The Biology Working Group of GOA-ON was formed in 2015 with the mission to bridge chemical and biological changes associated with ocean acidification. Over the years, it worked on multiple tasks to (i) inform the chemical monitoring program about the biological needs; (ii) evaluate the needs and requirement of a biological monitoring program; and (iii) develop a theoretical framework linking chemical changes to biological response. Some of this work was recently published (Widdicombe et al. 2023) opening the way to new approaches for chemical and biological monitoring. The working group is now exploring new avenues on current and best practices to evaluate the impact of ocean acidification on biodiversity. This presentation will summarize the activities of the working group and offer to the community (chemists, biologists, modelers) an opportunity to contribute to some of the tasks.
Publication Alert! A group of early career ocean professionals from GOA-ONs ICONEC community (International Carbon Ocean Network for Early Career) authored a report published in Perspectives of Earth and Space Scientists. Written from an early career perspective, the paper highlights emerging challenges in the marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) sector and provides recommendations for building the mCDR workforce while ensuring global equity. A rapidly growing field, mCDR has the potential to mitigate climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the ocean for long periods of time. The authors affirm that with appropriate investments in interdisciplinary early career capacity building, early career ocean professionals are poised to define the future of equitable, durable, and safe carbon removal solutions.
The GOA-ON Executive Council held its annual in-person meeting from the 28th to the 30th of January 2025 in Seattle, hosted by the University of Washington. The EC consists of representatives from the regional hubs, expert members, and program representational members, as well as representatives of the International Carbon Ocean Network for Early Career (ICONEC). The regional hubs, partners, and working groups provided updates on their activities from the last year and discussed challenges and opportunities for collaboration. Using an interactive goal-setting activity, the EC identified priority actions to take over the next few years related to each of three GOA-ON goals, considering the networks strengths and gaps.
UNESCOs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC), the EurOcean Foundation, and Portugal are pleased to announce the launch of the 2nd edition of the Mrio Ruivo Memorial Lecture Series. Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) are invited to showcase their groundbreaking projects.The lecture series celebrates the legacy of Professor Mrio Ruivo, former Executive Secretary of UNESCO-IOC and one of Portugals most influential champions of ocean science and sustainability. By participating, ECOPs contribute to the broader vision of the Ocean Decade and strengthen global cooperation towards a healthier and more sustainable ocean. The second edition will culminate in the selected ECOP delivering a keynote lecture on their project during the IOC Assembly in 2025, as part of this prestigious series. The submission deadline is on the 2nd of February 2025.
Jan Newton Awardee at the International Carbon Symposium in Mexico
Professor Jan Newton, GOA-ON co-chair and Senior Principal Oceanographer and Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, was an International Recognition awardee by the members of the Mexican Carbon Program this year during the XV International Carbon Symposium in Mexico. The goals of this symposium were to present a (1) national synthesis on the current state of knowledge of the carbon cycle, (2) promote scientific contribution to restoration and conservations efforts to aid in mitigating climate change, (3) promote scientific-academic exchange to generate collective work agendas with government institutions, civil society, and the private sector and (4) evaluate the agenda and continue supporting the work of CarboNA, an international collaboration between Mexico, the United States, and Canada for carbon cycle research. Professor Newton was recognized for her outstanding scientific career and invaluable contribution to the development of binational research between Mexico and the United States of America to strengthen the capacities of researchers in the study and knowledge of ocean acidification, contributing to understanding its effects on marine ecosystems.Congratulations to Professor Newton!
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO invites all GOA-ON members to contribute to the sixth annual global ocean acidification data collection for the Sustainable Development Goal 14.3.1 Indicator: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations. The Indicator highlights ocean acidification as a major stressor on marine ecosystems and the importance of global observations of ocean acidification to the sustainable use of ocean resources. The SDG 14.3.1 Indicator includes a Methodology outlining how to measure, and what, as well as a data and metadata template to facilitate the data submission and the SDG 14.3.1 Data Portal.
