International Atomic Energy Agency
COORDINATION MEETING ON STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY AND NETWORKING
INFORMATION SHEET
Project Number Title: / INT7019: Supporting a Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network – toward increased involvement of developing statesPlace (City, Country): / Vienna, Austria (IAEA Headquarters)
Dates: / 10-12 April 2017
Deadline forNominations: / 6 January 2017
Organizers: / International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Language: / English
Purpose: / To review the progress and status of INT7019, present and discussstandardization of methodology and OA research kits with experts in the field, allow for participants to present current capacities, gaps and future needs andopportunities for collaboration and adjust the project work plan accordingly if needed.
Specific objectives of the meeting are: (1) to present and discuss standardized OA methodology and new techniques/kits; (2)to present, discuss and evaluate capacities of participating Member States; (3) to identify possibilities for regional and inter-regional collaboration and networking opportunities, data management and sharing, and communication(4) to identify specific needs for training and equipment (5)to establish country-specific action plans for 2017-19taking into account regional and national priorities and (6) to review, discuss, and revise the project workplan as needed.
Scope and
Nature: / The meeting will allow all INT7019Counterparts to come together and:
- present their work, capacities, and needs, based on a questionnaire currently in development;
- identify possibilities for collaboration (both regional and inter-regional);
- discuss data sharing and data management efforts;
- discuss data synthesis products and outreach activities (both regional and inter-regional);
- identify specific needs to enhancecapability in orderto reach a level required to produce adequate data and start more advanced collaborations with other countries;
- identify gaps and potential constraints or risks for project implementation.
It is envisaged that participants break up in smaller working groups according to region, research interests and/or level of background knowledge on ocean acidification for part of the discussions.
Expected Output(s): /
- Results of capacity assessment
- Meeting report including reports from breakout group discussions
- Identification of capacity building needs for participating countries
- Identification of opportunities for collaboration and networking, common research interests and concerns
- Identification and consensus on potential subgroups and focal points
- Revised project work plan, as needed
Background Information: / Ocean acidification has emerged as one of the most worrying global threats to marine organisms, ecosystems, services, and resources of our time. This “other CO2 problem”, which only developed as a research field some 15 years ago and is still poorly known by the general public, has potentially dramatic ecological and socio-economic consequences for countries relying on marine resources, especially countries with few possibilities for alternative livelihoods. Target 14.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aims to “Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels”. As research and capacity building activities on ocean acidification and related stressors continue to develop across the globe, continued and enhanced international cooperation and coordination will be essential in order to achieve this target.
The overall goals of INT7019 are to help build capacity to measure and study ocean acidification, and connect countries and regions with an interest in this emerging environmental problem. The project will promote(1) standardization of methodology (2) capacity building, (3) regional and inter-regional networking, collaboration and data sharing, and (4) outreach to key stakeholders.
The first year of the project (2016)was largely dedicated to two activities which will be important for project implementation in 2017-2019:
(1) assess the needs and capacities of each participating Member State through a questionnaire (currently in development), and
(2) advance the development of simplified/standardized methodology and OA research “kits” to allow for Member States to obtain OA measurements or lab results of good quality and contribute in a meaningful way to international efforts such as the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON;
The assessment of available capacities and needs will serve as a basis to ensure that Member States obtain appropriate capacity enhancement, according to the level of knowledge and facilities available, and will allow identifying common concerns among countries and opportunities for collaboration and data sharing.
It is envisaged that 2017-2018 be devoted to enhance capability to enable MS to reach the level required to produce adequate data and start more advanced collaborations with other countries, to data collection, and coordination, with in person meetings of the participating MSs and representation of regions in international meetings. The final year includes the production of regional and/or inter-regional data synthesis products, as well as a stakeholder event to communicate the results.
The project benefits from close links with the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative project “Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre” (OA-ICC; based at the IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco, as well as the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON;
Participation: / Designated Counterparts for INT7019.Selected external experts on ocean acidification chemistry, biology and socio-economy.
Participants’ Qualifications: / The participants should already be working on ocean acidification or plan to start ocean acidification research, with a broad overview and knowledge of ocean acidification capacities and ongoing efforts in the country.
Preparation for the meeting /
- Duly filled assessment questionnaire (the questionnaire will be circulated to INT7019 Counterparts in due time before the meeting)
- Power Point Presentation (max. 4 slides; 5 min) describing the current status of OA work in the country, based on the questionnaire.In the interest of time, a common template for the presentation will be used to streamline all the presentations. The template will besent to CPs in due time before the meeting.
- Identification of the composition of the National Project Team (national stakeholders and other partners) involved in the implementation of INT7019, including clear indication of the roles and responsibilities of each partner.
Nomination Procedure: / Nominations should be submitted online through InTouch Platform, which is accessible through the following link applicant must open this link and register in the system. Registration is free. Upon registration, you will be provided with the Log-in and password. Note: All counterparts and NLOs are already registered and can use the same usernames and passwords that you are currently using to access PCMF/TCPRIDE.
Nominationsmust be received by the International Atomic Energy Agency not later than 6 January 2017. Nominations received after this date or which have not been endorsed through the established official channels cannot be considered.
Security in the Field: / It is recommended that meeting participants complete the courses Basic Security in the Field: Safety, Health and Welfare (BSITF) and Advanced Security in the Field (ASITF), prior totravelling to locations where UN security phases are in effect. The aim of these courses is to educate participants on how best to avoid or minimize potential dangers and threats, and to show what individuals can do if they find themselves in insecure situations.
The courses are available on the following UN websites by using Microsoft Internet Explorer:
BSITF:
ASITF:
If you have difficulty using the websites, a CD-ROM can be obtained from your National AFRA coordinator, or from IAEA.
Once the candidate has completed the courses and passed the accompanying exams, certificates will be generated automatically and must be printed for submission to the IAEA (either as an e-mail attachment or by fax). Copies of the certificates should be kept by the candidate for his/her records, as they are valid for a period of three years.
Administrative and Financial Arrangements: / Nominating Governments will be informed in due course of the names of the candidates who have been selected and will, at that time, be given full details of the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative and financial matters.
Selected participants from countries eligible to receive technical assistance will be provided with a round trip economy class air ticket from their home countries to Vienna, Austria and a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) at the prevailing UN Rate. Shipment of accumulated meeting materials to the participants' home countries is not the responsibility of the IAEA.
The organizers of the meeting do not accept liability for the payment of any cost or compensation that may arise from damage to or loss of personal property, or from illness, injury, disability or death of a participant while he/she is travelling to and from or attending the meeting, and it is clearly understood that each Government, in nominating participants, undertakes responsibility for such coverage. Governments would be well advised to take out insurance against these risks.
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