GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, one of the leading institutions in marine research, together with the FUTURO (Future of Tropical Upwelling Regions in the Atlantic Ocean) project – centered around a large-scale, one-year field study off West Africa in the tropical Northeast Atlantic – is offering a position for a Scientific Project Manager to support this international research initiative.
This role includes project planning and coordination, financial and organizational oversight, stakeholder communication, and funding acquisition. The eligible criteria include completed university degree (preferably in natural fields), professional experience in the field as well as experience in national or international research funding, and communication skills in German and English. Experience in cooperation with African institutions is a plus.
This full-time position, with a minimum duration of 24 months, offers work-life balance support, engagement in marine and climate research areas, pension plan and beneficial benefits.
FUTURO will study the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) off West Africa – a critical marine region providing 25% of global fisheries from just 1-2% of ocean surface. The project addresses climate change impacts, acidification, and overfishing while developing sustainable practices to support West African coastal communities.
GEOMAR is focused on the global ocean and marine research and is committed to develop sustainable solutions for the protection of the ocean. They promote knowledge and technology transfer through international exchange.
Applications should be sent until 20th April 2025 under this link.
For further information and other jobs opportunities, please visit www.geomar.de.
Networking Friday with Gordon Campbell (ESA)
On September 4th, 2020, 1-2 PM UTC, we met Gordon Campbell, Science, Head of Enterprise Section, EO Data Applications Division, EO Science, Applications and Climate Department, European Space Agency (ESA). The moderator was Piero Messina (ESA). Gordon Campbell has been working for ESA since 1999 on defining and implementing actions to expand the uptake and use of Satellite Earth Observation data. This involved working on a range of public sector domains including environment, natural resources, law enforcement/ security and transport. He is also working to expand the use of satellite derived information in the International Development context in partnership with entities such as World Bank, Global Environment Facility and Inter-American Development Bank. Examples include management of natural resources (eg fisheries surveillance, management of mining activities) and putting in place more efficient sustainable development approaches (eg planning and monitoring impacts of development projects on critical habitats and ecosystems).
Networking Friday with Argyro Kavvada (NASA)
On September 18th, 2020, 1-2 PM UTC, Argyro Kavvada reviewed innovative Earth observation solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. Her presentation illustrated innovative endeavors that aim to integrate Earth observation data, tools and model outputs to support countries in target setting, tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, and informing sustainable development planning and decision making. She serves a dual role as Manager of the Earth Sciences Division’s Sustainable Development Goals Activities to extend uses of Earth science and applications in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), while also leading Booz Allen Hamilton’s project on studies, assessments, and strategic management for the Applied Sciences Program in NASA’s Earth Science Division. She serves as the Executive Secretary for the international Earth Observations for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) initiative that NASA co-leads, and the NASA representative to the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites SDG Working Group. In this role, she has built a network of thought leaders and collaborators in the Earth observation and international development landscape.
Networking Friday with Sergio Rossi (Università del Salento)
On September 11th, 2020, 1-2 PM UTC, we dived in the marvellous underwater worlds with Sergio Rossi, Associate Professor at the DiSTeBA (Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali) at the Università del Salento and Visiting Professor at the Universidade Federal do Ceará. He talked about Marine Forests and their Role in the Oceans. The moderator was Eduardo Pereira, Assistant Professor at the University of Minho and a member of IB-S (Institute for Bio-sustainability) and ISISE (Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering). What is an engineer? A person that solves problems for the community, giving tools and services that improve our lives. A tree or a coral are ecosystem engineering species, they benefit the community, and give also essential ecosystem services to the humans. In the case of the forests of the sea (Marine Forests – MFs): kelp forests, seagrasses, coral reefs, sponge grounds, gorgonian forests, hydrothermal vent associated fauna, etc.) their role is giving shelter and food to other species, promote the reproduction and life cycles of many organisms, transform the hydrodynamics and recycle nutrients, immobilize carbon and promote the biomass of fisheries, create physical barriers against wave action and be biodiversity hotspots…they enhance complexity and functionality that is essential for a healthy community in the benthos and also in the plankton.