Paris, 3 July 2019. The Republic of Korea's Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) has renewed its financial support to the communication and engagement activities carried out during the Preparatory Phase of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), coordinated by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
The new contribution will enable IOC Secretariat to implement a wide range of communication and engagement activities, including the production of media materials, the organization of regional media trainings and the creation of a dedicated communication team.
Delegations from the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries (MOF) and KIOST met with IOC Executive Secretary Dr. Vladimir Ryabinin and Mr. Julian Barbière, IOC's Focal Point for the Decade, on the margins of the 30th Session of the IOC Assembly.
The Commission's main governing body, the IOC Assembly brings together all 150 Member States every two years to establish general policy and main lines of work. Preparations for the UN Decade of Ocean Science figured prominently in Assembly deliberations, with the now traditional IOC Assembly Ocean Science Day dedicated to brainstorming Decade scientific and societal priorities with scientists, civil society organizations, governmental representatives, and interested citizens.
The continuous support to the Decade from the Republic of Korea has been recently complemented by a new Letter of Intent signed between UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the Republic of Korea's Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion (KIMST) on 28 June, which commits to creating even stronger synergies between IOC and the Republic of Korea to support the Decade through the Korean national Marine S&T International R&D Programme.
