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CONNECTing Marine Observations to the benefit of Society

Supported by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research & Innovation, the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology is leading the CONNECT project, a national initiative aiming to better exploit marine observations and data to serve society. The aim is to catalyse the design of a financed national system for the collection of essential data about the sea around the Maltese Islands. CONNECT brings key actors to put plans and funds together to create synergy and complementarity to build a common effort for the marine data needs of the nation. It is intended to facilitate a common data collection and management system at national level, supporting the sharing of data needs and delivery, providing synergy and avoiding duplication of efforts, creating critical mass by merging initiatives and assets for joint projects, actions and ventures, including participation in international endeavours.

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CIRCULATE WITHIN YOUR ORGANISATION AND NETWORKS

.....WE WANT TO REACH ALL THOSE WHO CAN COLLECT THE DATA, AND THOSE WHO NEED TO USE IT

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SAVE THE DATE
Full Day National Conference
29th September 2025
Db San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Qawra, Malta
(online participation also available)

Marine data and information are essential ingredients not only for sea-based research, climate studies, the monitoring of the state of health of the sea and the management of its resources. Indeed, the marine data value chain in the evolving information age targets new avenues, reaching out to industry and fuelling innovative applications that can raise economic levels to new heights that perhaps we cannot yet fully grasp. The conference is precisely planned to bring national stakeholders, responsible entities, the research community, operators and private enterprise to discuss, design, streamline and plan marine observations in the Maltese Islands for monitoring, ecosystem services, research and security. This is a very much needed national strategic reflection that we have to make as we endeavour to more systematically depend on the oceans, and we further look at the sea as a resource for the blue economy and the green transition. No more disjointed efforts. Individual project-based, ad hoc initiatives relying on singular best effort deliveries do not work. We need a coordinated effort, a financed enduring strategy with a political commitment to achieve and sustain a national marine observing system for the needs of a nation that works to meet challenges and looks beyond the horizon.

You can REGISTER here for free
Contact: Prof. Aldo Drago (aldo.drago@mcast.edu.mt)

Conference Programme

  • Prof. Aldo Drago, Project Leader of CONNECT, Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology
  • Mr. Stephen Vella, Principal & CEO, Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology
  • Dr. Anthony Portuguese, Chair, Consultative Committee, Xjenza Malta
  • H.E. Valentina Setta, Ambassador of Italy to Malta
  • Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research & Innovation
  • A national marine observing system that fits the Maltese Islands ... scope, targets, benefits, costs and governance
    Aldo Drago, CONNECT Project Leader, Institute of Engineering and Transport, MCAST

  • Mercator International Centre for the Ocean: a new intergovernmental organisation for digital ocean systems and information services
    Pierre Bahurel, Director General, Mercator Ocean International

  • National Charts on Ocean Observing and Monitoring as a Basis for Coherence and Coordination in Europe
    Paul Trautendorfer, Science-Policy Adviser, JPI Oceans

  • Making the case for ocean observations
    Emma Heslop, Programme Specialist, Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Refreshments & networking

  • Biogeochemical Essential Ocean Variables: Observations, Modelling, and European support for Advancing Ccean Monitoring in the Maltese Islands
    Stefano Ciavatta, Senior scientist in ocean biogeochemistry modelling, Head of the Marine Ecosystem Service, Mercator Ocean International

  • Towards Ocean Weather Forecasting: integrating biological parameters into ocean observation
    Nicolas Pade, Executive Directorof the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC-ERIC), France

  • Nation-level resources in global ocean observation and data systems: insights from UNESCO-IOC’s Global Ocean Observing System and International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange
    Pier Luigi Buttigieg, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research; Chair of the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) Programme Component of UNESCO-IOC's International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE)

  • Copernicus Marine Service in support to Malta Maritime activities
    Muriel Lux, Mercator Ocean International, Environmental Policies and Major Account Manager

  • Innovating coastal ocean observation: affordable technologies for a Changing Climate
    Marco Marcelli, Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology, DEB – University of Tuscia

  • Designing fisheries observations for the Maltese Islands
    Tommaso Russo and Daniela Silvia Pace, Department of Biology - University of Rome Tor Vergata; National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences (CoNISMa) CNR-IRBIM and CNR-IAS

  • Building transnational synergies in ocean observation: the ITINERIS project and opportunities for Malta-Italy cooperation
    Marcello Magaldi, Senior Researcher, CNR Institute of Marine Sciences, Lerici

  • Brief on the afternoon practical sessions
    Aldo Drago, CONNECT Project Leader, Institute of Engineering and Transport, MCAST

Buffet Lunch & networking

Working Group Sessions
Interactive and practical discussion sessions with the participants to obtain tangible and quantified inputs from the local stakeholders on aspects related to the setting up of a national marine observing system for the Maltese Islands: needs; scientific and technical design; governance frameworks; data management and services; phasing of implementation; funding aspects.
These reflections will be shaped to provide essential inputs for the final framework document that will be ultimately prepared in the CONNECT project.

Refreshments & networking

Moderator: Aldo Drago

Mentors and Rapporteurs:
GROUP A: Nicolas Pade; Tommaso Russo; Michael Quinton; Julie Auerbach
GROUP B: Pier Luigi Buttigieg; Daniela Silva Pace; Patrizia Patti; Kenneth Cassar

Conference closure

Speakers