To promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement management, sustainable development and protection of the marine environment and the decision making process of its Member States.
(i) Enhance the level of public awareness of the importance of collaboration and involvement in ocean science at all levels of society (e.g. civil society, media, government, international organizations);
(ii) Take stock of advances in marines sciences and related international cooperation, at the global, regional and national levels, and plans for future directions in this area;
(iii) Promote worldwide a better image of IOC and of the solidarity of the international community in the field of ocean science;
(iv) Demonstrate to governments and to the public, the value and importance of the Commission's achievements, and make the international community and its leaders aware of the enormous contribution IOC can make in the future in oceanography and related sciences and services.
Time Line contains information on the main activities implemented by the IOC for meeting its mission and terms of reference for the period from 1960-2008.
References to the meetings of UN and UNESCO, as well as of other international organisations which had significant influence on the development of the IOC and on the formulation of its policy and programme activities are also included.
With information on Contribution of IOC Members States, programmes and organisations to the Anniversary *.
The updates will be includeed continously as soon as available. Input of commemorative activities from the countries in grey is still expected.
GROUPEI |
GROUPEII |
GROUPEIII |
GROUPEIV |
GROUPEV |
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Belgium Canada Denmark France Germany Greece Italy Monaco Portugal Spain Sweden Turkey UK Ireland U.S.A. |
Bulgaria Poland Russia Ukraine |
Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Cuba Ecuador Haiti Mexico Venezuela |
Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia R. Korea Sri Lanka Thailand Viet Nam |
C. Ivoire Egypte Iran Kuwait Madagascar Mauritius Togo |
ARGENTINA:
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In April 2010 a regional event will be organized to commemorate the nation's bicentennial and the 50th Anniversary of the IOC. In the Agenda of the event, a scientific workshop will be held on ocean issues jointly with the IEEE's Ocean Engineering Charter, OCEANATLAN and ISABP, as well as other partners interested in ocean science and marine technology. During 2009–2011, research cruises will be organized under the flag of the IOC 50th Anniversary.
In 2009 RV “Puerto Deseado” implemented four cruises under the IOC 50th Anniversary flag to study marine geology and geophysics, south atlantic meridional overturning circulation, marine biology and physical, chemical, biological properties of ocean waters.
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AUSTRALIA:
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An oceanographic conference took place in Sydney, on 24–27 May 2009. |
BELGIUM:
During the Belgium EU Presidency, a scientific conference will be organized dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary. There will be a special module on IOC developed in the web-based interactive education training tool "Planet Sea” and a series of articles published by its IOC Project Office for IODE in Ostende in the UNESCO-INFO journal.
Training activities will be organized dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary, and the research vessels “Belgica” and “Zeeleeuw” will implement cruises under the IOC 50th Anniversary flag.
There is a financial contribution from the Belgium/Flanders Governmemt: 24,582.00 USD.
BRAZIL:
The first Brazilian TransAntlantic Oceanographic Cruise was accomplished on December 23th 2009, after two months of intensive data collection in the Atlantic Ocean, between latitudes 30° and 20° S. During the cruise 11 integrated projects were conducted, coordinated by leading scientists of 16 research institutions from Brazil. 50 researchers and graduate students were directly involved. The preliminary results of the cruise have been discussed in January 22nd 2010.
 | An exhibition is planned to be organized on board the training ship “Brazil”, to be demonstrated in port of calls around the world. In May 2010, a special session about IOC will be organized in conjunction with the Brazilian Oceanographic Congress to be held in Rio Grande. There are plans to organize a 2-days meeting in November 2010 at the Oceanographic Institute of Sao Paulo State University under the title “The Oceans and Society: the role of the Oceanographic Institute of Sao Paulo (IOUSP) in implementing the programs of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)”. |
BULGARIA:
In November 2009, a conference on marine education, training and science was organized in Varna under the auspices of the National Institute of Oceanology.
 | The following promotional efforts are planned to be organized in 2010–2011: a special issue of the bulletin of the National Oceanographic Commission will be published for the IOC 50th Anniversary (March 2010); a catalogue of the projects implemented in the Black Sea will be developed with the financial support of the European Commission; poster exhibitions dedicated to the IOC will be organized in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; a commemorative stamp dedicated to the Anniversary will be issued in 2010. |
In 2010 a research cruise will be implemented on board RV “Akademik” under the flag of the 50th Anniversary.
