"he Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance Coordination & Support Action (AORA-CSA) has just completed its fifth and final year. The last year alone experienced a tremendous momentum (ca. 110 meetings/events in this year) and output - the culmination of 5 years of endeavour.
A quick recap in plain numbers of what the AORA-CSA as one coordination and support action has achieved in the last 5 years:
• Supported 5 × AORA Working groups – Seabed Mapping, Aquaculture, Ocean Literacy, Ecosystem Approach to Ocean Health & Stressors, Marine Microbiome
• Supported the delivery of 5 Atlantic Roadmaps in the 5 Research Priority areas above.
• Coordinated with 34 × Research projects, Innovation Actions and Coordination & Support Actions – most of which are Galway & Belém Statement tagged efforts as well as 3 others that are currently under contract negotiation
• Supported 23 All-Atlantic Youth Ambassadors, including organizing and hosting the first summer school for the youth ambassadors in Galway August 2019 and subsequently another event in Brussels February 2020
• Organized, participated in, promoted the AORA in over 300 different meetings, workshops, side events and conferences
• Designed the #GoAtlanticBlue campaign (as a pilot) to raise awareness of the Atlantic Ocean in a highly visible way in answer to a request from the Galway Statement Implementation Committee
• Broadcast the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance through events, campaigns and social media that had a combined reach to over 7.9 Million people
The AORA-CSA Secretariat contributed to the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Forum organized by the European Commission for over 700 people and hosted at the European Commission’s Charlemagne Building.
A Policy-level Portfolio Analysis, towards an All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance with Lessons learned 2013-2020 and Next Steps report was also commissioned and delivered to the European Commission DG Research & Innovation, Healthy Oceans & Seas Unit.
Finally, from a communications and dissemination aspect, the AORA-CSA has had a very successful 12 months. Engagement sentiment was overwhelmingly positive. The AORA now has over 74 videos, (see the specially created AORA YouTube channel) and a combined social media reach in the last 12 months to over 7.9 Million people – an outstanding result."
