AIR Centre's key contributions at UNOC3 Marine Science Sessions

The AIR Centre will play a pivotal role in advancing global ocean science and coastal resilience through strategic participation in two high-profile sessions at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, June 9-13, 2025.

On June 12, AIR Centre will support an important initiative led by Cabo Verde's Ministry of the Sea and Instituto do Mar (IMar) to establish Centers of Excellence in Marine Sciences across Portuguese-speaking African Small Island Developing States. This officially selected UNOC3 side event runs from 8:30-10:00 AM CEST. The strategic alliance includes UNESCO's SIDS Section and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, leveraging existing scientific knowledge, regional infrastructure, and international cooperation to address oceanic challenges across Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.

The session will address key themes including strategic partnerships for blue science and innovation, youth capacity building with gender equality focus, evidence-based decision making, access to data and technologies, and fostering community innovation alongside regional cooperation. This initiative builds sustainable marine science capacity in regions where climate change impacts are most severe and local scientific capacity is crucial for long-term resilience.

AIR Centre Executive Director Miguel Miranda will also present "FAIR and CARE Ocean Data Management Systems" during the June 13 Coastal Solutions panel (10:30 AM-1:30 PM CEST). This comprehensive session explores practical solutions and best practices for addressing coastal challenges, emphasizing emerging technologies in coastal management and restoration. Miguel Miranda joins a distinguished panel featuring Joana Akrofi from GMS Ocean-UNEP on ocean and coastal observation at scale, Jacob Tornfeldt Sørensen from DHI Denmark presenting next-generation coastal environmental monitoring, and Tiago Garcia from +Atlantic Colab Portugal showcasing Atlantic SENSE geospatial intelligence for climate resilience.

The panel addresses the critical need for cross-sector collaboration in implementing data-based coastal solutions, positioning AIR Centre at the forefront of responsible and accessible ocean data management.

These participations reflect AIR Centre's comprehensive approach to marine and coastal challenges through collaborative, science-based methodologies. The organization positions itself as a bridge between emerging scientific regions and advanced technological solutions, demonstrating how capacity building and cutting-edge research methodologies can address ocean challenges simultaneously.

The outcomes are expected to influence future international cooperation frameworks, funding mechanisms for marine science capacity building, and standardized approaches to coastal data management systems worldwide.