for validation.  The initial foci include: Flooding and inundation, bathymetry/coastline mapping, coastal eutrophication, and turbidity/sedimentation. 

By showcasing some of the EO products and services that are currently available, the aim is to seek feedback and to use this to refine and tailor existing products to other coastal communities around the world.  New EO product development will also be considered where issues are raised through this consultation.  CEOS COAST has been endorsed as a contribution to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.  Presentations by ISRO, Geoscience Australia, ESA, NOAA, GEO AquaWatch, and GEO BluePlanet will be featured.

Who should attend? Anyone looking to make evidence-based decisions with Earth observations to address coastal issues are encouraged to attend and learn more, but especially those in the following initial pilot regions: Bay of Bengal, western coast of Africa, LaPlata Estuary, Chesapeake Bay (USA), and Caribbean and Pacific small island nations.  Experience using Earth observation for coastal management is not needed to attend this webinar or to engage with COAST – new users are welcome! 

To register please click here.   Slido.com Session #EngagingUsers

Agenda:

  • Welcome Statements from GEO Secretariat and CEOS Strategic Implementation Team Co-Chair- Yana Gevorgyan and Adam Lewis 
  • Introduction to COAST – Paul DiGiacomo (NOAA) and Raj Kumar (ISRO) 
  • Description of Users, Pilot Regions and Products (pre-recorded talks)
    • Products: physical oceanography, coastline mapping, bathymetry, sediments/turbidity, coastal eutrophication 
  • Q&A and Discussion (moderated by Raj and Paul) – up to 45 minutes
  • Closing – Doug Cripe (GEO, Sr. Scientific Advisor) and Marie-Claire Greening (CEOS CEO)

Job Vacancies! NEON and GOOS

The National Ecological Observatory Network, or NEON, offers expert ecological data from terrestrial and aquatic sites across the North American continent and Puerto Rico to power the most important science being done today.

NEON is hiring an Engagement Lead for Boulder, CO headquarters!
“The envisioned outcome of NEON engagement is transformative scientific discovery based on the long-term continental-scale ecological data, samples, and infrastructure of the Observatory. The Engagement Lead will strategically focus priorities of NEON engagement and directly participate in the activities, ideally contributing to data skills training. The Engagement Lead will focus outreach to develop an enabled, diverse and inclusive community of scientists and educators.”
Learn more and apply here: https://jobs.battelle.org/job/13748127/science-engagement-lead-boulder-co/


Vacancy Notice: Consultant: development of GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes
Deadline: extended

(11 months)

Background

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC). We have been leading the development of a truly global ocean observing system that delivers the essential information needed for our sustainable development, safety, wellbeing and prosperity.

We lead and support a community of international, regional and national ocean observing programmes, governments, UN agencies, research organizations and individual scientists.

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘the Ocean Decade’) has a mission for transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean. It will provide a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity for nations to work together to generate the global ocean science needed to support the sustainable development of our shared ocean.

Launching the Ocean Decade has made GOOS’s work more important than it has ever been. Our observations and predictions are the foundation of much of the exciting work the Ocean Decade will carry out and essential to help give us the ocean we need for the future we want.

GOOS has launched three exciting and transformative Ocean Decade programmes:

  • Ocean Observing Co-Design will transform our ocean observing system assessment and design process.
  • CoastPredict will revolutionise Global Coastal Ocean observing and forecasting, co-designing the infrastructure needed and offering open and free access to coastal information.
  • Observing Together will meet stakeholder needs and make every observation count.

They are the first programmes of many that will actively drive the Ocean Decade. This role will help lift these programmes from ideas into action.

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will work closely with the GOOS Office Headquarters team within the IOC Secretariat to support the leadership of the three GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes in: connecting with partners, supporting communications, organizing governance and management meetings, liaising with the GOOS community, and developing project proposals.

Tasks and Expected Output

Following the evolution of the Ocean Decade programmes and other identified and available support, the consultant will carry out the following general tasks, but will develop quarterly work plans with the supervisor and the leadership of the three programmes to ensure that efforts are targeted where they are most needed:

  1. Partnership development with a focus on defining and co-designing joint projects.
  2. Supporting governance and management of the programmes including through the organization of online meetings and the preparation of documentation, including mapping out a three-year plan.
  3. Supporting communications with the programme partners and potential supporters, and providing material for GOOS communications
  4. Engaging with the GOOS implementation planning process so that lines of work are included and recognized as part of a broader GOOS Core Team and partner implementation.
  5. Coordinating across the GOOS Programmes, other relevant Decade programmes and projects, the GOOS Core Team, and with the Ocean Decade and its team more broadly.
  6. Developing investable project proposals and plans that help advance the GOOS Ocean Decade programmes.

Qualifications and experience

The consultant will have a relevant academic qualification(s), and have relevant professional expertise, with experience in the following areas:

  • Project development and management
  • Successful experience in building partnerships
  • Demonstrated experience or interest in ocean observing
  • Good written English skills, with ability in another UNESCO language a plus
  • Demonstrated competencies in: a results focus, teamwork
  • Experience in leading and managing change would be a plus

Previous connection or interaction with GOOS and work in an international context are desirable further qualifications for selection.
See application details on the job listing at the IOC UNESCO website.

Proposals can be emailed to f.collins@unesco.org.


