SCOR Working Group 147 “Towards comparability of global oceanic nutrient data (COMPONUT)“ announced that the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) will start to provide Nutrient Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) with the new SCOR-JAMSTEC logo, with a new cost structure making them more accessible for the global science and research community. These will be available for sale in early boreal summer 2016, based on the framework objectives of SCOR WG#147. For discussion of the scientific issues of these CRMs, please contact one of the SCOR WG#147 Co-chairs.

The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) is launching “Pier-2-Peer”, the new GOA-ON mentorship program, to match senior scientists with ocean acidification expertise with new GOA-ON members to support the development of OA monitoring (chemical to biological) in emerging regions. In the future, GOA-ON leadership hopes to secure financial support for travel and other training activities for mentors and mentees participating in GOA-ON’s Pier-2-Peer mentoring program.

Eleven working group proposals that have been submitted to the SCOR Secretariat for consideration at the 2016 SCOR General Meeting are available on the SCOR Web site. The Executive Committee will be very grateful for comments from SCOR National Committees, individuals, and interested organizations to assist in the review of these proposals. This is, in fact, one of the most important ways in which SCOR’s National Committees and cooperating organizations can provide input to SCOR on scientific priorities. SCOR WG proposal reviews are due to Ed Urban, Executive Director of SCOR, by 1 August 2016.

We would like to inform you that the Co-chairs of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2) Steering Committee are seeking nominations for Science Theme and Working Group Chairs of the IIOE-2, as specified in the IIOE-2 Implementation Strategy.

Please send the completed nomination form attached HERE to Nick D’Adamo in the Australian Node of the IIOE-2 Joint Project Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 15 May 2016. 

Future Earth Europe invites you to take part in the plenary lectures of the major conference series 'Oceans in a High CO₂ World' from the comfort of your own office by participating online. The physical conference is in Hobart, Tasmania, 3-6 May 2016, with Future Earth Europe providing an online supplement to the Northern Hemisphere. Discussion is facilitated by ocean experts Profs Corinne Le Quéré, Tim Jickells, Thomas Mock and Dorothee Bakker of the University of East Anglia in the UK. Register your participation and find out more by following the link below. Further information and joining instructions will follow.

http://futureearth.org/europe/join-our-low-carbon-webinars-oceans-high-co2-world-conference

The European Integrated Carbon Observation System Research Infrastructure (ICOS RI), an organisation of eight founding member countries and 100 greenhouse gases measuring stations aimed at quantifying and understanding the greenhouse gas balance of the Europe and neighbouring regions, will hold its 2^nd Science Conference in Helsinki, Finland, on 27-29 September, 2016. The 2016 ICOS Science Conference will gather scientists from all over the world to discuss the timely topics in the greenhouse gas research, biogeochemical cycles, climate change and future research challenges after COP21.

Abstract submission deadline: 01 June 2016

We would like to draw your attention to CommOCEAN 2016 - the 2^nd International Marine Science Communication conference & high-level training workshop, to be held in Bruges and Ostend (Belgium) from 6 till 8 December 2016. The organisers encourage the submission of abstracts from all areas of science communication with a special focus on the ocean, marine and estuarine realm.

Abstracts for posters, oral presentations or a 1-hour workshop can be submitted until 1 June 2016 at the latest. Registration will also open on 1 June 2016.

We would like to let you know that the Spring issue of the Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) newsletter is now available for download here. This issue features two articles from the international partner program IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research), including an overview of the new IMBER Science Plan and Implementation Strategy (SPIS), with the hope of inspiring new collaborations in the coming years.