Course Overview

Marine scientific research (MSR) plays a critical role in sustainable development as consistently recognized by the UN General Assembly in its annual resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea. Research, and the tools required to conduct it, are essential for the sustainable development of the oceans and the seas and their resources, including by supporting informed decisions on the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources, and by helping to understand, predict and respond to natural disasters and climate change. Increased MSR through capacity--development strengthening the capacity of States, in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to implement the relevant MSR provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as similar provisions in other instruments, is essential for increasing the MSR being conducted in the world’s oceans. This course will provide an overview of the legal, technical and scientific aspects of the MSR regime, particularly with respect to consent procedures, so as to reinforce the participants’ knowledge of the rights and obligations of coastal and researching States. It will also touch upon matters relating to the development and transfer of marine technology under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Aims and Objectives

• Raising awareness of government officials involved in processing requests for MSR and of the research community about the international legal framework for conducting marine scientific research and the transfer of marine technology
• Strengthening the understanding of the functions, responsibilities and practices of each of the groups of individuals involved in MSR in coastal States and researching States
• Strengthening cooperation for the conduct of MSR and transfer of marine technology In the Mediterranean region
• Building a network of scientists and government officials involved in MSR to strengthen regional cooperation for the conduct of MSR
• Increasing awareness of the benefits of developing a coordination mechanism related to MSR at the national level, including to process requests for consent;
• Encouraging the adoption of national measures promoting and facilitating the conduct of marine scientific research

Target Audience

The target audience includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Government officials from both developing coastal States and researching States, who are involved or will potentially be involved in one of the following:
• Coordinating the implementation of MSR;
• Responding to requests for consent;
• Requesting consent;
• Assessing the scientific aspects of requests for consent;
• Dealing with research data dissemination and follow-up to MSR.
• Scientists from both developing coastal States and researching States, who are involved or will potentially be involved in one of the following:
• Assessing the scientific aspects of requests for consent;
• Participating in MSR projects;
• Interpreting and managing data, samples and research results.

Application process:

Please fill in the online application form on https://otga.wufoo.com/forms/s6y58rd0omehtj/ or https://bit.ly/2MJJmT6 no later than 15 March 2019.
The deadline to submit the application closes 15 March 2019. Do not leave for the last minute since the system will close automatically. In case you have any questions please contact the organisers well in advance: given time differences you may not get a reply to your questions immediately.

No tuition fee applies. Both full- and co-sponsoring are available for a limited number of participants. For detailed information on how to apply check the OceanTeacher Global Academy website (http://bit.ly/2ACZY9r).

In case of questions please contact:

• DOALOS: doalos@un.org
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

always indicating as subject: OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA) / DOALOS Training Course: Marine Scientific Research under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 6 – 10 May 2019, Oostende, Belgium