CANADA:
In 2010, the Annual Congress of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society will organize a special session on the history of marine science and the role of the IOC in ocean research.
One scientific cruise in each of the three Canadian ocean areas will be designated as IOC's 50th Anniversary cruises and implemented under Anniversary flags. Vessels involved in the cruises are research vessels from the Canadian Coast Guard (CCGS): “John P. Tulley” CCGS (Pacific Ocean), “Hudson” CCGS (Atlantic Ocean) and the Icebreaker “Louis S. St. Laurent” CCGS (Arctic).
50,000 USD were allocated to implement activities relevant to the IOC 50th Anniversary. Half of this amount will be used to support the publication of the IOC “Troubled Waters: Ocean Science and Governance”, another half for the production of promotional materials and implementation of outreach efforts.
Canadian Coast Guard Web site link
Return to Map of Events
CHILE:
 | The Naval oceanographic vessel AGOR “Vidal Gormaz” undertook the ENOS XXII oceanographic cruise from 7-12 December 2009, between Valparaiso and Juan Fernandez Island to survey oceanographic conditions associated with the “El Niño-La Nina” phenomenon. The cruise was implemented under the Anniversary flag and was used to promote IOC activities in the region. Information about the cruise will be included in the NOC web page. |
In May 2010, SHOA and several Chilean universities will sponsor an international seminar on the 50th Anniversary of the Valdivia Earthquake and Tsunami. During this seminar the IOC 50th Anniversary logo will be displayed.
By the end of February 2010, SHOA will finalize printing of 2,000 information brochures on Tsunami with the IOC 50th Anniversary logo on the cover.
CHINA:
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An international high-level forum on ocean issues will be organized in 2010, as well as 1–2 international training courses on ocean dynamics and climate. The courses will be hosted by the First Institute of Oceanography of SOA. As part of the WESTPAC programme “Responses of Marine Hazards to Climate Change in the Western Pacific”, a regional cruise will be organized on board a Chinese research vessel under the flag of the IOC 50th Anniversary. |
COLOMBIA:
 | An International Maritime Fair will be organized in Cartagena from 19-22 May 2010. IOC is invited to have its own exposition. An invitation is extended to the IOC Chair and Executive Secretary to give presentations at the scientific conference, which will be held co-jointly with the Fair. To promote IOC, 2 research cruises to study El Niño in the CPPS region will be implemented under the flag of the IOC 50th Anniversary. A reference to the Anniversary is included in the Colombian National Oceanographic Committee website link. International Maritime Fair website link |  |
CÔTE d’IVOIRE:
Open-door days are planned in the oceanographic centre. During these days poster sessions will be organized and presentations given to emphasize that the role of oceans in the country's life. A training course on mathematical modelling of oceanographic processes will be implemented for African countries, in which 16 countries plan to participate.
CUBA:
The 13th Latin American Congress on Marine Sciences and the 8th Cuban Congress on Marine Sciences were held in the International Conference Center in Havana, 26–30 October 2009.
 | There was a special session dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary, held in conjunction with the events and associated posters exhibitions on the 50 years of marine sciences in Cuba. A Children's Fair on Marine Sciences will be organized in April 2010, with a special programme dedicated to IOC. It is expected that around 700 children and teenagers from all Cuban provinces will attend. | 
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DENMARK:
 | Denmark decided to join other Members states in celebrating the Anniversary by organizing a special event at the upcoming Nordic Science Conference to take place in Sweden on 14-16 September 2010. |
ECUADOR:
In August 2009, a national seminar was organized to develop a national plan for oceanographic research for the years to come, in which a national contribution to the Anniversary was further explored. Jointly with CPPS, an international seminar on the study of climate change was implemented on 26–28 August 2009, at which the contribution of IOC to the climate studies was presented. In September 2009 the country implemented an oceanographic cruise under the IOC 50th Anniversary flag along the section Guayaquil–Galapagos.
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It is envisaged that all oceanographic cruises in March–April 2010 and in September 2010 will bear the Anniversary flag. INOCAR will publish short information briefs on the IOC and its activities which will be distributed among the students and the visitors to the Institute and Planetarium. There is a plan to have a special issue on the Oceans for Ocean Day, the 8th of June 2010, in which IOC activities will be highlighted. In July 2010 in Guayaquil, a workshop on oceanographic research will be organized with the presentation of posters describing IOC activities. |
EGYPT:
A workshop on the role of IOC in the development of oceanography and marine ecology in Egypt and the Arab world was held in Alexandria 17–20 November 2009 in conjunction with the NIOF international conference.
