The registration is now open for the anticipated All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Forum 2025, hosted by the European Union on September 25-26 in Brussels.
The AAORIA unites countries across the Atlantic basin – from Europe, Africa, North and South America, to both polar regions – to advance marine research and innovation through collaborative efforts. This unique alliance continues to strengthen international cooperation in implementing the Galway and Belém Statements while addressing the priorities outlined in the All-Atlantic Declaration.
This year’s Forum holds particular significance as the EU’s chairmanship agenda aligns strategically with both the EU’s Atlantic Strategy and the ambitious EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’. The event will serve as a critical platform to showcase achievements in implementing the AAORIA Declaration and advance cooperation across all agreed partnership areas.
A key focus of the Forum will be promoting activities that transfer scientific knowledge and solutions to local communities along the Atlantic coastline. The upcoming network of Atlantic Beacon Sites- demonstration sites for coastal resilience – will be highlighted as a model for cooperation among inter-linked policy areas based on scientific results. Additionally, the Forum will further the Atlantic inter-generational dialogue through an innovative Blue Intergenerational Programme.
The AAORIA Forum represents a unique opportunity to connect the Atlantic research community with policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society. By bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the Atlantic, it can accelerate knowledge exchange and develop more effective, coordinated approaches to ocean challenges.
Attendance is free, but spaces are limited with registration accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The organizers strongly encourage early registration, particularly for participants requiring invitation letters for visa purposes.
In keeping with AAORIA’s commitment to accessibility, the Forum will also be web-streamed, with recordings made available on the AAORIA website following the event.
To register, please visit the following webpage: https://bit.ly/4m7Uda4
More information on the event will be shared soon.
Networking Friday with GEO Blue Planet
On April 16th, 2021, 1-2 PM UTC, Emily Smail, Executive Director of the GEO Blue Planet Initiative, and Audrey Hasson, Head of the GEO Blue Planet European Office, introduced the GEO Blue Planet initiative and showcased on-going success stories from 4 different thematic Working Groups. They will highlight how GEO Blue Planet identifies data and information gaps, provides network and coordination support and supports best practices covering a wide range of topics such as eutrophication, sargassum, marine litter and oil spill. The moderator was Leah Mupas Segui, Senior Associate with the Pew Charitable Trusts.
ESAPlastics
ESAPlastics – De-Risk Action: Spectrometer for Marine Litter. This action will evaluate and develop at a low TRL, prospective technology that in the future can lead to the development of a spectrometer for marine litter detection from space. Clearly there is an opportunity to develop innovative technology that can take advantage of Earth Observation satellite constellation to provide a continuous monitoring of earth oceans and coastal areas.
Networking Friday with the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute
On April 9th, 2021, 1-2 PM UTC, Miguel Bessa Pacheco, Technical Director, and João Vitorino, Oceanographer, will tell us how the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute (Instituto Hidrográfico) contributes to expand the scientific knowledge of the Atlantic Ocean.