POGO Secretariat relocates to Plymouth
21st May 2008
The Partnership for Observing the Global Oceans (POGO) Executive
has just announced that it has chosen Plymouth Marine Laboratory
(PML) to host its international secretariat. PML was selected over
strong international competition because of its existing reputation
for world-class science and its ability to provide high level
support for the Secretariat.
POGO is a forum of directors and leaders of major oceanographic
institutions, involved in oceanographic observations, scientific
research, operational services, education and training, from around
the world to promote global oceanography and particularly the
implementation of an international and integrated global ocean
observing system.
The appointment of the POGO Secretariat to the region is further
evidence of Plymouth’s ongoing dedication to global marine
observing activities and the region’s international position at the
forefront of marine science and technology.
In leading the Secretariat’s expert team, Dr Trevor Platt (PML
Professorial Fellow) has accepted the post of Executive Director
and will be assisted by Dr Shubha Sathyendranath (Head of Science
for Remote Sensing, Modelling & Optics at PML), who will
provide general oversight for POGO capacity building activities and
in particular, for liaison with the Nippon Foundation.
Dr Peter Claridge, Acting Chief Executive of PML, commented: “I
am extremely pleased and honoured that PML has been chosen by the
POGO Executive to host its Secretariat against strong competition
from other internationally renowned marine research centres. It is
confirmation of Plymouth’s reputation as a leading centre of
excellence in marine science.”
“Plymouth is at the forefront of research into the observation
of biological, physical and chemical processes in our oceans and
this research is paramount to our understanding of planet Earth and
in predicting the changes that are affecting humankind over the
coming decades. This, amongst other issues, was highlighted by the
Parliamentary Select Committee for Science and Technology at their
inquiry launch into marine science in Plymouth last April”.