FRANCE:
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An award for young scientists has been created in memory of Christian Le Provost, a world-known oceanographer who contributed to the knowledge of tides, sea level change and ocean dynamics. |
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GERMANY:
Plans to organize an exhibition “Future Ocean” for 2010 by the Ocean Future Cluster of Excellence (the Cluster comprises a number of high-level ocean research centres). The exhibition will start in April 2010 in the Deutsches Museum's Masterpieces of Science and Technology, in Munich. During the exhibition, one day will be dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the IOC.
GREECE:
Expression of a strong interest in participating in the commemorative events through the organization of summer schools on climate variability, exhibitions on marine science and technology, and scientific meetings at which special lectures will be dedicated to the IOC and its activities. Exchange visits of students to research centres, marine protection centres and aquariums will be organized with the objective to promote widely the role of the IOC in marine research, monitoring and protection.
HAITI:
Several conferences and workshops are planned to be organized, with the support of the IOC, dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the IOC. Establishment of a national hydrographic centre is being considered.
INDIA:
 | Dedicated cruises to the IOC 50th Anniversary on board the ORV Sagar Kanya and the Sagar Nidhi were implemented within the Continental Convergence Zone (CTCZ) programme, dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary. They were implemented from 14 July 2009 to 18 August 2009. Also as a contribution to the Anniversary, a marine natural hazards dedicated regional centre will be established in the country. |  |
INDONESIA:
During 2009–2011, it is planned to organize a wide campaign on the role and place of the IOC in ocean studies, monitoring and protection in the universities and research institutes. The campaign will include a wide involvement of mass media by introducing media briefs and publishing articles.
 | In November 2009, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Indonesian Association of Oceanographers, there was a special meeting organized by the National Oceanographic Committee to promote the 50th Anniversary of the IOC. |
IRAN (Islamic Republic of):
| On 10 August 2009, there was an official event organized by the National Committee for Oceanography to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of IOC.  |
ITALY:
A poster, bearing the 50th Anniversary logo, on the activities of the Italian Oceanographic Commission was developed and displayed at OceanObs'09 in Venice, on 21-25 September 2009.
The 2nd National Conference on Operational Oceanography, to be held in Cesenatico on 27-28 May 2010. It is organized by the “Italian Oceanography Committee” coordinated by Prof Nadia Pinardi.
 | A Conference on the Role of Science and International Community on the Marine Governance. It is organized jointly by the Italian Oceanographic Commission and National Research Council. It will be held in Rome on 13-15 October 2010. |
There is a plan to dedicate the 2nd Meeting of the Italian Working Group on Operational Oceanography to the 50th Anniversary of the IOC (date and place to be identified).
JAPAN:
An International Symposium under the title “IOC Programmes: Past, Present and Future” will be held in Yasuda Auditorium, University of Tokyo, on 29-30 October 2010, to celebrate IOC achievements in the area of marine science and services and open up a new vista of the IOC future.
 | An International Symposium on the “Role of the Indian and Pacific Oceans in Climate Change and Variability” will be organized in the United Nations University, Tokyo, from 29-30 October 2010. |
KUWAIT:
 | With the help of the national commissions relevant to the anniversary, UNESCO associated schools and public society, the country plans to increase awareness of the importance of the marine-related issues, as well as of the role and place of the IOC. Efforts will be made to attract the private sector, e.g. oil companies working at the sea, in the promotion and reinforcement of IOC activities. |
MADAGASCAR:
The focus of the country's contribution to the Anniversary will be on awareness-raising among people, teachers, students, and particularly the government and decision-makers, on the important role of the ocean for human life and on the place and role of the IOC.
 | There will be “porte ouverte” days at the Marine Science and Halieutic Institute of the University of Toliara. Exhibitions, as well as seminars, conferences and workshops will be organized. |
MALAYSIA:
On 26-28 May 2009, Malaysia organized an International Conference on marine ecosystem for the commeration of the 50th Anniversary of IOC.
