National Ocean Science Conference

Upon arrival, please stop by the registration desk to pick up your badge. Coffee and tea will be available throughout the day, and we kindly ask you to return your keycord before leaving.

Welcome by moderator Sjoerd Groeskamp and NIOZ director Han Dolman. 

‘Seeing the sea: our changing attitudes to the physical nature of the ocean‘ by Helen Czerski (University College London).

Even for ocean scientists, it’s easy to take the physicality of the ocean for granted: of course, it’s large and wet and generally inhospitable for humans. But we are citizens of an ocean planet, and the way we see the ocean is an extension of the way we see ourselves. The biggest story on Earth is that of our ocean – the water itself – and the foundation for that story is the latest ocean science. What can stories from the past teach us about how to talk about the ocean in the future? 

Screening of the documentary ‘The Trap, portrait of time’ by Threes Anna. Portrait of an old fisherman who needs to pass on his craftsmanship. But letting go and passing on his passion proves difficult.

‘Breathing Water in a Warming World‘ by Daniel Pauly (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia).

There is less oxygen in the best aerated sea- or freshwater than on top of Mount Everest. The inhabitants of the ocean deal with this through a number of adaptations shaped by physical and dimensional constraints. These constraints are the key components of the Gill-Oxygen Limitation Theory (GOLT). The talk will focus on how we use GOLT to predict how fish populations will react to a warming and deoxygenated ocean, and how we can optimize the way fish farmers aerate their ponds. 

The parallel sessions aim to bring together experts and stakeholders for focused discussions on key topics, fostering collaboration and actionable insights to drive meaningful change.

Session 1 – Maximizing the Impact of Marine Science Communication

Get ready to sharpen your message, expand your reach, and make your science matter. 

In a world saturated with media, impactful science communication is essential. Strong media skills don’t just improve how researchers connect with peers; they shape whether scientific insights reach policymakers, businesses, and society at large. In this dynamic breakout session, leading experts Erik van Sebille, Helen Czerski, and ECOP Netherlands will guide you through diverse communication strategies across disciplines. The session kicks off with an interactive panel discussion consisting of a broad variety of professionals, followed by hands-on group work where you’ll put new ideas into practice. 

This session is hosted by Erik van Sebille (Oceanographer at Utrecht University), Helen Czerski and ECOP (Early Career Ocean Professional Programme Netherlands).

Session 2 – Future sea levels & nature-based approaches: From science to society 

Join us in shaping a resilient coast for the future.

As sea levels continue to rise, coastal societies face urgent choices about how to adapt. Traditional engineering alone may no longer be sufficient to meet the scale and complexity of the challenge. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are recognised as a promising pathway: not only for coastal protection, but also for restoring ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and creating long-term societal value. 

Researchers and practitioners will explore prospects how science can help shape realistic, scalable, and socially supported responses to sea-level rise. The session will feature a series of short keynote contributions from leading experts, followed by an interactive panel session, offering different perspectives from coastal science, engineering, ecology, and implementation practice. 

This session is hosted by Jim van Belzen (NIOZ & WMR), Bregje van Wesenbeeck (Deltares & TU Delft, NL2120) & invited speakers.

Session 3 – The value of long-term marine monitoring for science, policy and conservation  

Discuss with us how to monitor for a better world.

Long-term monitoring data are essential for revealing and understanding environmental change. As humans, we quickly adapt to a changing environment which then becomes the new normal. By revealing trends beyond natural variability, time-series help detect emerging threats and ecosystem shifts. In this session, we will highlight the importance of sustained monitoring efforts and how they inform society, guide conservation action and inform the necessary policy change for a healthy marine ecosystem. 

The session will feature a series of short keynote contributions from science and policy, offering different perspectives on the value of long-term marine monitoring, showing that science can be used to make this world a better place. 

This session is hosted by Femke de Jong (Physical oceanographer at NIOZ) and Allert Bijleveld (Behavioural ecologist at NIOZ).

A discussion on the geopolitical challenges the ocean and ocean governance are currently facing.

The global ocean order to this day remains premised on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of 1982. However, some key actors, like the US and China, have been contesting basic traits of the UNCLOS-based ocean. The UNCLOS regime also has to grapple with the multiple impacts on the Ocean’s ecosystem, including those caused by climate change.. The recently concluded Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement could in principle support the resilience of the ocean, but also has to operate in a complex institutional setting.

Chair: Alex Oude Elferink (Utrecht University, Utrecht Centre for Water, Ocean and Sustainability Law; Director NILOS (Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea). Participants soon to be announced.