The Future Ocean Forum met from 17 to 18 June 2024 for its general meeting and a strategy workshop at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Delmenhorst.
The climate crisis, research infrastructure, employment conditions in marine research and the balance between the protection and (sustainable) use of the oceans - the challenges facing German marine research are enormous and constantly growing. These topics require comprehensive and future-orientated solutions that can only be developed from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The members of the Future Forum come from various institutes and scientific disciplines. They meet at least three times a year, including once in person, to discuss various marine research topics. General meetings serve to exchange perspectives and strengthen the strategic capacities of the community to deal with new challenges. Three new fields of work were established last year. The aim of this year's members' meeting was to further advance these areas of work and to gather input from members in open discussion formats.
In addition, the German Research Foundation appointed the Future Ocean Forum as a National Committee of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) at the beginning of the year. The first meeting of the German SCOR Committee was also held as part of the General Assembly of the Future Forum. Prof Dr Hermann Bange and Dr Joke Lübecke were elected as two new national SCOR representatives who, together with SCOR Vice President Dr Ilka Peeken, will now represent Germany at the annual SCOR meetings.
We thank the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg for their very valuable support!