PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT
India-EU Workshop on Marine Primary Production

Marine photosynthesis representsapproximately half of the total carbon fixation in the global biosphere, making it acritical element of the Earth’s carbon budget and biogeochemical cycles. In addition,phytoplankton biomass and primary production are descriptors of the first trophiclevel in the marine food chain. Estimation of primary production could therefore provide important information on the structure and functioningof the rest of the food web, up to commercially exploited fish populations. Many scientific groups in India are working on various aspects of marine primary production, including measurements, modelling, remote sensing and applications in ecosystem models. Can we add value to this work through enhanced collaboration and coordination? What aspects of the problem are yet insufficiently studied? What innovative thinking can be brought to bear on understanding the implications of variability in marine primary production for resources at higher trophic levels, including commercially-exploited fisheries? Is there a need for standardising methods of measuring primary production, to facilitate comparison of results? Under the auspices of the INDO-MARECLIM (Indo-European Research Facilities for studies on marine ecosystems and climate in India (INDO-MARECLIM) Project of European Union FP-7, a workshop is being organised by the Nansen Environmental Research Centre India (NERCI) to discuss the current status of scientific work on marine primary production in India and to explore possibilities for collaboration in the future.

The INDO-MARECLIM project envisages developing an institutional network in India to embark on joint research ventures from a case to case basis. INDO-MARECLIM aims at facilitating and improving the co-operation between the European Union Members States and Associated Countries and India and includes partners from UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway, involved in research topics of relevance to India.

The strategy of INDO-MARECLIM is to organize and host workshops and summer school inviting European and Indian scientists, post-docs and PhDs.
Date: March 12 to 15, 2013
Venue:Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, Kochi
Objectives: (i) To discuss the issues involved in regional estimates of marine primary production; and (ii) to explore the possibility of national coordination for assessment of primary production in Indian waters.
Who should attend?

Those interested in the estimation of primary production in Indian waters and in the application of the results in biogeochemistry and in fisheries.

Structure:

A suite of tutorial lectures, a series of discussion groups and a set of submitted presentations by poster.
Conducted by: Nansen Environmental Research Centre (India) through its EU-FP7 project entitled “INDO-MARECLIM” with scientific expertise from Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS).
Convenors:

Prof.N.R. Menon (Co-ordinator, INDO-MARECLIM & Research Director, NERCI)

Prof. B. Madhusoodana Kurup (Vice-Chancellor, KUFOS)

Scientific Committee:
Dr Shubha Sathyendranath (PML, UK)
Dr Trevor Platt (PML, UK)

Prof. C. Mohanakumaran Nair (KUFOS, Kochi)

Dr. Lasse H. Pettersson (NERSC, Norway)

Dr. Annette Samuelsen (NERSC, Norway)

Dr. Ajith Joseph. K (NERCI, Kochi)

Dr. Nandini Menon. N (NERCI, Kochi)
DETAILED PROGRAMME TO FOLLOW SHORTLY.

Those wishing to attend should communicate their interest as soon as possible to Nansen Centre by sending the completed pre-registration form to:on or before 10th February 2013.

Pre-Registration on

India-EU Workshop on Marine Primary Production

Personal Information

First Name : Surname :

Nationality:

Passport No. ( for non Indian delegates):

University/Institution, Department :

Position :

Gender :

Address for Correspondence:

Telephone No:

Mobile No:

Fax No:

e-mail address :

Fields of interest:

Please indicate by adding “yes” against relevant topic(s) listed below

Methods of estimation of primary production

Relation between primary production and fisheries

Phytoplankton community composition

Modelling of plankton ecosystems

Remote sensing / marine optics

Other (please specify)

Your Current and Planned Activities Related to Marine Primary Production:

(not more than 250 words) :

Are you willing to make a brief statement at the workshop on the scope of your activities related to marine primary production? If yes, please provide title:

Accomodation category: Single Twin Sharing

Registration Fee: In case the number of candidates are higher than that can be supported by the EU funds, those participants would be asked to remit a fee of Rs. 1000/- by cash at the time of registration.