CHALLENGE ONE
How can EMODnet be used to produce marine knowledge, tools and applications that advance the green transition of the Blue Economy, promoting sustainability and regenerative practices whilst supporting innovation and competitiveness?
Participants are challenged to use multi-disciplinary EMODnet data spanning the marine environment and human activities for developing concrete solutions for one or more Blue Economy sectors, including aquaculture, fisheries, offshore renewable energy, coastal tourism, ports, marinas, boating, shipping, dredging and more. Solutions can range from improving the use of marine knowledge for the planning and siting of human activities at sea, to applications that improve decision-making and more sustainable operations at sea, and to environmental impact assessments and regenerative processes that halt biodiversity loss, towards a net positive restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems. Where possible, solutions should highlight the power of combining local in situ data.
Ideas to get you sailing!
How could you use in situ data to improve efficiency in maritime industries, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance the sustainability of ocean-based activities. They could explore how data can be applied to monitor and reduce emissions, promote biodiversity, or support sustainable practices e.g., for fisheries and aquaculture, and renewable ocean energy initiatives.
CHALLENGE TWO
How might we leverage EMODnet’s diverse in situ data and data products to support EU Policies for the marine environment, by enhancing the multi-disciplinary evidence base for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and Birds and Habitats Directive (BHD) in the wider context of the EU Green Deal?
The focus should be on using the detailed, localized data from in situ sources to support more effective policy implementation.
Jumpstart your thinking!
How do you think EMODnet in situ data could help improve the marine environmental assessments at European, Regional and National levels? What tools and applications using EMODnet data would provide key marine knowledge for Member States when completing their National assessments of Good Environmental Status, for Regional Sea Conventions when producing their regular quality status reports and regional sea assessments, and for the European Environment Agency and other EC services when assessing the state of Europe’s seas?
CHALLENGE THREE
How can EMODnet’s in situ data and data products support climate-smart Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) at national or cross-border levels? This challenge invites participants to explore how in situ data can help ensure that MSPs are comprehensive and adaptive to current and future trends. How can this data inform decisions on human activities and address the unique needs of different marine regions to achieve an ecological, economic, and social balance?
Your creative compass!
How could you improve knowledge and tools for trans-boundary (cross-border) Maritime Spatial Planning, and utilizing both human activities information and marine environmental and coastal data to inform future planning of climate-smart MSP that takes into account future climate impacts in maritime spatial planning decisions.
CHALLENGE FOUR
How can EMODnet’s in situ data and data products be used to develop applications that assess the status of the coastal zone and the health of coastal ecosystems? This challenge focuses on using EMDOnet’s in situ data offer for the coastal region – where relevant supplemented by other open data sources - to produce applications and solutions for the Blue Economy, ocean management and wider society to better understand, predict, and mitigate coastal issues, including those linked with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Solutions should focus on the land-sea interface but can also include inland waters, such as solutions for coastal communities dealing with issues like sea-level rise and storm surges, blue carbon reserves, eutrophication and pollution.
Set sail with these ideas!
Participants could focus on how in situ data can enhance the understanding of coastal ecosystems , support the development of tools for coastal resilience and improve evidence-based management of Europe’s coastal zone. You might look into how the data can be applied to monitor environmental changes, predict future risks, or develop adaptive strategies for managing coastal resources in response to climate change.
CHALLENGE FIVE
How can participants utilize the EDITO platform to create innovative solutions with the European Digital Twin Ocean? What unique approaches can combine EMODnet in situ data with Copernicus resources like satellite observations and climate models? How might other open data sources further enhance these solutions when integrated with EMODnet data? With no set theme or domain, what creative ideas could showcase the potential of the Digital Twin Ocean to deliver impactful societal solutions?
Waves of inspiration!
Explore various ways to integrate in situ and satellite data, examining how the combination of these resources can provide unique insights or applications for ocean monitoring, environmental protection, or sustainable resource management. You should think broadly about how combining these datasets can address emerging ocean challenges.