2024 Ocean Decade Conference & Ocean Decade Week

Monday 8 April 2024 - Friday 12 April 2024

Location: Hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona, Spain

This event has now ended and is archived

Delivering the science we need for the ocean we want 8th -12th of April 2024 Hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona, Spain

Plymouth Marine Laboratory is taking part in the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference (10-12 April) and the Ocean Decade Week (8-12 April) and you can find highlights of our activities and links in the table and wording below.

This year marks the fourth year of implementation of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Under the leadership of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Ocean Decade has already galvanized thousands of partners around the world to start delivering the science we need for the ocean we want.

Our Director of Science, Prof. Steve Widdicombe, sits on the Ocean Decade Conference Programme Committee and PML staff are leading and taking part in several satellite events on-site and off-site. Prof. Ana Queirós, Dr. Claire Szostek and Prof. Steve Widdicombe will be speaking in the thematic sessions as part of main conference programme.

Prof. Matt Frost is the Chair of the UK National Decade Committee (NDC) and working closely with UK Government, other decade committees and IOC UNESCO in organising a number of NDCs activities.

PML trustees Dan Crockett, Dr Jyotika Virmani and Dr Véronique Garçon are also in attendance, in addition to Honorary Fellow Torsten Thiele.

The final draft versions of the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 white papers will be presented and discussed during the thematic “Science Solution Forums’ at the Conference, with Dr. Anthony Ndah and Prof. Steve Widdicombe on Expert Working Groups 2 and 7 respectively for these papers.

You can meet with the PML team during any of the events or find us on the Marine Research Plymouth (booth 1, in the Foyer at the Barcelona International Convention Centre), a partnership between PML, the Marine Biological Association of the UK and the University of Plymouth.

Find out more about the Ocean Decade Week and conference >>

Highlights of PML activities at the conference

	8 April 2024
9:00 – 11:00	The Ocean Decade from a National Perspective: what does success look like?	Professor Matt Frost speaker and co-organizer (as UK National Decade Committee Chair)	By invitation only
09:00 -17:00	Communication Symposium The symposium will support the development of ocean-climate communication best practice guidelines and associated resources as part of the Project “Advancing Strategic Ocean Communication”.	Daniel Jones and Thecla Keizer MSc attendees	By invitation only
17:00 – 18:30	The European Blue Schools toward the ambitious target of UNESCO about ocean literacy in the school curricula, a dialogue promoted by the ProBleu, SHORE and BlueLightS Consortia Coalition under the EU Ocean Mission toward the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) goal.	PML is a ProBleu partner	Click here for the event invitation Institute de Ciéncies del Mar, room Margalef

	9 April 2024
09:00 -17:00	Communication Symposium The symposium will support the development of ocean-climate communication best practice guidelines and associated resources as part of the Project “Advancing Strategic Ocean Communication”.	Daniel Jones and Thecla Keizer MSc attendees	By invitation only
09:30-11:00	Catalyzing Source-to-Sea Synergies towards Healthy Rivers and a Healthy Ocean	Professor Steve Widdicombe panelist, Amy Kenworthy speaker and PML an event partner (Thecla Keizer MSc co-organizer)	Click HERE to register Click here to join the livestream Click here to view the flyer Click here to view the e-card Institute de Ciéncies del Mar, room Margalef
12:00 – 13:30	Ocean Futures 2030: Marine genetic resources and global benefit sharing	Professor Matt Frost presentation on the BBNJ agreement and panelist	Click here for further details Edificio MediaTIC, Carrer de Roc Boronat, 117, Sant Martí, 08018 Barcelona
17:00 – 18:30	Global Awareness, Research activities and Network to Address Ocean Microplastic Pollution	Dr James Clark is a panelist and Plymouth Marine Laboratory a co-host	Click here for the QR code and here for the event overview and registration Barcelona Biomedical Research Park

	10 April 2024
All day	PML is a partner in the Marine Research Plymouth exhibition booth with the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth	The full PML delegation	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Booth number 1, in the Foyer
13:15 – 14:45	Bridging Billions to Barcelona: The Indian Ocean Event	Professor Matt Frost panelist	Click here for futther details Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Indian cean Room
16:30 – 18:00	Session 1, Challenge 5: Science and Solutions for a Clean, Healthy and Resilient Ocean presentation: Ocean acidification research for a sustainable ocean: From chemistry to society	Professor Steve Widdicombe speaker	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Pacific Ocean Room (Area 08)
16:30 – 18:00	Session 1, Challenge 1: Science and Solutions for a Clean, Healthy and Resilient Ocean. Oral presentation and formal launch: Introducing the Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network.	Professor Tim Smyth is Co-lead of the Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network, together with Dr. Thomas Davies (University of Plymouth) who will give the presentation.	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Arctic Ocean Room

	11 April 2024
All day	PML is a partner in the Marine Research Plymouth exhibition booth with the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth	The full PML delegation	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Booth number 1, in the Foyer
08:30 – 09:45	Moving from Science to Action on Ocean Acidification—Why Does It Matter? How Is It Being Achieved? Co-hosted by the IAEA, OA Alliance, and NOAA in partnership with GOA-ON and UN Ocean decade programme Ocean Research for Sustainability (OARS)	Professor Steve Widdicombe is a Co-lead of OARS and Co-chair of the GOA-ON, Amy Kenworthy is the OARS Programme Manager and taking part in the event’s discussion	Click HERE to register Click here for the flyer Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Southern Ocean Room
13:30 – 14:30	What can National Decade Committees do for you? Linking Global and National priorities through stakeholder engagement.	Professor Matt Frost speaker and co-organizer (as UK National Decade Committee Chair)	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Indian Ocean Room
16:30 – 18:00	Session 3, Challenge 6: Science and Solutions for a Safe and Predicted Ocean presentation: Early Warning System: climate-smart, economically viable and socially acceptable marine planning across the UK Nations.	Professor Ana Queirós will give the presentation	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Arctic Ocean Room
16:30 – 18:00	Session 3, Challenge 7: Science and Solutions for a Safe and Predicted Ocean presentation: Global capacity building for transformative, smart ocean observations and tools in response to the climate crisis and biodiversity crises.	Dr Claire Szostek will give the presentation	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Pacific Ocean Room

	12 April 2024
All day	PML is a partner in the Marine Research Plymouth exhibition booth with the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth	The full PML delegation	Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Booth number 1, in the Foyer
08:30 – 09:45	Ocean carbon: The knowns and unknowns	Professor Steve Widdicombe speaker and with Amy Kenworthy also co-organizer. PML is an event partner.	Click here for the flyer and programme Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Pacific Ocean Room
08:30 – 09:45	Technology and innovation showcase	Dr Claire Szostek speaker	Click here for further details on the on-site side events Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), Caribbean Ocean Room