TEHRAN – Head of the National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences has participated in the 57th session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Executive Council.

The event took place at UNESCO Headquarters from June 25 to 28  preceded by a meeting of the Officers and a meeting of the Intersessional Financial Advisory Body.

As Iran’s representative, Morteza Tavakoli presented an account of the country’s activities in marine, oceanic, and atmospheric sciences, ISNA reported.

The IOC of UNESCO is composed of 150 Member States from all over the world.

Member States oversee the work of the IOC through two Governing Bodies, the Assembly and the Executive Council.

The IOC Assembly meets once per biennium, while an Executive Council meets every year.

The purpose of the Assembly is to review the work of the Commission, including the work of the Member States and the Secretariat, and formulate a common work plan for the coming two years.

The Executive Council reviews issues and items from ongoing work plans and makes preparations for the Assemblies.

The Executive Council consists of up to 40 Member States, including the six Member States represented by the Chairperson and the five Vice-Chairpersons. The Executive Council meets every year to review issues and items from ongoing work plans and make preparations for the IOC Assembly.

Commitment to marine, oceanic sciences

The National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science observed World Ocean Day on June 8th under the slogan of "Awakening the deep spirit of cooperation and commitment in the field of marine and oceanic sciences.

World Oceans Day reminds everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our Planet and a major source of food, medicine, and a critical part of the biosphere.

The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans.

“The National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science has organized various programs including 5 scientific lectures, 3 workshops, and several educational, research, and promotional programs, to observe the day,” ISNA quoted Ali Mehdinia ", an official with the Institute, as saying.

“The programs aim to raise awareness about the country's priorities in the field of marine sciences and sustainable use of sea resources,” the official said.

The programs mostly focused on current issues of oceanography at the international level.

Scientific lectures with topics such as ‘operational oceanography’; ‘satellite oceanography’; ‘digital twin of the ocean’; ‘marine geological capacities of surrounding waters’; ‘assessing the impacts of developing Pars special energy and economic zone on the region’s coastal-marine habitats’, were some parts of the programs.

Holding a painting course and acquainting students with the sea and the environment (Caspian Sea Oceanographic Center-Noshahr); running a workshop on climate change in the Caspian Sea highlighting the effect of rising sea surface temperature on benthic nematodes of Noshahr’s coast; conducting Indian Ocean Tsunami warning workshop in Jask port (flooding map and evacuation plan); and offering workshop on the current state of the surrounding sea ecosystem in the northwest of the Indian Ocean were parts of educational, research, and promotional programs offered by the Institute.

The Institute also planned to hold a training course on seas and oceans for students (Bandar Abbas Port and Chabahar Oceanographic Center) and monitoring the corals of the coast of Chabahar Bay (Chabahar Oceanographic Center).

MT/MG