Vacancy Notice: Consultant to support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) in communications and national focal point engagement
Deadline: extended

(11 months)

Background

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC). We have been leading the development of a truly global ocean observing system that delivers the essential information needed for our sustainable development, safety, wellbeing and prosperity.

We lead and support a community of international, regional and national ocean observing programmes, governments, UN agencies, research organizations and individual scientists.

Under the Global Ocean Observing System 2030 Strategy, a key objective is to build advocacy and visibility with stakeholders through communicating with key users and national funders. GOOS is developing a Communications Strategy which will guide its actions, and has developed new terms of reference for National Focal Points as a key point of engagement for the programme.

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will work closely with the GOOS Office Headquarters team (within the IOC Secretariat) to undertake two distinct tasks: providing communications support to the team, and fostering the links between GOOS and National Focal Points.

Tasks and Expected Output

Task 1: GOOS communications support

In line with the GOOS Communication Strategy (currently under development) and under the guidance of and responding to the needs of the distributed GOOS Office team, the consultant will provide communication support to the team, in the process developing a clear outline for a long-term junior GOOS communications support role. This will involve:

  1. Preparing information for the GOOS Update, a news email that goes out to the GOOS community, from base material provided by GOOS team members, including formatting and sending the Update as well as shorter GOOS Briefs through Mailchimp software.
  2. Preparing GOOS press releases, based selected news from across the system, with GOOS Team support for content and contacts.
  3. Preparing GOOS news articles for the goosocean.org website
  4. Production of small brochure or thought pieces (see the Ocean Observing System Report Card and Impact of Covid-19 on the Observing System Brief as examples), and preparing communications material for the GOOS National Focal Points (see below).
  5. Liaising with communications teams in IOC and GOOS co-sponsors around the press releases, and to develop an understanding of co-sponsor and partner interests.
  6. Tracking the uptake of GOOS communications.
  7. Other communications projects as identified by the GOOS Office Headquarters team.

Task 2: GOOS communications support

The consultant will support the GOOS National Focal Points (see draft terms of reference) in undertaking their responsibilities in a national context and in fostering the links between GOOS and the GOOS National Focal Points. This will involve:

  1. Develop a communications plan and undertake communications with the GOOS National Focal Points.
  2. Act as a point of contact for the GOOS National Focal Points, responding to questions and providing information on other Focal Points, such as IOC, observing networks, GOOS Regional Alliances (GRAs), etc. in their country.
  3. Work region by region to gain GOOS National Focal Points where there is not yet representation, to increase the number of GOOS National Focal Points and global representation.
  4. Develop a first ‘all hands on deck’ GOOS National Focal Point (virtual) meeting in early 2022, with support from the GOOS Office Headquarters. This would focus on discussion of the role and national committees, exchange experience on national ocean observing challenges and success stories, develop a plan for future meetings, and provide feedback to GOOS.
  5. Longer-term, engage with GOOS and the National Focal Points to develop reporting and feedback mechanisms.
  6. Liaise with relevant parts of GOOS to support alignment of action.

Duration of the consultancy

The consultancy will be for 11 months with an initial 2 month probationary period. The position would ideally be based in Paris, France but other locations will be considered provided that the consultant can demonstrate his/her ability to work remotely as part of the IOC team.

Qualifications and experience

  • The consultant will have a relevant academic qualification(s), and have relevant professional expertise, with experience in the following areas:
  • Excellent written English skills, with ability in another UNESCO language a plus
  • Successful work experience in communications, including in the production of material for the web and print
  • Demonstrated experience or interest in ocean science
  • Demonstrated results focus and competency in planning and organizing, teamwork

See application details on the job listing at the IOC UNESCO website.

Proposals can be mailed to f.collins@unesco.org.

Virtual Meeting – Caribbean: Climate Change and Health in Small Island Developing States

Thank you for choosing to join the Caribbean community and international partners for our virtual “Conference on Climate Change and Health in Small Island Developing States: Focus on the Caribbean”: 4 days (October 5 – 8, 2021) of immersion in the science of climate change and health in the Caribbean, identifying knowledge gaps, posing solutions, resource sharing, networking, and empowerment. Together we will work to address the critical public health issue of climate change, and find sustainable ways to live healthy lives. English, Spanish, and French interpretation will be available.

Our sessions will cover:

October 5, 2021: The Varied Effects of Climate Change on Health

October 6, 2021: Immediate Health Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

October 7, 2021: The Health Sector and its Role in Addressing Climate Change and Health

October 8, 2021: Participation, Representation, and Collaboration to Implement the Research Agenda

Find out more here:

Register here:

JSIRS Special issue “Satellite Oceanography: Revolutionizing the Blue Economy”

The “Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing (JISRS)” is the peer-reviewed premier Indian journal (impact factor of 1.6) in the field of remote sensing, with Springer as a publisher, which is a part of Springer Nature, a global publisher. Springer Nature aims to advance discovery by publishing insightful science supporting the development of new areas of research.

JISRS is announcing a special issue on “Satellite Oceanography: Revolutionizing the Blue Economy “.  ISRO’s Dr. Rashmi Sharma is one of the guest editors for this issue.

Call for Papers announcement for this Special Issue  is now available on JISRS, Springer website.  For more details, you may like to visit this website: https://www.springer.com/journal/12524

The paper submission deadline is October 31, 2021.