UN Decade of Ocean Science
The Foundation is a strong supportor of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Under the leadership of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO), the vision of the Ocean Decade is "the science we need for the ocean we want".
The UN Decade was born out of the realization that much more needs to be done to reverse the cycle of marine degradation and to create better conditions for the sustainable development of our ocean, seas and coasts, and thus for people too. The UN Decade provides a framework for scientists and stakeholders from many different sectors to disseminate knowledge and develop partnerships that can contribute to a better understanding of the ocean system and thus to science-based solutions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The initiators of the UN Ocean Decade are calling for the following seven outcomes to be reached:
A clean ocean where sources of pollution are identified and reduced or removed.
A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are understood, protected, restored and managed.
A productive ocean supporting sustainable food supply and a sustainable ocean economy.
A predicted ocean where society understands and can respond to changing conditions.
A safe ocean where life and livelihoods are protected from ocean-related hazards.
An accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information and technology and innovation.
An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean in relation to human well-being and sustainable development.
To realize the vision of the Ocean Decade, the IOC-UNESCO has invited the global community to make proposals to address these outcomes. The proposals for Decade Actions in the form of projects, contributions and activities are reviewed and approved by the IOC in Paris. Eleven of our projects have already been approved by IOC-UNESCO, starting with our research and media ship ALDEBARAN.
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ALDEBARAN: Media and Research Vessel
Since 1992, the climate-friendly, flexible, shallow-water research and media vessel has sailed over 100,000 nautical miles on more than 250 expeditions in European, Atlantic and Caribbean waters. The ALDEBARAN has helped establish marine protected areas and reach millions of people with qualified scientific results and ocean films and images.
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Research at sea competition
The marine competition for young scientists has been taking place since 2005 with more than 80 one-week expeditions on board the research vessel ALDEBARAN.
School students from the 9th grade and above can set sail for a week of research on the Balic or North Sea with the guidance of an experienced marine researcher.
Six teams have so far been awarded state or national prizes in the competition "Jugend forscht". -
Ocean Lovers Education Initiative
The International OCEAN FILM TOUR is the most spectacular ocean film festival on tour in Europe. We organize the corresponding online teaching material, bringing the ocean into the classroom and supporting teachers with projects on selected films.
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German Ocean Festival
Every year, the ocean takes centre stage in the heart of political Berlin, together with representatives from the worlds of art and culture. Partners from society, science and business present their ideas and innovative projects on the importance of the ocean for society and the economy with bold, tangible visions for our future.
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„love your ocean" - ocean literacy initiative
Curated and organized by the German Ocean Foundation in close cooperation with boot Düsseldorf, the "love your ocean" sustainability initiative has been taking place since 2008 with partners from business, science and society. More than 100 stakeholders present their innovations and pioneering projects and products for a healthy ocean and healthy waters on an area of around 1,000 square meters, all under the umbrella of the Ocean Decade. Workshops, hands-on activities, a stage programme and the annual Ocean Forum help raise ocean awareness among the more than 200,000 visitors to the water sports trade fair.
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Ocean Conference Series
Three online Ocean Dialogues and the in-person Ocean Forum provide a platform for lively discussions and a creative exchange of ideas.
Representatives from science, business, politics and society have the unique opportunity during the dialogues to find out more about the challenges facing the ocean and how interdisciplinary approaches can support ocean protection.
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YOUMARES Conference
The German Ocean Foundation supports and promotes the YOUMARES youth conference of the German Society for Marine Research (DGM), which has been organized by its research and teaching working group since 2008. Up to 300 young participants from all over the world meet annually in person in Germany and online for the conference for young scientists. It is currently the leading independent event for young marine researchers in Europe. In cooperation with Springer Verlag, the conference contributions are published in an anthology.
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Ocean Heroes
The "Ocean Heroes" project shows how effective communications can help publicize ocean projects. It features interviews with personalities and ocean heroes from around the world.
If you are involved in a positive project to protect, restore or clean up the ocean or raise awareness for the ocean - either with the support of an organization or on your own - we want to hear from you!
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Miniatur Wunderland
The miniature ALDEBARAN sets sail off the coast of Monaco. Miniatur Wunderland, the second most popular tourist attraction in Germany with an average 1.25 million visitors a year, welcomes the UN Ocean Decade and has integrated models representing the seven goals into its exhibits.
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Ocean Knowledge Base
To close the communication gap between science and society, the Ocean Knowledge Base will provide clear and easy-to-understand summaries of scientific publications on pressing ocean issues. The German Ocean Foundation will work with Springer Nature to build a bridge between a database of scientific publications and representatives from politics, civil society and the media.
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Citizen Science
The German Ocean Foundation has launched a broad-based citizen science initiative in collaboration with key partners from the water sports industry. The aim is to encourage water sports enthusiasts to collect marine data in a simple but high-quality and comprehensive form.