China has renewed its commitment to the regional training and research centre it hosts for UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

UNESCO/IOC and the First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration of China (FIO) renewed the agreement on 14 May in Phuket. The FIO has supported the UNESCO/IOC Regional Training and Research Centre on Ocean Dynamics and Climate (ODC) in Qingdao since it was established in 2011 and has extended its support until 2020.

Dr Fangli Qiao, Secretary-General of the FIO, represented his office at the official exchange of letters on the agreement.

As the first IOC regional training and research centre, the ODC aims to enhance regional capacities and capabilities on ocean dynamics, air-sea interactions, climate change and numerical modelling by offering training courses for young scientists from developing member states within and outside the region.

A total of 204 young scientists from 28 countries have taken these courses, benefitting greatly from the valuable knowledge brought by a wide range of experts from within and outside China. Increasing numbers of applicants from further abroad demonstrates the great interest of young international researchers in these courses.

The ODC was established within the framework of the WESTPAC-initiated capacity development programme, “IOC Regional Network of Training and Research Centres on Marine Science in the Western Pacific.” The programme takes an adaptive and self-driven approach, aiming to improve and advance regional marine science capacity in a more sustained and systematic manner.

For details on this program and on how to join this network, please click here.