Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Research
The Challenger Society is the UK affiliated body responsible for the UK’s subscription to the international Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Research (SCOR).
SCOR (http://www.scor-int.org/) is the leading international non-governmental organization for the promotion and coordination of international oceanographic activities. SCOR does not fund research directly, but SCOR helps promote international cooperation in planning and conducting oceanographic research, and solving methodological and conceptual problems that hinder research. SCOR also promotes capacity building for marine scientists in developing countries and countries with economies in transition through special efforts to include such scientists in SCOR activities, travel grants, SCOR Visiting Scholars, and joint activities with other organizations.
SCOR presently sponsors five Large Scale Ocean Research Projects: GEOTRACES, IIOE-2, IMBeR, IQOE, and SOLAS (see https://scor-int.org/work/research/ for details)
SCOR also organises and funds a number of working groups to address discreet areas of ocean science requiring international co-ordination. Proposal for new working groups are considered once a year approves new working groups each year at its the annual SCOR meeting. The number of proposals funded each year depends on both the results of the proposal review process and the availability of funding, with 1-3 new proposals typical. SCOR is an organization that promotes science that comes from the “bottom up” from the ocean science community and working groups are an important vehicle to bring attention to the important ocean science issues identified by the global community of ocean scientists
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As a non-governmental organization, individuals representing national SCOR committees, not national governments, are the members of SCOR. The nominated SCOR representatives for the UK for are:
Alessandro Tagliabue (University of Liverpool, chair)
Kerry Howell (University of Plymouth, vice-chair)
Will Homoky (University of Leeds)
Alistair Lough (University of Leeds, ECR representative)
Alice Marzocchi (NOC, ECR representative)
Alex Poulton (Heriot Watt University)
Malcolm Woodward (PML)
The role of the SCOR UK Chair is to represent ensure strong links between SCOR and UK oceanography. This involves:
- Represent SCOR to the Challenger Council, on which they serve in an ex officio capacity, and act as a conduit between the society and SCOR as appropriate
- Annually co-ordinate Challenger Council input to provide a UK ranking and assessment of proposals for new Working Groups to the SCOR meeting
- Organising the rotation of UK SCOR working group members
- Attending the international SCOR meeting each year, or arranging a representative from one of the other nominated UK members to SCOR
- Sending on information from international SCOR to members of the Challenger Society through Challenger Wave
- participating in the meetings of the Royal Society Global Environmental Research Committee (GERC) and providing an annual report to GERC on the activities of the UK in the SCOR arena.
Latest News
Socio-oceanography Workshop sets sights on key climate and ocean challenges
The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is calling on scientists and researchers to participate in its fourth annual Socio-Oceanography Workshop, hosted in collaboration with the Marine Social Science Network.
This international event, set to take place at NOC’s Southampton site 26-28 February 2025, will gather experts across natural and social sciences to tackle the pressing issues linking people and the changing ocean.
This year’s workshop will focus on four key themes, including the impact of climate change-driven shifts in marine species distribution and how these changes will affect the way the UK marine environment is perceived, valued, and managed.
Other topics include integrating digital humans into environmental digital twins, addressing biases in research related to marine carbon dioxide removal, and exploring how local communities can engage in participatory environmental monitoring.
FMRI Lead Scientist Opportunity
The FMRI programme is now recruiting for a new Lead Scientist. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in helping to shape the UK’s future marine research capability.
The team are looking for someone who can connect with scientists and engineers to help define the best strategies for exploiting new technologies. Someone who is excited about new opportunities for marine research and can think across the big challenges. Someone who can peer over the horizon and imagine a different way of doing things.
FMRI is seeking to fund at least 50% of the Lead Scientist’s time to work as a key member of the programme leadership team.
I would be grateful if you could forward the attached flyer to your networks and encourage potential candidates to apply for this important role.
For an informal discussion, please contact the team via: info@fmri.ac.uk
For more information or to apply, please visit: www.fmri.ac.uk/recruit/lead-scientist
Applications close: 28th November, 2024
Applications for AGU Vice Chair for 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting
The AGU is currently inviting applications for a Vice Chair to help lead the Organising Committee for the 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting, to be hosted in Glasgow in 2026. Applications consist of a CV and expression of interest, to be received by 18 October 2024.
The biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) is jointly convened by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) and The Oceanography Society (TOS). The OSM is overseen by a Program Committee responsible for the scientific content of the meeting as well as ancillary events, plenary speakers, and award ceremonies. The Program Committee is composed of a Chair and Vice Chair selected by each of the three participating societies. This advertisement is for the AGU Vice Chair position.
https://www.agu.org/plan-for-a-meeting/agumeetings#vicechairosm26