The Future Ocean Network is an association of researchers in Kiel that implements joint research projects across disciplinary and institutional boundaries. As successor to the Future Ocean Cluster of Excellence, its work continues to contribute to the sustainable use of resources in the ocean. In particular, this includes activities for the targeted exchange of research results to various stakeholders and interest groups in politics, business and civil society, as well as to promote young scientists. The Future Ocean Network is coordinated by the office of the Kiel Marine Science (KMS) research focus area. News are communicated via the KMS homepage or the websites of the participating institutions.

Link to online version of the „Report on the Main Results from 10 Years of Integrative Marine Research in Kiel“ (Highlight report)

Link to online version of „Future Ocean Dialogue" - An exhibition about research on the ocean

„Ocean knowledge“ - Information on Plastic waste in the Ocean

Ocean MOOC „One Planet – One Ocean: From Science to Solutions“

With Kiel Marine Science (KMS), Kiel University is among the 13 founding members of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). Currently, DAM brings together 19 leading German marine research institutions with the common goal of strengthening sustainable interaction with the coasts, seas, and oceans through research, data management and digitalisation, infrastructure, and knowledge transfer. Together with its member institutions, DAM develops solution-oriented knowledge and communicates potential courses of action for politics, science, and civil society. The network is funded by the German Federal government and the northern German States of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein.

Link to German Marine Research Alliance website

Kiel Marine Science (KMS) is a member for the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM). KDM member institutes combine their marine scientific expertise at the national level, in order to make joint representations to decision-makers and funding organisations, as well as to communicate with the public. Under the umbrella of KDM, strategy groups have been formed on biodiversity, coastal research, mineral resources, observatories, and ocean circulation and climate, as well as a social sciences working group. KMS is particularly active in coastal research and the social sciences working group. Moreover, KMS is actively involved in the public communications working group, a joint initiative with the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM).

Link to German Marine Research Consortium website

With its research work and contribution to academic training, knowledge transfer, and technological development, marine research is a driving force for innovation and contributes to the importance of the maritime sector in the coastal States of northern Germany. The Coastal Research Network Schleswig-Holstein is based on a cooperation agreement between Kiel University, Kiel Marine Science (KMS), and the Helmholtz Centres AWI (Helgoland & List/Sylt), HZG (Geesthacht), and GEOMAR. Coordinated by the State government, these four significant actors in the State have joined together to collaborate more closely on research topics and infrastructure.

KMS members are involved in various areas of the European Marine Board (EMB), a leading European think tank for scientific policy concerning the marine environment. It provides a platform for the further development of marine science at the European level. The European Marine Board is an independent, non-governmental advisory body representing around 10,000 scientists from major national marine or oceanographic institutes, research funding organisations, and national university consortia.

Link to European Marine Board (EMB) website