The GOA-ON Executive Council would like to announce an open call for new members to join the GOA-ON Executive Council. We particularly welcome nominations with expertise in modelling, data analysis, management, and QC, chemical oceanography, observing platforms and sensors, policy and management, social sciences, co-production, and communication. We especially encourage participation from the southern hemisphere and from early career members. If you would like to nominate yourself or a colleague, please send a 2 page CV and a short letter of interest (1 page max.) outlining how your expertise will contribute to GOA-ON and your motivation for joining the GOA-ON Executive Council. Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis and should be submitted to secretariat@goa-on.org. We look forward to hearing from you and gaining new members on the GOA-ON EC!
Ocean Acidification and Convention on Biological Convention Policy Brief
As the world comes together for CBD COP16, its clear that more attention is needed to tackle ocean acidification—one of the most urgent threats to marine biodiversity. Only 13 government-level ocean acidification action plans are in place, according to the OA Alliance (International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification) and now is the time for stronger global action. The OARS programme connects a global network of ocean acidification experts to support Target 8 implementation through science-based, local and global mitigation and adaptation strategies. Our experts from science, law, and policy have developed key insights and guidance on Targets 7 and 8 with a focus on ocean acidification in a new policy brief for CBD COP16, is available in the link below. We welcome you to reach out to discuss how we can collaborate to protect our ocean.
On 1 October 2024, the project "Ocean Acidification - Proof of Concept for New Research Strategies", generously supported by the Velux Foundation via the IOC of UNESCO, was launched. This project aims to identify biological indicators that, when combined with environmental observations, including carbonate chemistry, will allow observations, as well as comparisons of the rate and severity of biological changes in response to ocean acidification. The community is invited to contribute by helping to build a global data resource that will contain time series of biological parameters, such as taxonomic composition, biomass, and abundance, along with oceanographic data.
For more information, please refer to the linked document or contact Natalija Suhareva.
OA Week 2024 will take place from Monday, 18 November to Friday, 22 November! This virtual multi-day forum will highlight the ocean acidification knowledge we need to restore humanity's relationship with the ocean. OA Week will feature presentations from the GOA-ON Regional Hub on the latest scientific studies in their network. Additionally, we are preparing community discussions and sessions on ocean acidification topics identified and suggested by members of the GOA-ON community. So mark your calendars and keep your eyes open for updates!
GOA-ON will host a webinar on 18 October 2024 at 1400-1500 UTC given by Dr. Thomas Froelicher from the University of Bern. Join this webinar to learn about the impacts of marine heatwaves and ocean acidity extremes.
The St. Johns Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML) and Marine Environment Sensing Network (MESN) would like to invite you to join the Marine Monitoring for Action (MMfA) workshops hybrid seminars 7. - 10. October 2024. This workshop will feature presentations from invited marine experts from Singapore, the UK, and Southeast Asia about how marine monitoring data can be used to shape policy and management, global efforts for marine observations, impacts of ocean acidification and efforts for mitigation, the importance of communicating good science to the masses and more. GOA-ON co-chair Prof Steve Widdicombe and North-East Atlantic Hub chair Prof Helen Findlay are among the speakers.
Applications are now open for the Winter School on Ocean Acidification and Multiple Stressors - Second Edition, which will be held from 18 - 29 November 2024 at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco. The goal of this program is to not only address and minimize the impacts of OA and related stressors. Early career researchers with experience in environmental changes with a particular OA focus will be given priority. The deadline to apply is 10 October 2024. This program is funded by the IAEA and co-sponsored by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. For more information on how to apply, please visit the link below.
The call for abstracts for the One Ocean Science Congress is now open. This event, organised by CNRS and IFREMER, will be held from 4 - 6 June in Nice, France, ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference.The organizers are inviting the submission of abstracts fitting within the ten key themes of the Congress while being solution oriented and interdisciplinary. The congress will include plenary sessions featuring keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations, as well as town hall meetings to foster engagement and collaboration across all disciplines. For more information, please visit the website below.