 | Malaysia will be organizing two international conferences in 2010 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of IOC: the 1st International Conference on Managing Ecosystem Health of Tropical seas: “Environmental Management in Coastal Ecosystem (ECOSEAS 2010)” on 19-21 October 2010, in Best Western Premier Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and the 3rd International Conference on Underwater System Technology 2010: Theory and Application” on 1-2 November 2010, in Putrajaya. |
MAURITIUS:
The National Institute of Oceanography celebrated World Ocean Day on 8 June 2009 by organizing a national Ocean Science Forum, and all the major weeklies carried the advert with the IOC 50th Anniversary logo on the banner.
 | There is a plan to have, as from January 2010, a permanent exhibition set up at the national Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre. In addition to local and regional issues, the display will clearly demonstrate the contribution of the IOC of UNESCO to the coordination of oceanographic activities. The exhibition will be accompanied with the by presentations made by scientists for the benefit of secondary school students. |
MEXICO:
 | The celebration of the IOC 50th Anniversary will, in 2010, coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and with the 200th anniversary of the independence of Mexico. All national institutions involved in marine research, monitoring and capacity-development will be invited to organize activities dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary. |
An annual National Congress on Marine Science and Technology and other relevant national meetings will be organized and dedicated to the Anniversary.
There will be lectures delivered on the history of the Commission and its activities, emphasizing the important role the IOC plays in ocean research. Special activities, including contents for schoolchildren, are planned in relevant educational institutions to present UNESCO and, particularly, IOC activities in the area of education and training in marine sciences.
It is planned to publish brochures about IOC activities that will be widely distributed. The posters on the IOC activities with the Anniversary logo shown during the 25th Session of the IOC Assembly will be translated into Spanish and submitted to the institutions dealing with marine issues. An exhibition on the health and sustainability of the ocean, as well as on other critical issues and with emphasis on the problems of Mexico's coastal seas will be organized in Mexico City and in other cities of the country.
All research and training cruises planned for the Anniversary will be implemented under the IOC Anniversary flag.
A web page dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary will be developed.
MONACO:
 | The celebration of the IOC 50th Anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Science Center of Monaco and with the 100th anniversary of Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. There will be a joint workshop "Bringing the Gap between Ocean Acidification and Economic Valuation" organized in 2010. Promotion activities are planned by the center and the museum. |
22,590 USD were provided to the IOC in support of initiatives related to the Anniversary.
POLAND:
 | In 2010 the Interministerial Committee on Maritime Policy of Poland and the Commission for the Codification of Maritime Law will discuss and adopt special resolutions related to the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of IOC. |
PORTUGAL:
| The University of Azores will make available R/V "ARQUIPELAGO" for the Commemoration of the IOC 50th Anniversary. |
REPUBLIC OF KOREA:
 | EXPO 2012 is being organized under the theme “The Living Ocean and Coast”. It was announced that, if the 2011 Global Oceans Forum is organized in the country, the government will be ready to support the event by providing 40,000 USD. Two international meetings are being planned in conjunction with EXPO: the 2nd International Symposium on the “Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans” and the JCOMM-IV meeting. Organizers of EXPO are ready to provide space for the IOC Pavilion to be operational during the entire period of the exhibition. |
RUSSIAN FEDERATION:
An international conference on “50 Years of Education and Awareness-Raising for Shaping the Future of the Oceans and Coasts” will be held in the Russian State Hydrometeorological University, St. Petersburg 27–30 April 2010.
The 16th Baltic Training-Through-Research (TTR) cruise was carried out from 13-24 2009 July on board a sailing catamaran “Centaurus II” under the Anniversary flag.
Website for more information about the conference
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SPAIN:
SRI LANKA:
The National Oceanographic and Marine Science Committee will launch a TV programme dedicated to the Anniversary. There will be an educational programme on oceans organized for school children.
A special volume of "Vidurawa" Journal about the Oceans will be issued in 2010. The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), an IOC focal point in the country, will organize a regional scientific seminar to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of IOC.
A high level meeting dedicated to the IOC 50th Anniversary will be organized in April 2010.
SWEDEN:
 | An IOC Anniversary flag will be hosted on RV “Argos” which implements monthly cruises in the Baltic, Kattegat and Skagerrak to monitor marine environment. The observations are being performed by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. |
THAILAND:
As a contribution to the Anniversary, plans to hold a National Marine Science Conference in August-September 2010 have been developed. National and international experts will be invited to give talks on ocean science, management, and ocean governance and marine policy. Posters' session will also be organized. A scientific exhibition will be organized with the participation of the university, oil companies, research institutes, private sector and NGOs. One of the objectives of these events will be to promote the IOC activities and make UNESCO/IOC more visible to the scientific community and public at large in the country.
