The Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) was formally adopted as an Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO Project in June 2019, and is jointly sponsored by their International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Programmes. It is hosted at the Project Office of IODE of IOC-UNESCO in Oostende Belgium and managed by a Steering Group representing major stakeholders. The Steering Group include representatives from IOC Programmes, invited guests from the ocean observing community and representatives of IODE and GOOS Secretariats. Further details: Steering Group Members
The OBPS Advisory Board, plays a role in shaping the journey to the essential goal of interoperability across ocean science, engineering and applications, optimising the OBPS evolution for global support, and has this role internationally recognised.
The Advisory Board provides advice and assessment on OBPS strategy and implementation and consists of external experts representing research, applications, policy and data/information/modelling communities and other activities of ocean and related sciences, diverse geographic regions, gender and career stages.
Further details: Advisory Board Terms of Reference
The work of the OBPS is structured and implemented through Work Packages (WP) led by members of the Steering Group: WP1: Project Management Leads: Patricia Cabrera, Rene Garello, George Petihakis Oversees the management of the project including OBPS administration, reporting and progress of the IOC OBPS project. WP2: Operations (Repository) Leads: Pauline Simpson, Arno Lambert Ensures efficient day-to-day management, administration and development of the OBPS Repository, including new user-facing and back-end support and technology enhancements. WP3: Advanced Technologies and Interoperability Leads: Cristian Munoz Mas and Justin Buck Identify technology developments and scope capacity to build into the present service, including technical documentation and the introduction of automated processes. WP4: Publications, Convergence and Endorsement Leads Cora Hoerstmann, Virginie Van Dongen-Vogels, Frank Muller-Karger Coordinate the editorship of the Frontiers in Marine Science Research Topic: Best Practices in Ocean Observation. scientific journal. Support the synthesis or convergence of fragmented practices, and the endorsement of best practices, WP5-6: Communication, Outreach and Community Engagement Leads: Rachel Przeslawski, Virginie Van Dongen-Vogels, Frank Muller-Karger, Edem Mahu A new joining of WP5 and WP 6 (Community Engagement) to ensure visibility and relevance of the system through community engagement activities, and the production and dissemination of promotional material of the OBPS, including the OBPS News Flash and the OBPS website. In addition to build and develop the interfaces between the OBPS and global user communities, representing specific domain interests and nurturing domain experts as OBPS advocates. WP7: Training and Capacity Development Leads: Ana Carolina Peralta, Ana Carolina Mazzuco Address training needs and explore synergies with any organizations developing or delivering training within this scope, including building a portfolio of courses available for the relevant audiences. WP8: OBPS 'Ocean Practices for the Decade' Coordination Leads: Rebecca Zitoun, Aileen Tan Shau-Hwai Coordinate the Ocean Practices for the Decade, an endorsed UN Ocean Decade Programme contributing to transformative Decade Actions. It supports all ocean stakeholders in securing, equitably sharing, and collectively advancing ocean research methodological heritage. By engaging diverse communities of practice across Ocean Decade Programmes it will address the major challenge of developing global consensus on how methods should interoperate and evolve into best practices .