Open Call for New PI-TOA Steering Committee Members
The PI-TOA Steering Committee (SC) would like to announce an open call for new members to join! Steering committee members are elected for three year terms and are expected to fulfill the duties outlined in the PI-TOA Steering Committee Roles and Requirements Document linked below. All interested ocean professionals within the Pacific Islands and Territories are welcomed to apply. We particularly welcome nominations from Pacific Island government agencies and countries not already represented on our SC and early career members, to increase our impact within the Pacific Islands! If you would like to nominate yourself, or a colleague, please send a CV and short letter of interest outlining how your (or your colleague's) experience will contribute to PI-TOA SC. Please submit your nomination to secretariat@goa-on.org by 30 November 2024. We look forward to hearing from you and gaining new PI-TOA SC members!
Registration is open for the Wepal-Quasimeme Workshop on Quality Assurance for inorganic carbon system measurements in the context of ocean acidification monitoring, taking place 18-20 March 2025 at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Southampton, United Kingdom. The workshop responds to a need for high quality data (TA, DIC, pH, pCO2) identified by OSPAR, ICOS, GOA-ON and AMAP, among others, to strengthen all scientific output on OA, including a consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment, analysis, quality control, validation of methods, calculation of derived variables and an understanding of methodological limitations. Find details and application deadlines in the link below.
Raising Ocean Science Awareness Among Fiji's Youth
The inaugural Veivueti Kids Ocean Conference took place on June 12th at the International School in Suva, Fiji. The event aimed to ignite a passion for ocean conservation among students, empowering them to take meaningful action as stewards of marine ecosystems. Students were given the opportunity to select an Ocean Decade Challenge and develop solutions to address these challenges, beginning at the local level.
During Summer 2023, the OA Solomon Team composed of Dr Lindon Havimana and Dr Wycliff Tupiti plus a teaching staff member, Fiona Meke, and two research assistant students, Miriam Sulu and Jasmin Rahii, from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) made a first visit to a proposed OA monitoring deployment site, located west of Honiara. The Team met with the local landowning group, increasing awareness of OA, with plans to present to local villagers before monitoring activities, and ultimately gaining permission to conduct OA monitoring along the coastline and reef areas. The Team snorkeled around the proposed reef site, located within the barrier reef, where stony corals and seagrasses are abundant with high diversity of colorful reef fish, making this an ideal site for OA monitoring. Stay tuned for news about our next site visit!
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is hosting a virtual workshop on their Regional Resiliency & Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) projects on 9 October at 1pm EDT / 7am HST/ 7pm CEST. This workshop will highlight Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 RVA projects, sharing results as well as cultivating connections between current PIs and those interested in applying to NOAA OAP's upcoming FY25 RVA funding call (end of summer announcement). These RVA projects are interdisciplinary, supplementing the physical, chemical, and biological science of ocean acidification with social science, to assess regional vulnerability.
GOA-ON is seeking three OA Week Remote Coordinators for early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) to be a part of the 2024 OA Week Planning Team, alongside the GOA-ON Secretariat. This internship will be part time for 10 weeks. GOA-ON aims to offer opportunities, such as these, to provide ECOPs experience in different careers, exposure to the global ocean professional community, and opportunities to strengthen a diverse set of skills. See the attached description of the OA Week Coordinator Internship. To apply, please email the GOA-ON Secretariat (secretariat@goa-on.org) with a brief (max. one paragraph) description of why you are interested in this position, your predicted time availability, and location of where you are based by Monday 12. August 2024. ICONEC members are encouraged to apply.
A Basic Training Course on Ocean Acidification will be held in Monrovia, Liberia from 9-13 September 2024, hosted by the Government of Liberia through the United Methodist University (UMU) and organised by the IAEA OA-ICC. This course will provide participants with knowledge on how to improve ocean acidification monitoring, design relevant experiments, and increase OA awareness within the West African region. The course is open to 20 scientists from the following countries: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Democratic Republic of So Tom and Prncipe, Guinea-Bissau, and Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Applications are open until 8 August (extended deadline). See the link for additional details. Photo Credit: Jeff Hester/Ocean Image Bank
IAPSO, the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans, has formed a Best Practice Study Group focusing on "Calibrating Measurements of Total Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Seawater". This group aims to (1) develop calibration strategies for commonly used instrumentation to measure total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater, (2) write clear standard operating procedures (SOPs), (3) assess the reliability and consistency among calibration methods, and (4) suggest solutions to facilitate effective implementation. If you routinely perform DIC measurements, we invite your input and participation. To contribute to this initiative, please begin by completing a short 10-minute questionnaire by June 30th. Any personal information provided will be removed before data is aggregated to evaluate the community's calibration needs for seawater DIC measurements.