In March-April 2010 an oceanographic cruise will be implemented in the Andaman Sea with the support of the Thai and Chinese governments as a part of the IOC/WESTPAC project “Monsoon onset monitoring”. The cruise will be under the IOC Anniversary flag.
Table Calendar for 2010 will be published to promote the work of IOC. Thailand joins in commemorating the Anniversary by producing souvenir items such as neckties and scarves imprinted with the Anniversary logo.
TOGO:
The government is interested in supporting activities development targeted on research and technology development and exploitation of the ocean and coastal areas. It is planned to modify, and make more effective, teaching methods in secondary schools and colleges, as well as to increase knowledge in marine issues of school teachers who lack the necessary knowledge, experience and methodological materials.
The Ministry of High Education and Research, jointly with the Working Committee on Hydrography, Oceanography and Security of Navigation at Sea, will organize under the auspices of the Centre on Integrated Management of the Coastal Zone and Environment, of the University of Lome, and the Togo National Oceanographic Data Centre, a high-level national interactive panel on science and technology supported by a poster session presenting regional and international programmes of interest to the country, the activities of hydrographic and oceanographic services, and the results of scientific research. The above-mentioned initiatives will be widely covered by mass media in order to make the public aware of, and have the Government engaged in implementing, the following actions: (i) creation of the national committee of the sea; (ii) reinforcement of capacities and facilities dealing with operational oceanography; (iii) reinforcement of data and information management services; (iv) institutionalization of maritime development.
TURKEY:
In May 2009, the Office of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography celebrated its 100th anniversary. Among the related events, a symposium under the title “History, Current Status and Future of the Turkish Marine Cartography and Marine Research Activities” was organized in 11–12 May 2009. It was followed by an exhibition on the history of marine cartography and marine research activities held in Istanbul at the Turkish Naval Museum from 13 May–13 June 2009. More than 10,000 visitors attended the exhibition. There was a special stamp issued to commemorate this event, as well as various souvenirs with the 100th anniversary logo.
In commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the IOC, the country will follow gained experience.
UKRAINE:
 | In the second quarter of 2010 in Kiev, there will be a special session of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the IOC and the history of oceanographic research in the Ukraine. An international conference is planned for the third quarter of 2010 on “Functioning and Evolution of Ecological Systems of the Azov-Black Sea Basin in the Time of Global Climate Change and Regional Anthropogenic Influences”. |
 | Promotional efforts will be focused on the publication of a popular brochure in the second quarter of 2010 dedicated to the IOC and to the participation of Ukrainian scientists in the IOC programmes. There will be a series of mass-media interventions organized in the second–fourth quarters of 2010 under the theme “Integration of ocean sciences – experience and future of international cooperation”. |
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:
Two types of flags bearing the 50th Anniversary logo have been provided to the IOC Secretariat as a contribution to the Anniversary: table flags (one for each Member State) and some large flags for use on ships conducting approved 50th Anniversary research cruises.
The UK is planning to carry out a commemorative cruise on board RRS “James Cook” (from St Johns, Newsfoundland to Vigo, Spain) in June 2010.
Help with the preparation of the Book “Troubled Waters: Ocean Science and Governance” has been given by providing one of the co-editors and some archive photographs.
 | Consideration is being given to identify several marine science meetings organized in the country as contributions to the Anniversary, including the 3rd International Ocean Stewardship Forum “Taking stock - the state of the oceans” on 26-28 May 2010, in Southampton: Ocean Stewardship Forum website link; and the 14th Biennial Challenger Conference for Marine Science “Ocean Challenges in the 21st Century” on 6–9 September 2010, in Southampton Challenger 2010 website link |
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
VENEZUELA (Bolivarian Republic of):
VIET NAM: 
IODE:
GOOS:
DBCP:
EUROGOOS:
IMarEST: 
International Ocean Institue:
PICES jointly with the Ocean Science Section of the IOC will organize an International conference on “Climate Effects on Fish and Fisheries: Forecasting Impacts, Assessing Ecosystem Responses, and Evaluating Management Strategies”, on 26–29 April 2010 in Sendai, Japan.
World Ocean Network / NAUSSICA:
UNPA: