Joining Forces for the Ocean: An Interdisciplinary Meeting of the BioEcoOcean and ObsSea4Clim Projects

On March 11-12, the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) hosted the first in a series of planned networking events (clustering events) jointly organized by two projects, BioEcoOcean and ObsSea4Clim, both funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program. The purpose of the meeting was to establish direct collaboration between these sister projects which share a common goal: the development and enhancement of an integrated ocean observation system in Europe and globally.

The gathered scientists primarily represented two distinct disciplines – biology and ecology, and physical oceanography. A key theme for their discussions was Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), whose interdisciplinary integration was explored through various activities, including a "speed dating" format. This approach fostered dynamic exchanges of ideas among researchers specializing in different scientific fields. EOVs are a set of observational guidelines for key oceanic parameters, essential for better addressing knowledge gaps and managing marine resources according to societal needs.

In addition to project presentations and information exchange, a crucial part of the meeting was a joint session on marine heatwaves. Examining this phenomenon from different scientific perspectives and engaging in collaborative discussions reinforced the necessity for joint initiatives that transcend disciplinary boundaries. Similarly, we discussed new potential solutions to better integrate physical and biological observations across different scales along the ice-land-ocean continuum, in particular how to develop new or improve existing data products and indicators which rely on EOV observations. Fruitful discussions informed the process of developing common policy recommendations for how to better these and other challenges identified by the two projects thus far.

Alongside the joint discussions between the two project consortia, the event also featured annual general assemblies, where past activities were reviewed and upcoming project plans were outlined. Both projects are set to continue until January 2028.