The OA-Med hub is working to establish a Working Group on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) and has launched a survey to learn more about the current status of mCDR in the Mediterranean region, from scientific, political, and governance angles. We invite all interested parties to complete the linked survey , especially researchers, economists, policy makers and decision-makers who work in the mCDR space. Please share this link widely with anyone who may be interested.
The GOA-ON marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) Working Group hosted a GOA-ON webinar on April 16, 2024, which can be viewed on the GOA-ON YouTube channel. Webinar participants discussed future mCDR Working Group activities and were invited to join the working group to help lead these future activities. To join the working group and/or participate in writing a GOA-ON mCDR position paper, please fill out the form below. You can also contribute to the position paper and working group by adding to the Jamboard linked below, where the WG is gathering ideas and suggestions. The working group aims to bring together a diverse group of ocean practitioners and encourages representation from all GOA-ON Regional Hubs and the early career ICONEC community. Overall, this working group will focus on the intersection between OA and mCDR and is open to all GOA-ON members.
GOA-ON Co-Chair Named 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize National Champion
GOA-ON co-chair Prof Steve Widdicombe, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, has been named as one of the 23 National Champions in the prestigious Frontiers Planet Prize. This award recognizes those whose research offers the greatest transformational potential and global scalability. The 23 National Champions have published groundbreaking articles contributing to our understanding of the Earth's systems and laying groundwork to transformative solutions, with respect to the nine planetary boundaries. Prof Widdicombe was nominated for the research article he authored with the GOA-ON Biology Working Group titled: "Unifying biological field observations to detect and compare ocean acidification impacts across marine species and ecosystems: what to monitor and why." The National Champions now move forward to the final round of the competition. Congratulations, Steve!
Pier2Peer mentee, Kouakou Urbain Koffi, and mentor, Abed El Rahman Hassoun, recently published their research in Frontiers in Marine Science! The team evaluated the impact of carbonate and nutrient chemistry on phytoplankton in the Gulf of Guinea by taking surface water samples weekly, identifying 60 phytoplankton species, with more than half belonging to the phylum Bacillariophyta. Additionally, the highest phytoplankton specific diversity was observed in August and September, during an upwelling period with elevated DIC content. Bacillariophyta populations appear to increase alongside increased variability in physicochemical parameters. Congratulations Urbain, Abed, and coauthors!
The GOA-ON Biological Working Group is pleased to announce the launch of their new webpage! The GOA-ON Biology Working Group was formed in 2015. Chaired by Dr. Kirsten Isensee (IOC-UNESCO) and Dr. Sam Dupont (University of Gothenburg), the Biology Working Group is a constantly evolving group of experts from a wide range of disciplines.The webpage outlines the goals and vision of the working group, and highlights outputs from the working group, including published papers. Check out the new page below!
Source-to-Sea Satellite Event at UN Ocean Decade Conference
Join OARS co-lead, Steve Widdicombe, and OARS secretariat member, Amy Kenworthy, at a UN Ocean Decade Conference satellite event on 9 April 2024 from 09:30-11:00 CEST. The event, titled "Catalyzing Source-to-Sea Synergies towards Healthy Rivers and a Healthy Ocean", will bring together freshwater and ocean communities to develop knowledge, build expertise and promote implementation of source-to-sea action. Experts will showcase how UN Ocean Science Decade programmes, such as Healthy Rivers Healthy Ocean (HRHO) and Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS), support source-to-sea initiatives. Registration is available for in person or virtual participation.
Hosted by Spain and co-organized with UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference will take place on 10-12 April 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. This global conference is designed to bring together the Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate achievements and set joint priorities for the future of the Decade. GOA-ON and OARS members will be in attendance to share achievements and future plans with our global partners. Check out the summary of ocean acidification events below!
