News

Close to 100 online participants representing policy makers, funders and institutions dealing with marine, maritime and socio-economic issues, together with the scientific community ofthe 13 Baltic and North Sea countries confirmed this week the broad themes of the future Baltic and North Sea Research and Innovation Programme (BANOS).

The scientific project Coastbusters will receive follow-up funding to further investigate how cleverly constructed mussel beds can help combat coastal erosion and weaken the power of crashing waves. The construction of biogenic reefs as hydraulic engineering in coastal defence is a highly innovative concept. According to the project partners, it is relevant to investigate this further and to find out whether the concept can be added to the arsenal of sustainable techniques to protect our coast against rising sea levels. With the help of its marine robotics and 'smart moorings', VLIZ will monitor the large-scale evolution and small-scale dynamics of the mussel reefs.

In Ostend, the new Ostend Science Park has been launched, the first and most innovative marine science park in Belgium. The park aims to boost blue growth by offering state-of-the-art research and testing facilities to companies and researchers. Ostend Science Park is an initiative of the Port of Ostend, UGent and POM West Flanders.

To measure concentrations of CO₂ in the ocean surface and sub-surface waters, a whole new generation of sensors and instruments entered the market in recent years. An intercomparison of all these systems seemed necessary to the Ocean Thematic Centre (OTC) of the European research infrastructure ICOS (in full: Integrated Carbon Observation System). Hence, all interested scientists, operators and manufacturers of pCO₂ sensors are kindly invited to participate in the first intercomparison exercise of ocean pCO₂ instruments, held between 24 August and 4 September 2020 at the Flanders Marine Institute VLIZ in Ostend, Belgium.

JPI Water, JPI Oceans and JPI Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are launching a joint trans-national call for research and innovation projects aimed at investigating the risks to human health and the environment of pollutants and pathogens in water.

Every year, within the framework of the Compendium for Coast and Sea, the compendium secretariat of VLIZ reports in the form of a policy information brief (PIB) on the current state of marine research in Flanders and Belgium. The brief (only available in Dutch) maps out the research capacity as well as the scientific output of Belgian marine research groups, and examines in more detail the international collaborations, the geographical focus of the research and the use of research vessels (methodology see PIB). The inventory shows that Belgian marine research is growing in numbers and geographically and becomes all the more accessible.

The 20th edition of the VLIZ Marine Science Day promises to be a special one. In 2020, VLIZ celebrates its 20th anniversary with the central theme being “VLIZ breaks boundaries”. For this 20th edition we expect even more participants and are moving with the #VMSD20 to another location: CC De Grote Post in Ostend. The program also receives a thorough makeover. For the first time, we supplement the plenary program with various parallel break-out sessions. More than ever #VMSD20 will be an unmissable feast for the marine professional and student, full of opportunities to interact with like-minded and the ideal opportunity to expand your network.

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) turns 20! On Thursday 28 November, the Versluys Arena in Ostend kicked off the festive year 2020. A new VLIZ video and an audio exhibition with stories from 20 privileged witnesses were also launched. In order to celebrate the anniversary with its extensive network, VLIZ organises various activities throughout the festive year 2020 with the central theme 'VLIZ breaks boundaries'.

The European Marine Board (EMB), in collaboration with European Research Vessel Operators (ERVO), is launching a new Position Paper on European research vessels. The paper provides an extensive overview of the current European research fleet and updates the findings and recommendations of the 2007 EMB Position Paper 10 on "European Ocean Research Fleets - Towards a Common Strategy and Enhanced Use". It is the result of the activities of the EMB Working Group on Research Vessels.