G3 of Marine Research meet in Kiel
Ifremer, NOC and GEOMAR coordinate further cooperation
25 September 2013/Kiel. The study of the oceans is a challenge that no country can tackle alone. Therefore, the three major European institutions in the field of ocean research, the French "Institut français de recherche pour l' exploitation de la mer" (IFREMER), the British "National Oceanography Centre" (NOC) and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, already agreed almost nine years ago on a close cooperation in order to jointly and effectively increase knowledge of the oceans. The actual underlying reason for this step was the Indian Ocean tsunami at the end of 2004, and the resulting realization that the knowledge of such natural hazards was still very patchy.
Today, high-ranking representatives of the so-called "G3" met at GEOMAR Kiel to discuss, as part of regular mutual consultations on joint research activities in the field of ocean observation, the opportunities and risks of resource exploitation in the deep sea and the so-called micro-plastics in the ocean.
Also on the agenda were the future planning of joint expeditions and European research infrastructure. Dr. Klas Lackschewitz, marine coordinator at GEOMAR, reported on the German research fleet, its operation and renewal. In this context, Professor Ed Hill, director of NOC, talked about the recent construction of the new British research vessel, RSS DISCOVERY.
"The operation of an efficient and modern research fleet poses a challenge for all partner countries. It is thus important to coordinate at the European and international level in order to optimally utilize the available resources. One positive example is the Ocean Facilities Exchange Group, where - aside from Germany, France and Great Britain - Norway, the Netherlands and Spain also participate," emphasized GEOMAR director Professor Peter Herzig.
