The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 and WHOI Enter Partnership

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in recognition of both organizations’ work to advance our understanding of ocean bathymetry. This will complement the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.



Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO to inspire the complete mapping of the world's oceans by 2030, and to compile all bathymetric data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. GEBCO is a joint project of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and is the only organization with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.



Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit institution dedicated to advancing knowledge of the ocean and its connection with the Earth system through a sustained commitment to excellence in science, engineering, and education, and to the application of this knowledge to problems facing society. The ocean is a defining feature of the planet and crucial to life on Earth, yet it remains one of the planet’s last unexplored frontiers.



WHOI scientists and engineers are committed to understanding all facets of the ocean as well as its complex connections with Earth’s atmosphere, land, ice, seafloor, and life—including humanity. This is essential not only to advance knowledge about the planet, but also to ensure society’s long-term welfare and to help guide human stewardship of the environment. WHOI researchers are also dedicated to training future generations of ocean science leaders, to providing unbiased information that informs public policy and decision-making, and to expanding public awareness about the importance of the global ocean and its resources.



“It is invaluable to count upon Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s support in our quest for bathymetric data” said Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Director of the Seabed 2030 Project.  



“WHOI’s commitment to researching and understanding the ocean matches Seabed 2030’s sustainability goals, and we are confident that our collaborative work will bring us closer to achieving our aims and ultimately allow for a fairer, more sustainable world.”



Commenting on the new agreement, Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Chair of the newly-formed Seabed 2030 Strategic Advisory Group, said, “It is highly promising to witness top international organizations such as WHOI and Seabed 2030 combining resources and working together to step up the pace of research in the name of sustainability. I look forward to seeing the results of this collaboration.”
 


Peter B. de Menocal, WHOI President and Director said, “Despite its size and impact on the entire planet, 80 per cent of the global ocean hasn’t been mapped or explored. WHOI is uniquely qualified to provide expertise in exploration of the ocean floor, which is crucial for understanding our global climate puzzle.”
 


All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 Project is included in the GEBCO global grid, which is free and publicly available.