Final Report Summary - EUR-OCEANS (European network of excellence for ocean ecosystems analysis)
The EUR-OCEANS project established a European network of excellence for ocean ecosystems' analysis, aiming to achieve the lasting integration of European research organisations on global change and pelagic marine ecosystems. Moreover, EUR-OCEANS sought to ensure the successful interaction of relevant scientific disciplines, i.e. pelagic ecosystems, biogeochemistry and ecosystem approach to marine resources.
The long term objective was to motivate the creation of the EUR-OCEANS institute, which would focus on ocean ecosystems under anthropogenic and natural pressures. Four terms of reference were identified, namely lasting integration, international cooperation, model development and establishment of a multi-site institute.
The lasting integration of European research organisations and relevant scientific disciplines was ensured via publications and proposals of new research initiatives. A PhD programme was also established, along with a plan for sharing scientific equipment among researchers. Moreover, international cooperation was fostered, mainly between the European Union and the United States of America. Models were developed to assess and forecast the impacts of climate and anthropogenic forcing on food web dynamics of pelagic ecosystems in the open oceans. Relevant symposia and workshops were organised to exchange information and maximise modelling efficiency. Finally, the three European marine Networks of Excellence (NoEs), i.e. EUR-OCEANS, MarBEF and Marine Genomics Europe, joined their efforts to develop and promote the concept of a long lasting, multi-site institute at the European level. The EUR-OCEANS public outreach was ensured via a series of actions in aquaria and scientific centres and the production of two informative films.
The long term objective was to motivate the creation of the EUR-OCEANS institute, which would focus on ocean ecosystems under anthropogenic and natural pressures. Four terms of reference were identified, namely lasting integration, international cooperation, model development and establishment of a multi-site institute.
The lasting integration of European research organisations and relevant scientific disciplines was ensured via publications and proposals of new research initiatives. A PhD programme was also established, along with a plan for sharing scientific equipment among researchers. Moreover, international cooperation was fostered, mainly between the European Union and the United States of America. Models were developed to assess and forecast the impacts of climate and anthropogenic forcing on food web dynamics of pelagic ecosystems in the open oceans. Relevant symposia and workshops were organised to exchange information and maximise modelling efficiency. Finally, the three European marine Networks of Excellence (NoEs), i.e. EUR-OCEANS, MarBEF and Marine Genomics Europe, joined their efforts to develop and promote the concept of a long lasting, multi-site institute at the European level. The EUR-OCEANS public outreach was ensured via a series of actions in aquaria and scientific centres and the production of two informative films.
