Heads of Marine Institutes Will Head to Seoul from 20 Countries

Now that oceanic phenomena are known to be major factors in the abnormal cold waves and natural disasters hitting the planet this winter, the heads of marine research institutes around the world are convening in Seoul to put their heads together to share information and engage in discussion, with the prospects of drawing great public attention.

The Republic of Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI; President KANG Jung-keuk) has announced that the 12^th annual meeting of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (hereafter referred to as “POGO-20”) will kick off Monday, January 24, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at the Plaza Hotel Seoul.

POGO, dubbed the G20 of the marine research area, is an NGO with an international reach where the decision-makers of marine science research institutes around the world gather together to cooperate in addressing global marine climate issues.

The meeting will take place from January 24 to 26 and be attended by the heads of marine research institutes in 20 countries across the world. They will have discussions and share information on marine science issues that are now global concerns including oceanic observation, responses to natural disasters, and climate change.

The 20 countries include the US, the UK, and Japan？which are traditionally considered advanced in marine science？as well as China and Russia？which are geographically close to Korea？and also and especially the Republic of South Africa, Chile, and Saudi Arabia, brightening the prospects that the meeting will be truly global in dealing with global marine issues and bring the planet one step closer to the establishment of a globally integrated oceanic observation system.

The attending leaders are already displaying intense interest in South Korea’s geostationary orbit satellite, Cheollian, the first of its kind in the world, and also in the country’s ice-breaking research vessel, the Araon.

The Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), the UK’s best marine research institute, has expressed great interest in Cheollian, which KORDI successfully launched in June last year, and requested cooperation on joint research on Cheollian’s satellite data.

In addition, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute of the US, which is private and the world’s largest marine research institute, is showing interest in KORDI’s technology in deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicles and its top-notch technology in underwater wireless communications. The National Oceanography Center of the UK also expressed its intention to conduct joint research on the prevention and control of marine pollution incidents and recovery therefrom.

On the occasion of POGO-12, KORDI plans to sign MOUs with these institutes in order to officially undertake exchange and cooperation with them and continue cooperation with world-renowned marine research institutes, ultimately to advance marine science research of Republic of Korea.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) under UNESCO is going to attend the upcoming meeting. It is extremely exceptional for the executive secretary of an intergovernmental body to participate in a meeting of POGO, which some people in the area interpret as a sign of POGO’s global influence in the area.

The person who is accompanying the IOC Executive Secretary is also drawing attention since it will be a home-coming occasion for her. She is Dr. LEE Bo-ram, an IOC staffer. She acquired her doctorate degree in Republic of Korea and was selected as an expert in observation by an international organization, giving hope to many doing their doctorate courses in Republic of Korea.

On January 25, the POGO-12 attendees will visit KORDI and will have a chance to have general discussion on the research KORDI is doing in climate change and oceanic observation and consult many experts from around the world on the areas after presentations given by some KORDI experts. The presentations are (1) Climate Change and Oceanic Observations: A KORDI Perspective (Main presenter; President KANG Jung-keuk of KORDI); (2) Updates on Poseidon and Gaia Ocean-Climate Projects (LEE Jae-hak); (3) Ocean Color Images from Cheollian Ocean Color Imager and Remote Sensing Equipment (RYU Joo-hyung); (4) R&D on Cutting-Edge Oceanic Observation Equipment and Means to Transport It (LEE Pan-mook); and (5) The Araon, the New Ice-breaking Vessel, and Polar Research (CHOI Seon-ung).

“For Republic of Korea, this is the first time to host a POGO meeting. This indicates that the country’s status has been rising in the marine area and that it is now being recognized as a partner for international joint research,” says President KANG Jung-keuk of KORDI, adding, “I hope this meeting will help cement international cooperation in resolving such marine issues as climate change and sea disasters and activate international joint research on those issues.

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